Baker Mayfield seeks to extend dominance over Panthers

In the United States, on November 28, 2024, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for a matchup against the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. The Buccaneers currently hold a record of 5-6, while the Panthers have a record of 3-8. The game is set to take place this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST. Last week, the Buccaneers secured a significant victory against the New York Giants, winning 30-7, demonstrating their offensive strength. Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers' quarterback, is particularly notable as he looks to maintain his undefeated record against his former team, the Panthers. Mayfield previously led the Buccaneers to sweep the season series against the Panthers last year, being 3-0 in his career against them. Mayfield's performance has been impressive this season despite having faced challenges. He has thrown a total of 24 touchdowns this season, but last week marked the first time he didn’t throw a TD pass in the current season. Notably, he has not thrown an interception in any of his past three games. In terms of wide receiver support, Mike Evans returned last week after recovering from a hamstring injury, contributing significantly to the Bucs' offensive efficiency with 294 passing yards and a strong rushing performance of 157 yards. Evans has a rich history against the Panthers, with 102 receptions for 1,480 yards and 11 touchdowns over 19 games. On the other side, the Panthers are dealing with injuries, including the absence of tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, who was hospitalized after suffering a neck injury during last week's game. However, the Panthers' pass rush has seen improvement, marked by seven sacks in the past two games, thanks in part to the contributions of player Wonnum. Despite leading the series overall with 25-22 wins, the Panthers find themselves having lost the last three matchups against the Buccaneers, and they must focus on breaking this losing streak. In terms of individual performance, Carolina's running back Chuba Hubbard is another player to keep an eye on, as he is just 124 yards away from reaching 1,000 rushing yards for his career. Overall, the upcoming game is crucial for both teams, as Tampa Bay aims to solidify their position in the division, while Carolina hopes to reclaim some lost glory against a familiar opponent.