5 Bucs to Watch Against the Panthers

The Buccaneers will travel to Charlotte to take on the Panthers in Week 13 at Bank of America Stadium. Here are five players to observe//

The Buccaneers will battle an NFC South opponent on Sunday against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Coming off their Week 11 bye, the Bucs dismantled the Giants in a rousing 30-7 victory in the Meadowlands, en route to an impressive 450 yards of total offense. Tampa Bay (5-6) will vie to carry that momentum against the 3-8 Panthers, a club that ranks 31st in total offense, 31st in pass offense, last in rush defense, last in points allowed and 31st in sacks. Here are five Buccaneers to watch following the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

Xavier Legette, the 32nd overall pick by the Panthers in 2024, has made an imprint in Carolina’s offense. He leads the team with 33 catches along with a team-high four touchdown receptions. He pairs instant acceleration with body control and play strength. Legette is adept in contested catch situations and can extend to make high-point catches. He creates separation vertically with run-after-catch burst and on Sunday, he will go up against Bucs’ corner Zyon McCollum. McCollum combines 4.33 speed with rare athleticism. He leads the Bucs with 10 passes defensed and is having his best season on the gridiron. McCollum has smooth footwork to match releases and has above-average skills at the catch-point. With hip fluidity and patience when phasing routes, McCollum has bolstered the Bucs’ secondary in 2024 and will strive to lock down Legette on Sunday.

The Panthers are allowing a league-worst 160.5 average yards per game to the opposition on the ground and this week could provide opportunities for the Bucs’ revitalized run onslaught, notably rookie Bucky Irving. Irving leads the NFL in forced missed tackle percentage (40.7%) and his juice on the field has helped the Bucs’ ground game go from being an afterthought to becoming a unit that opposing defenses have to account for. Tampa Bay currently ranks fourth in yards per rush (4.9) after finishing last in that category over the previous two seasons. That is a testament to Irving’s prowess and the offensive line, receivers and backs working in tandem with an understanding of the scheme, angles and the course for the backs. Irving leads the Bucs in rushing yards (579) and rushing touchdowns (five). He routinely makes the first defender miss with outstanding contact…