Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although nothing has been set in stone, this might be Cam Newton‘s final hurrah at Bank of America Stadium. The Carolina Panthers made a bold move to bring back the iconic quarterback when Sam Darnold went to the reserve/injured list, but there are no guarantees he’ll still be around next season at this stage.
That would be a disappointment for the large majority. Especially considering Newton hasn’t really had the chance to acclimatize after being brought in more than midway through the 2021 season.
The Panthers haven’t had any real success at the position since releasing Newton in 2020. If the offensive line gets a significant upgrade, keeping him around on a short-term deal might be the best possible solution.
Ending the team’s home campaign on a high against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will strengthen Newton’s claims for another contract. And the former NFL MVP has enjoyed plenty of success against Tom Brady in the past.
However, it’s a substantial challenge and one the Panthers might not be up to.
Prediction: Carolina Panthers lose
The Buccaneers are ramping up ahead of their title defense in the postseason. This is when Brady and his teammates get locked in based on the previous campaign, so it’s hard to envisage a situation where the Panthers come away with anything to show for their efforts.