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.
Live16 updatesSat, January 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 2:40 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
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+.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
With a win in Week 18, the Carolina Panthers will win their first division title since the 2015 season and the first playoff bid of quarterback Bryce Young’s career.
In his third season, Young has achieved several career-best marks, including a 63.2% completion percentage, 4.7% touchdown rate, 87.0 NFL passer rating, 43.8% successful pass rate and 5.74% sack rate per Pro Football Reference.
Young has thrown one-plus passing touchdowns in 11 of 15 games this season, including four games of three passing touchdowns.
In Week 15, he threw for 191 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions against the Buccaneers, leading them to a 23-20 win at home. He’ll certainly look to keep that momentum rolling for an improved effort over what the Panthers posted at Raymond James Stadium last season, as Young went just 15-of-28 passing, albeit for 203 yards and two touchdowns; Carolina lost the game, 14-48.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:45 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
In case anyone forgot Baker Mayfield’s magic at home against the Panthers in Week 17 last season;
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:30 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
Tampa Bay’s offense is on the field first after a kickoff return to running back Sean Tucker. The Bucs are trying to end a four-game losing streak.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:18 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle will play in Saturday’s must-win game against the Carolina Panthers, according to the team’s inactive report. Wirfs missed Week 17’s game against the Miami Dolphins and was limited in practice this week with a turf toe injury.
Wirfs also missed games this season with an oblique and a knee injury.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:15 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield started the year looking like an MVP, averaging 244 passing yards per game with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions thrown through the first nine weeks of the season.
Things have gone downhill quickly in the back half of the year, however. Since coming out of their Week 9 bye, Mayfield & Co. have gone 1-6, as Mayfield’s averaged just 185.74 pass yards per game with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions in that seven-game span.
His yards per attempt average has dropped from 7.0 to 6.2 in that span, with his NFL passer rating dropping from 99.0 to 77.0.
Notably, Mayfield did suffer a shoulder injury in Week 12’s loss to the LA Rams, and he has not looked quite right since, though prior to this week, he’d been officially off the injury report since Week 16.
This week, Mayfield was listed with a right shoulder injury — in his throwing arm — after his previous left shoulder issue, as well as an undisclosed knee injury. After being estimated as a limited participant for Tuesday’s walkthrough, Mayfield was upgraded to full for Wednesday and Thursday’s practices.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
With less than 90 minutes remaining until the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off on Saturday, each team has announced its Week 18 inactives for gameday.
Here’s a look:
Panthers inactivesBuccaneers inactives