Even though they have yet to face off in 2024, the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should know one another pretty well.
Here are the biggest storylines for their Week 13 showdown :
The story of Bryce Young 's Week 12 performance cannot be told with just the numbers. Sure, his season-high 263 passing yards and zero turnovers in a 30-27 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions were relatively impressive, but the outing transcended the box score.
Young, perhaps for the first time in his NFL career, looked like the very player the Panthers selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft. "'Bama Bryce" reemerged—as he remained incredibly poised in the face of persistent pressure and expertly played the role of point guard with his playmaking ability.
His showing not only inspired some positivity for the team's immediate future, but also renewed some hope for Young as the franchise quarterback in Carolina.
So, can he keep it going? Well, he could—as the Buccaneers have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (376.2) thus far.
Speaking of an exciting future, 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks finally made his highly-anticipated NFL debut this past Sunday. But, uh, it didn't result in much.
The rookie running back had his number called just twice, taking a pair of carries for seven yards. Starter Chuba Hubbard, meanwhile, continued to shoulder much of the load with 16 rushing attempts and five targets.
We have to keep all of this in perspective though. Not only was Brooks coming off a year-long recovery from an ACL tear , but he was doing so against one of the toughest run defenses in the sport. He wasn't likely to get a ton of a work, regardless.
Perhaps we see a little more of Brooks, and what he looks like as part of the potential two-headed monster for the Panthers, as he continues to be eased in.
From a two-headed monster to a three-headed one, the Buccaneers boast a pretty powerful run game of their own. And that attack, most recently, has been led by rookie Bucky Irving .
The fourth-rounder has thrived as a dual threat of late—as he recorded 5.2 yards per carry, four rushing touchdowns and three games of at least 40 receiving yards over the last six weeks. His best offering came in Week 12, where he racked up career-highs in rushing yards (88) and receiving yards (64) in a 30-7 win over the New York Giants .
Irving also reached the end zone—as did fellow backs Rachaad White and Sean Tucker . So, yeah, Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen isn't afraid to use any of his ball carriers.
This could be a tough matchup for the Panthers, who have allowed a league-worst 160.5 rushing yards per contest.
Coen is in the position he's in now due, in part, to Carolina's hiring of Dave Canales. The Panthers head coach will be facing the Buccaneers for the first time since leaving their offensive coordinator job behind.
His lone season there, which proved to be a rather successful one, was headlined by the breakout of quarterback Baker Mayfield . Under Canales' guidance, the former No. 1 overall pick passed for career-highs in yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28).
Also a former Panther, Mayfield will come back to Bank of America Stadium for the second time since his brief stint in Carolina two seasons ago. Oh, and Bake's coming back with hefty numbers—as he's completed 71.5 percent of his throws for 2,799 yards and 24 scores through 11 outings.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Buccaneers in Week 13
