(For the background story on the two former Stinking Panthers cheerleaders and their place in Tampa lore, click the photo.)

Game 17

Stinking Panthers (8-8) at Bucs (7-9)

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m.

TV: ABC/BSPN (WFTS-TV Channel 28, locally). Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, Katie George and Peter Schrager.

Streaming: ESPN, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions may apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game will also be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 225 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed). The Westwood One national radio feed can be heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel 88.

Weather: Awesome weather continues in the Sunshine State, per the good folks of AccuWeather.com. Tailgaters will enjoy temps in the low-to-mid-70s under partly sunny skies. It will still be in the low 70s at kickoff.  Rain chances are one percent but that will change toward the end of the game. By the fourth quarter, look for a 49 percent chance of rain. Winds will also increase from 15 mph to 25 mph out of the south-southwest by halftime. Winds will decrease slightly towards the end of the game but rain chances will increase to 65 percent in the fourth quarter.

Odds: Per Hard Rock Bet, as of Saturday, Bucs -2.5 (-120); over/under 43.5 (-105); Bucs moneyline -155.

Referees: Brad Allen and his gang will work today’s Stinking Panthers-Bucs game. Since 2016, games worked by Allen’s outfit have the home team winning 74-53-1. Also, in 73 of those games, the under hit, per Sharp Football Analysis.

Injuries:

(The NFL does not include players on injury reports who are not on a team’s active 53-man roster. Players on injured reserve or the practice squad are not on a team’s active 53-man roster.)

Outlook: It’s real simple, a loss today may inspire change. A win and everything is on hold for a day. The Bucs must win today and then pray for a slimy Saints win tomorrow (barf!) for the Bucs to make the playoffs. If either of those two things do not happen, Bucs lose (immediately eliminated) or slimy Saints lose, and the Bucs will be out of the playoffs for the first time this decade. And the way this team has shat itself with bad play and worse coaching since the bye, this team does not deserve a playoff berth (but Joe will always welcome a home playoff game). And frankly, Joe has zero faith in the Bucs defense. Per ESPN Research, since the bye, the Bucs have allowed opponents a drive into the red zone 22 times. Teams have scored on 21 of those drives. If that isn’t enough to can the defensive coordinator, then Joe has no idea what standards NFL management teams have for defenses.

Fun facts: The Stinking Panthers have not won a game they were favored in this season. The Bucs are a 2.5-point favorite per Hard Rock Bet. QB Bryce Young has a touchdown pass in five of his last six games. RB Rico Dowdle has 1,066 yards rushing. … WR Tetairoa McMillan has a touchdown catch in 2 of his past 3 road games. … DT Derrick Brown has six tackles last week. CB Mike Jackson led Carolina with 11 tackles last week and had two passes defensed and a pick. He has a pass defensed in seven straight games, longest streak of the season. He leads the NFL with 19 passes defensed. … Bucs QB Baker Mayfield passed for 346 yards and two touchdowns last week at Miami. He has a touchdown pass in 15 of his last 16 games. … RB Rachaad White has 60+ scrimmage yards in four of his last five games against Carolina. … In his last three games against Carolina, WR Mike Evans has a touchdown catch. … OLB YaYa Diaby had a season-high 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack in Miami. ILB Lavonte David had 10 tackles and a sack two weeks ago against Carolina. … S Antoine Winfield co-led Bucs with 7 tackles last week. He has at least seven tackles in two of his past three games.

“I would be utterly shocked if Baker Mayfield can’t find a way to beat Bryce Young to win this game.” 😳@RealLoganRyan breaks down Bucs vs. Panthers 👇 pic.twitter.com/BsOhIcfxoK

— NFL IQ With and Cynthia Frelund & Logan Ryan (@NFLIQShow) January 3, 2026

The fans want Todd Bowles gone, but reports indicate he could return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season.

I try to explain both sides of the argument.

Where do you stand?#WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/xA22JMsVlU

— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) January 2, 2026