NFC South Duel Under The Lights Could Be Compelling
May 24th, 2026
Not long ago, hell maybe even last year, Joe was hoping for a bunch of primetime games. Now? Joe hopes to never see a Bucs primetime game that’s not a Super Bowl.
(Besides, after night games, if Joe is in bed by 5 a.m., that’s considered a personal win.)
Why? Both KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield have brutal primetime game histories. It’s enough that if a person is only worried about money, it’s a good gamble to fade the Bucs.
As a result, Joe hopes the Bucs somehow get flexed out of their three primetime games this fall.
Steven Louis Goldstein of The Athletic thinks little of the NFC South and doesn’t think much of either the Stinking Panthers or Bucs rosters. But, he typed, that’s why this game could be compelling.
Goldstein says this matchup to close Thanksgiving Weekend is the second-worst game on Monday Night Football this season.
16. Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 12)
Austin Mock’s updated roster projections leave much to be desired here — Tampa Bay sits 19th and Carolina is down to 25th. And this is the Monday night following Thanksgiving weekend, so Panthers-Bucs is dinged by viewer fatigue after NFL broadcasts that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday (plus college football’s Saturday rivalry slate). At least the participants are well acquainted and evenly matched.Number to know: 5, the combined margin of victory in last year’s two meetings. Carolina won the Week 16 game 23-20, and Tampa Bay took the Week 18 finale by a 16-14 final. This pairing might not be the most glamorous, but it should at least be close.
Just like Joe is scared of how Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins match up on Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum, Joe doesn’t like the thought of those two Bucs corners stopping rookie receiver Chris Brazzell and Tet Offensive McMillan.
No, those two are not Chase/Higgins. But by Week 12, Brazzell should have a handle on what to expect from NFL corners.
May 24th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Yes, the thought of Morrison and McColumn starting at CB is scary. Presently they may be the worst starting tandem in the NFL.
May 24th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Our defensive scheme will sharp as a knife by Thanksgiving.
Todd will have Bain dropping back to cover.
We got this!!!
May 24th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Just cause Joe said? WTF
May 24th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
I think our corners deserve a lil slack given the non existent pash rush from the D line last year. I expect our young corners to continue to develop and have a decent year
May 24th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
I miss Carlton Davis.
He was a DAWG.
Our defense has sucked ever since he left.
We don’t swarm. We don’t hit. We don’t play with any fire.
May 24th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
By week 12, maybe Brazzell will hit the rookie wall.
May 24th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
True @WeDemBoyz
Corners were hung out to dry by the lack of pass rush often last year.
May 24th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Frankly, unless you’re a Bucs or Panthers fan, there’s no reason to watch the game.
The exception might be if both teams are say, 7-4, 8-3, etc. I’d love to see that, but realistically it’s highly unlikely.
Beyond that, neither team has the national draw that the Cowboys, Packers, etc has.
There’s an implied “slight” in Goldstein ranking it the 2nd worst MNF game. As a fan, I don’t like it. But until the front office (Glazers, JL, coaching staff) are willing to change what they’re doing, we sit in the middle and get passing interest at best from the rest of the NFL world.
Winning has a way changing perspectives and interest.
May 24th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Defense was hung out to dry by washed up Defensive Coordinator/.500 Head Coach.
May 24th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
I see three MNF games that are clearly worse:
Giants vs Rams
Falcons vs. Saints
Giants vs. Lions