A lot needs to go right for the 8-7 Buccaneers to secure a playoff spot, but none of that matter if they don't close out the regular season with a home win against the Carolina Panthers. The Buccaneers won the first matchup on the road in a Week 5 Monday Night Football matchup thanks to a game-winning Roberto Aguayo field goal as time expired.
The Bucs have dropped their last two games on the road to the Cowboys and the Saints after going on an attention-grabbing five-game win streak from Weeks 10 through 14. Tampa Bay is 3-4 at Raymond James Stadium this season, having won their last three home games.
The Panthers, last season's division and conference champions, are 6-9 this season. They are 2-5 on the road this year and have won just one game against an NFC South team. With a win on Sunday, the Buccaneers would have their first series sweep against the Panthers since the 2012 season. It would also give the Buccaneers a 4-2 division record, their best since 2007.
We now turn it over to the NFL experts to take a look at who they are picking to come out on top in the Week 17 Panthers vs. Buccaneers rematch.
NFL.com Elliot Harrison – Buccaneers
ESPN.com Consensus – Buccaneers
ProFootballTalk, Mike Florio – Buccaneers
USA Today, Consensus – Buccaneers
SBNation.com, Consensus – Buccaneers
CBSSports.com, Consensus – Buccaneers
FoxSports.com, Consensus – Split 3-3
