The Carolina Panthers were confident after beating the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. It didn't take long for that to evaporate at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dave Canales saw his team take a heavy loss upon his first return to Raymond James Stadium after taking the top job in Carolina. The Panthers were second-best throughout, looking lethargic and having no answer for the Buccaneers on both sides of the football.
This leaves the Panthers at 4-12 heading into their regular-season finale at the Atlanta Falcons. Some players will be eager to get this game out of the way ahead of prolonged rest during the offseason. Others need to keep fighting to improve their chances of an extended stay.
Big changes are coming to Carolina's playing personnel this offseason. This lackluster outing exposed their lack of sufficient depth, which general manager Dan Morgan must rectify effectively when the recruitment period commences.
That's for the future. For now, here are two winners and five losers from Carolina's dismal defeat to the Buccaneers.
Winners and losers from Carolina Panthers' defeat at the Buccaneers
Loser No. 1
Raheem Blackshear - Carolina Panthers RB
The Carolina Panthers placed starting running back Chuba Hubbard on injured reserve, ending his exceptional 2024 campaign ahead of time. With veteran Miles Sanders and second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks also on the shelf, this represented Raheem Blackshear's big opportunity to impress.
Blackshear's been a key contributor as a kick returner this season without featuring much in the ground game. The Panthers allowed him to start, but it wasn't the impact anybody had in mind.
There was hesitancy and a lack of physical presence compared to Hubbard. Bryce Young didn't look for Blackshear as a pass-catching option out of the backfield, highlighting a lack of trust in the player to produce the goods.
The former undrafted free agent gained just 20 rushing yards on eight carries. Blackshear quickly became an afterthought once the game got away from Carolina, but he could get another audition in Week 18 given the lack of legitimate running back options at the team's disposal.
Winner No. 1
Demani Richardson - Carolina Panthers S
There weren't many positives to take from another woeful loss for the Carolina Panthers at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. However, the impressive flashes displayed by promising safety Demani Richardson are something that shouldn't go unnoticed upon further examination of the game film.
The Panthers have a potential gem on their hands in Richardson. He's still learning his craft and makes sloppy mistakes on occasion. However, the undrafted free agent is a sound tackler and gets around the football through explosiveness and instincts. That's not a bad platform from which to build.
Richardson made two outstanding open-field tackles when big gains were anticipated. There were some lapses in coverage support, but this is all part of the player's learning experience.
The former Texas A&M standout finished the contest with nine tackles and was once again preferred to veteran Jordan Fuller, who was a healthy scratch for the second straight week. Expect that trend to continue in Carolina's regular-season finale and potentially beyond in 2025 depending on what reinforcements are acquired during the offseason.
Loser No. 2
Xavier Legette - Carolina Panthers WR
Xavier Legette returned to the lineup after missing last weekend's game against the Arizona Cardinals. He got plenty of chances to impress but showed the same frailties that have blighted his rookie campaign.
The Panthers need more from Legette. Some of his subpar efforts were difficult catches. One should have been brought in over a linebacker. However, if the former South Carolina standout wants to meet his first-round billing, these are plays he needs to make.
That might be a little harsh on Legette, but he's held to a higher standard than most considering where he was drafted. The likes of Keon Coleman and Ladd McConkey — two wideouts taken after the Panthers traded up to No. 32 overall for their preferred target — are thriving in Year 1. That's not the case where Carolina's pass-catcher is concerned.
Legette finished the game with five receptions from nine targets for 28 receiving yards. It's far too early to write him off and he's also dealing with a wrist injury that cannot be ignored. Even so, the rookie faces a huge offseason for better fortunes in 2025.
Loser No. 3
Caleb Farley - Carolina Panthers CB
To say Caleb Farley got thrown into the fire in Week 17 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be an understatement. The Carolina Panthers didn't have the elite presence of cornerback Jaycee Horn to depend upon. This thrust the former first-round selection into the spotlight for his big opportunity.
It came as no surprise to see Farley struggle. He's missed a lot of football this season and is gradually working his way back after a rough time on the injury front. There is no room for sentiment in the NFL, so the Buccaneers lined up prolific wide receiver Mike Evans against him almost constantly.
Farley tried valiantly, but this was a mismatch right from the outset. Evans is one of the league's best wideouts and could reach 1,000 receiving yards once again despite missing four games. This represented a rude awakening for the Virginia Tech product in no uncertain terms.
Going from the fringes to covering the likes of Evans was a significant step up in class. Farley didn't come close to nullifying this threat, so it'll be interesting to see if this poor performance has any impact on his future beyond the current campaign.
Loser No. 4
Carolina Panthers run defense
This has been a depressingly familiar tale for the Carolina Panthers this season. They are simply incapable of preventing the opposition from gaining significant yards on the ground. It doesn't matter what's in front of them, the task is always too big.
The Panthers are lucky James Conner went out through injury last weekend against the Arizona Cardinals. They weren't as fortunate this time around versus rookie running back Bucky Irving, who set the tone immediately and further cemented his status as a core foundational piece for the future in Tampa Bay.
Irving and the Buccaneers had their way with the Panthers from start to finish. They finished the one-sided contest with 202 rushing yards from 40 combined carries. Carolina didn't have the personnel or the answers to counteract this threat and they paid a heavy price once again.
Fixing this issue will be among Carolina's biggest priorities this offseason. Deciding on Evero's future is the first objective. Then comes the assistants and whether they can be upgraded. Reinforcing the trenches is another essential part of their rebuild that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Winner No. 2
Adam Thielen - Carolina Panthers WR
Adam Thielen is a high-level performer. The wide receiver didn't skip a beat upon his return to the lineup following a spell on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. It's no surprise that quarterback Bryce Young has flourished with his most trusted option in the passing game to depend upon.
Thielen's smooth route-running and ability to create separation quickly were on full display at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Carolina Panthers involved the former undrafted free agent heavily early on and he duly delivered. He's not the quickest anymore, but the player's supreme football IQ more than makes up for his lack of explosiveness.
Young has no trouble looking for Thielen in critical moments. The duo connected on two touchdown passes in the first half, which was as good as it got for Carolina during another dismal afternoon at the office.
The two-time Pro Bowler eventually finished with five receptions from six targets for 110 receiving yards and two scores. It proved just how valuable Thielen is despite his advancing years. Couple this with his exceptional leadership in the locker room, and it's not hard to see why the Panthers could keep him around in the final year of his deal in 2025.
Loser No. 5
Eddy Pineiro - Carolina Panthers K
Eddy Pineiro held out during the offseason due to reported unhappiness regarding his contract situation. Given the way he's been performing of late, the veteran kicker will be lucky to get a reprieve from the Panthers in 2025.
Pineiro might be the NFL's most accurate kicker statistically, but that's misleading. The former Florida star cannot be trusted beyond 40 yards in outdoor climates. He also displays nerves in key moments on occasion to further raise concerns about his long-term future with the franchise.
This was evident once again in Week 17 at the Buccaneers. The Panthers were starting to generate positivity at the end of the first half. They scored a touchdown, got the football back quickly, and managed to move the football enough to get into field goal range.
Momentum was building. Perhaps predictably, Pineiro fluffed his lines.
The Panthers have a big decision to make with Pineiro this offseason. Don't be surprised if Carolina has a new kicker by the time 2025 rolls around.