The 2025 season has come down to the wire for the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With a win or tie, the Panthers will be crowned NFC South champions, clinching the No. 4 seed and a home playoff game in the wild-card round. It would mark their first division title since the 2015 season, when Carolina went all the way to Super Bowl 50 with Cam Newton at quarterback, eventually losing to the Denver Broncos.
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Carolina (8-8) has lost two of its last three since its bye week in Week 14. They had an opportunity to clinch the division last week and failed miserably, losing to Seattle, 27-10. Now the Panthers need to win or tie on the road to punch that postseason ticket; otherwise, their path to the playoffs looks a lot murkier. The Panthers took the first matchup just a couple of weeks ago between these rivals, 23-20 in Charlotte.
Tampa Bay has been free-falling in the second half of the season and has won just one game since its Week 9 bye. Despite the implosion, the Buccaneers can still win the NFC South and make the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, but they’ll need a little help. The Bucs need to beat the Panthers, but also need the Atlanta Falcons to lose to the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.
Panthers-Bucs start time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa Bay, Florida
TV channel, live stream: ESPN, ABC, NFL+
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off the Saturday slate in Week 18.
Live26 updatesSat, January 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 4:08 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Panthers take possession late in the fourth quarter after blocking the Bucs field goal.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:49 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Bucs get the ball back after a Panthers fumble on a botched flea-flicker. Before the fumble, the Panthers were in scoring position.
The Bucs lead the Panthers 16-7 in the fourth quarter.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:44 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Chase McLaughlin’s third field goal of the day puts the Bucs up by nine in the fourth quarter. The Panthers have gone scoreless so far in the second half.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is 12-17 for 146 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
Mayfield’s favorite target has been tight end Cade Otton, who has five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. Bucs running back Bucky Irving has 19 carries for 66 yards.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:32 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle is $1 million richer after Week 18’s game against the Buccaneers. Dowdle needed seven yards to collect $1 million. Dowdle has rushed for 10 yards on six carries. He can collect another $250,000 if he scores a touchdown.
The Bucs lead the Panthers 13-7 in the third quarter.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Panthers went scoreless in the team’s first possession of the second half after a missed field goal. The Buccaneers take possession close to midfield early in the third quarter.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:11 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Buccaneers got off to a fast start, scoring 10 points on their first two possessions. The Bucs had 40 plays compared to the Panthers’ 18. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is 10-15 for 130 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
Mayfield’s favorite target has been tight end Cade Otton, who has four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Emeka Egbuka have combined for two catches for 34 yards, while Bucs running back Bucky Irving has 14 carries for 49 yards.
An interception by Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom shifted the momentum, and Panthers quarterback Bryce Young capitalized by connecting with tight end Tommy Tremble for a touchdown.
Young is 7-11 for 75 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception. Young already has more yards than he had in last week’s 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has failed to get going so far. He has 5 carries for 5 yards. Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillan has been the best rookie receiver on the field, leading the team with 25 receiving yards on two catches.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 3:02 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:46 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
What a play for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield! Mayfield throws a pass midair to tight end Cade Otton.
Mayfield and Otton connected earlier on a touchdown. Mayfield is 10-15 for 130 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:40 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Panthers were driving down the field before Bucs cornerback Jacob Parrish stopped Carolina’s momentum with an interception.
Panther quarterback Bryce Young threw a ball that floated in the air long enough to allow Parrish to step in front of wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. That was the rookie cornerback’s second interception of the season.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:36 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The rain slowed down the Bucs’ offense. The drive was almost lost on a muffed punt. Bucs quarterback extended the drive after scrambling for a first down before sliding on the slippery field.
Mayfield followed up his first down by nearly close-lining running back Sean Tucker on a misfired handoff.
On the next play, Mayfield loses grip of the ball when trying to throw. The Bucs punted the ball to the Panthers.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:19 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Panthers finish off Christian Rozeboom’s interception with a touchdown by tight end Tommy Tremble. The Panthers had two quick punts before their scoring possession.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-7 for 46 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs lead the Panthers 10-7 early in the second quarter.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Panthers are in the red zone after an interception by linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:12 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
At the end of the first quarter, the Bucs lead the Panthers 10-0. The Panthers had a quick three-and-out in their first drive after a penalty set the team back on offense.
Penalties on defense extended the Bucs’ second drive. The Panthers have three penalties so far for 23 yards.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 3-5 for 27 yards. All three of Panthers running back Rico Dowdle’s carries finished behind the line of scrimmage.
The Bucs have the ball in the second quarter after a quick Carolina possession.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:06 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin scores a field goal to put the team up by 10 late in the first quarter.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield led the way, going 6-8 for 79 yards and a touchdown. Bucs running back Bucky Irving has six carries for 26 yards.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
A slippery field and a penalty slow down the Panthers on their first drive. Both of Panthers running back Rico Dowdle’s carries finished behind the line of scrimmage.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was 1-2 for 2 yards. The Bucs get the ball back after a Panthers punt.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 1:44 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Bucs strike first! Tight end Cade Otton runs down the seam to finish off the Bucs’ first drive of the game with a touchdown. Otton had 2 catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.
Bucs running back Bucky Irving led the drive with 5 carries for 24 yards. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was 3-3 for 41 yards and a touchdown.
The Bucs lead the Panthers 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 1:15 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
It’s almost that time! Get your TVs set, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers in a quest for the NFC South title. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, airing live on ESPN and ABC, with live stream available on NFL+.