Tampa, Fla. — The Carolina Panthers can clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2017 this weekend in a couple of different scenarios. Oddly enough, there’s a scenario where the outcome of their game versus Tampa Bay doesn’t really matter if the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints.
The best scenario is in their hands. Just a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would suffice and give Carolina the NFC South Division title and a playoff berth.
The Panthers visit the Buccaneers today at 4:30 p.m. in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium, where Carolina is 12-12 versus Tampa Bay all-time. If the Panthers were to clinch and go to the NFL Playoffs, this could be a return to form, according to all-time franchise leading rusher Jonathan Stewart.
“There’s a lot of good football being played right now (in Charlotte),” Stewart said.
Stewart was drafted to the Panthers in 2008 and spent 10 seasons in Charlotte, where he still resides. He’s seen the ups and downs as a player and as one of the team’s biggest supporters now in retirement. Stewart was also there in 2013 as a young Cam Newton helped led Carolina to a division title and a playoff berth for the first time in Newton’s career. From there, the Panthers won the division in 2014 and 2015, the first time the NFC South Divisional title went to one team in three consecutive seasons. Stewart believes that a playoff berth for this year’s team could end up barring a similar outcome.
“This offseason, it sets (the franchise) up for guys that want to be here,” Stewart told WRAL. “It sets them up to tell the differences of what’s the ‘Carolina Way’, what’s the DNA, what’s the standard.”
To get there, the Panthers must first make it to the playoffs. Here are some of the keys to a Carolina Panthers victory tonight, according to Stewart.
Offensive Keys:
- Converting third downs
- Scoring over 20 points
- Having a balanced rushing attack
What J-Stew says: “You have to convert on third downs. Part of converting on third downs is converting on first downs. You can not have the three-and-outs, you can’t have the slow starts, you can not settle for field goals. Your defense is playing lights out, they’re playing as good as any defense is playing, so you have to help them out.”
Defensive Keys:
- Make Baker Mayfield uncomfortable
- Take the run away/make Tampa one-dimensional
- Get off the field on 3rd down
What J-Stew says: “The Buccaneers are getting healthy and all it takes is for Baker (Mayfield) to feel good about his options. What Tampa has done a bad job of is putting everything on Mayfield’s shoulders or making him have to do too much. Take the run away, make them one-dimensional. I think (Tampa) could’ve leaned into the run more the last time they played.”