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Bucs vs. Panthers: Most Disappointing In Week 18

Originally posted on PewterReport.com | By Adam Slivon | Last updated Jan 3, 2026 8:40 PM ET

The Bucs entered the new year with one objective on Saturday — win. That would be the only way Tampa Bay could keep its season alive. During an eight-game stretch before this game, wins have been hard to come by for the red and pewter, going just 1-7 during that span.

Fittingly, it has made for much to write about on the disappointing end of things.

Through that lens, Week 18 was more positive than recent weeks as it finally felt like the team realized their backs were against the wall. Even still, a lack of urgency and aggressiveness loomed over this game, keeping the Panthers in it. To end the regular season, the Bucs at least found a way to win, pulling off a narrow, 16-14 victory.

While awaiting their fate based on Sunday’s Falcons-Saints game, here is what was most disappointing in this one.

“Timeout Todd” Strikes Again

The conservative nature of the Bucs under Todd Bowles came back to bite them again at the end of the first half. Getting the ball back with 1:51 left after Jacob Parrish’s interception, Tampa Bay elected to not play for the touchdown.

They ran a few plays to get themselves down into field goal range, but did not use their first timeout until just 18 seconds left. The poor time management coupled with a lack of urgency turned a three-point lead into a six-point lead. It remained a one-score game going into halftime when they could have pushed it and gotten to a 10-point lead. With Carolina getting the ball to begin the second half, that would have been the more obvious play. Instead, it was the latest blunder on Bowles’ part.

Now more than ever, this should a team playing for the win rather than playing not to lose.

Todd Bowles’ Lack Of Aggression Pt.2

If you thought Todd Bowles not putting the pedal to the metal at the end of the first half was bad enough, the Bucs continued to play conservative to a fault in the second half. After Cade Otton caught an 8-yard pass to make it fourth-and-2 from the Carolina 48, the offense remained on the field. There was a sliver of hope that it would lead to the ball being snapped, but instead, they took a delay of game penalty and just sought to get the Panthers to jump.

As mentioned above, why not go for it and try to convert? Make it more than a one-score game maybe?

The compounding decisions to not put more points up were baffling.

Second Quarter Slip

At the start of the second quarter, the Bucs seemed to be in full control. Playing with a 10-0 lead, possessing the ball on offense, even playing with a newfound sense of energy. Then, in the pouring rain at Raymond James Stadium, the team started to slip.

The swing began with Baker Mayfield throwing a bad interception that Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom caught right between the five and six on his chest.

Boom

: ESPN pic.twitter.com/HRqbKBjsZo

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 3, 2026

It was a poor decision on a third-and-7, and after Rozeboom returned it 20 yards into the redzone, Carolina’s offense only needed three plays to punch it in. Bryce Young found a wide-open Tommy Tremble on the right sideline, and he walked in untouched from eight yards out to make it a 10-7 game.

What has held Tampa Bay back from putting together consistency is moments of poor play coming back to bite them. After appearing in charge, they quickly let their opponent right back in it.

Another Frustrating Offensive Gameplan

Josh Grizzard mentioned beforehand that the run game would again get heavy emphasis, but after seeing the Bucs’ offense pound the football against the Panthers last time and still losing, one expected a little bit of innovation at least. It should not be news that Tampa Bay has four good wide receivers to utilize.

Grizzard stuck with what did not work last time, again crossing the 30-carry threshold with 38 total run plays and four Baker Mayfield scrambles. While running the ball more with heavy rain early on was not surprising, it was still frustrating to see just how uninvolved Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan were for much of the evening.

The leading target this week was Cade Otton, and while he had a good game, he should not be the No. 1 target in any game. In terms of running the football, Bucky Irving got the bulk of carries but did not have much room to run.

Facing an elite run stuffer in Derrick Brown (see below), Irving was given the ball 25 times but averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. Why not change it up, or utilize Rachaad White a little more? For what this unit could be, seeing what it is week-to-week on the field is disappointing.

Interior Offensive Line vs. Derrick Brown

What put a wrench in the Bucs’ gameplan of heavily running the ball against the Panthers in Week 16 was the presence of defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Brown, who was a 2023 Pro Bowler with an impressive 103 tackles, is known for being a force up the middle as one of the best run defenders in the league.

That played a part in Tampa Bay failing to truly impose its will running between the tackles yet again as he took advantage of the interior offensive line.

Michael Jordan and Dan Feeney have been the weak links upfront as they have filled in the shoes of Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch, respectively. For as much promise as Graham Barton has, even he has had moments of getting pushed back at the line of scrimmage throughout the season. Jordan, Feeney, and Barton had their hands full, failing to stop Brown from recording a team-leading 11 tackles, many of which stifled the run game.

Rookie Bucs CBs At The End Of The Game

Jacob Parrish got his second interception of the season earlier in this one, but Tampa Bay’s rookie cornerback was at fault on a critical fourth-and-8. Panthers rookie wide receiver Tet McMillan got a step on Parrish and fellow rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison for a big 40-yard play.

That set up Carolina with a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line. Bryce Young again picked on the rookies, finding Jalen Coker for a touchdown with Morrison covering him. The rookies failed to step up when it mattered late.

Special Teams Can’t Seal It

With the Bucs up 16-7 with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Chase McLaughlin came out for a 38-yard field goal. McLaughlin made his first three kicks of the night, but his fourth made kick would have made it that much harder for the Panthers to get back in it. Instead, the special teams unit made its weekly mistake with his kick getting blocked.

Nothing has gone right for Thomas McGaughey’s group all season…

This article first appeared on Pewter Report and was syndicated with permission.

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