Panthers vs Buccaneers Match Player Stats | Week 18 Saturday 2026

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CAR @ TB

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Todays Matchup Details

Week 18 Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todays Game is on Saturday, January 3rd
03/01/26 16:30:00 PM EST Kickoff

Positives for the Carolina Panthers Game Today

This year, the poor Panthers pass defense has yielded a massive 79.4% Adjusted Completion Rate vs. opposing tight ends: the 6th-largest rate in the NFL.

The Panthers pass defense has displayed bad efficiency vs. tight ends this year, surrendering 8.96 adjusted yards-per-target to the position: the 3rd-most in the NFL.

In regards to pass protection (and the positive impact it has on all passing offense metrics), the O-line of the Panthers ranks as the 10th-best in the NFL this year.

This year, the shaky Buccaneers defense has been torched for a monstrous 245.0 adjusted yards per game through the air to opposing quarterbacks: the 7th-most in the NFL.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense has shown weak efficiency this year, conceding 7.89 adjusted yards-per-target: the 9th-most in football.

The Buccaneers linebackers rank as the 6th-worst collection of LBs in the league this year in covering pass-catchers.

The Panthers defense has had the 10th-worst efficiency against opposing ground games this year, yielding 4.80 adjusted yards-per-carry.

As it relates to the linebackers’ role in stopping the run, Carolina’s group of LBs has been easily exploitable this year, grading out as the 4th-worst in the league. in the league.

Based on their underlying traits and matchup dynamics, the projections expect the Panthers to run on 45.5% of their opportunities: the 10th-highest rate among all teams this week.

Our trusted projections expect Rico Dowdle to garner 16.2 carries in this contest, on average, putting him in the 89th percentile among RBs.

Rico Dowdle has generated 57.0 adjusted yards per game on the ground this year, one of the highest marks in the NFL when it comes to running backs (87th percentile).

The Buccaneers defense has allowed the 5th-fewest adjusted receiving yards per game in the league (just 43.0) to tight ends this year.

The Buccaneers pass defense has yielded the 8th-highest Adjusted Completion% in the NFL (78.1%) to TEs this year (78.1%).

In this week’s game, Mike Evans is anticipated by the model to rank in the 91st percentile when it comes to wide receivers with 7.8 targets.

Mike Evans has accumulated far more air yards this year (117.0 per game) than he did last year (99.0 per game).

Negatives with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Today

The projections expect the Buccaneers to call the 6th-fewest offensive plays on the slate this week with 62.4 plays, accounting for their underlying traits and game dynamics.

Opposing teams teams have been wary to rely on the passing game too much against the Panthers, totaling the 7th-fewest attempts in the league (a lowly 31.7 per game) this year.

Cade Otton has accrued quite a few less adjusted receiving yards per game (29.0) this season than he did last season (44.0).

Our trusted projections expect the Carolina Panthers to be the 10th-least pass-oriented team on the slate this week with a 54.5% pass rate, based on their underlying traits and matchup dynamics.

The leading projections forecast the Panthers to call the 8th-fewest total plays among all teams this week with 62.8 plays, based on their underlying tendencies and game dynamics.

Bryce Young has been one of the worst per-play quarterbacks in football this year, averaging a lowly 6.41 adjusted yards-per-target while ranking in the lowly 16th percentile.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense has surrendered the 6th-lowest Adjusted Completion% in the league (61.5%) vs. wideouts this year (61.5%).

This year, the daunting Tampa Bay Buccaneers run defense has given up a puny 104.0 adjusted rushing yards per game to the opposing side: the 7th-fewest in the NFL.

As it relates to the defensive tackles’ role in run defense, Tampa Bay’s group of DTs has been fantastic this year, ranking as the 7th-best in the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers defense has given up the 7th-fewest adjusted receiving yards per game in football (just 126.0) vs. wide receivers this year.

This year, the tough Carolina Panthers defense has given up a meager 62.6% Adjusted Completion Rate versus opposing wide receivers: the 7th-smallest rate in football.

As it relates to cornerbacks in pass coverage, Carolina’s unit has been fantastic this year, projecting as the 5th-best in football.

Tommy Tremble has been used less as a potential pass-catcher this year (44.2% Route Participation% in games he has been on the field) than he did last year (55.7%).

Tommy Tremble has compiled quite a few less air yards this season (8.0 per game) than he did last season (15.0 per game).

Tommy Tremble has notched a lot fewer adjusted receiving yards per game (12.0) this year than he did last year (23.0).

Mike Evans’s 62.4 WOPR (Weighted Opportunity Rating—an advanced statistic that weighs high-value offensive usage) has been notably lower this year than it was last year at 69.7.

Mike Evans’s 44.0 adjusted receiving yards per game this season marks a noteable diminishment in his pass-catching proficiency over last season’s 73.0 rate.

Mike Evans’s sure-handedness have declined this season, with his Adjusted Catch Rate falling off from 68.5% to 48.9%.

Baker Mayfield has thrown for many fewer adjusted yards per game (194.0) this year than he did last year (274.0).

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