The Carolina Panthers entered Raymond James Stadium with their destiny in their own hands: a win over the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have clinched their first NFC South title since 2015 and punched their ticket to the playoffs. Instead, in a dreary, rain-soaked, must-win game, the Panthers' offense sputtered, grounded by a Buccaneers defense that neutralized Carolina’s running game entirely. Despite a stout defensive effort, the lack of offensive production became a fatal flaw, robbing the Panthers of the one result that guaranteed the division crown and forcing them to watch and wait for Sunday’s final divisional matchup.
Carolina’s typically reliable rushing attack disappeared on the slick turf, with running backs Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard struggling to find any traction against a Buccaneers front that dominated the line of scrimmage. The Panthers managed just 11 rushing yards on the afternoon, averaging a devastating 1.0 yard per carry. This inability to sustain drives or take pressure off quarterback Bryce Young was the primary anchor dragging down the offense. The unit converted only one of eight third-down attempts, a crippling inefficiency directly tied to a non-existent ground game that repeatedly put Young in impossible down-and-distance situations.
The Panthers’ inability to consistently move the chains ultimately cost them the division title on Saturday. A bizarre fourth-quarter sequence, highlighted by a botched flea-flicker that resulted in a fumble deep in their own territory, symbolized the offensive frustration. While a late touchdown pass cut the deficit to two points, the damage was done. Carolina could have avoided complex tiebreaker scenarios and the need for outside help. By failing to execute, particularly in the run game, the Panthers watched their guaranteed playoff spot evaporate, leaving their postseason fate hinging on an Atlanta Falcons victory over the Saints on Sunday.
Here’s how the Panthers’ run game struggled to lose.
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Panthers rushing struggles vs. Bucs
- 14 rushing attempts
- 19 rushing yards
- 1.4 yards per rush
- 1 rushing first down
Against a Buccaneers defense intent on stopping the run, Carolina’s rushing attack was completely stifled, managing just 11 total yards on the day — a historically low figure for a team with playoff aspirations. This stunning lack of production, averaging a mere 1.0 yard per carry, meant the Panthers could never establish offensive rhythm or take pressure off Young, who was repeatedly forced into difficult passing situations.
The inability to move the ball on the ground became a self-inflicted wound, leading to crippling inefficiency on third downs. Carolina converted just one of eight third-down attempts, a direct consequence of facing long yardage after failed rushing attempts and short gains. The game's pivotal moments repeatedly exposed this weakness, preventing the Panthers from sustaining drives, controlling the clock, or neutralizing the home crowd's intensity. In a game where a win meant the division title, the vanished running game proved to be the Achilles' heel.
The offensive struggles culminated in a crucial fourth-quarter fumble in Buccaneers territory — a symbolic miscue of an afternoon where nothing went right. By failing to execute their most reliable offensive mechanism, the Panthers forfeited their control over the NFC South race, forcing them to rely on an external result on Sunday to salvage their playoff dreams.
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How much did the rain impact the Panthers running game?
The game was described as a "rain-soaked showdown" on a "wet surface" and a "soggy field." Running backs, including Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, struggled to gain traction. Dowdle, in particular, slipped on his very first carry and fell for a two-yard loss, immediately setting a negative tone for the day.
Wet conditions significantly increase the difficulty of maintaining ball security, often leading teams to focus on power running rather than outside runs or trick plays. The Panthers' late-game fumble on a backward pass/flea-flicker attempt was a clear example of how the adverse weather contributed to a costly turnover.
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Can Panthers still make the playoffs?
Yes, despite the tough loss to the Buccaneers, the Panthers can still make the playoffs and win the NFC South title, but they no longer control their own destiny. Their postseason hopes now hinge entirely on the outcome of Sunday's game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. The loss today created a two-way tie with the Buccaneers at 8-9, and the Buccaneers hold the two-team tiebreaker edge in this scenario.
The Panthers' only path to the playoffs requires the Atlanta Falcons to defeat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. An Atlanta victory would create a complicated three-way tie atop the division at 8-9 between the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons. In the event of a three-way tie, the NFC tiebreaker rules reset, and the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record among the three teams.
Since the Panthers swept the Falcons during the season, they hold the superior 3-1 record among the three clubs, which would shockingly hand the Panthers the NFC South crown and the No. 4 seed at 8-9.
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Panthers RB depth chart
| Position | Player |
| 1 | Rico Dowdle |
| 2 | Chuba Hubbard |
| 3 | Trevor Etienne |
| 4 | Jonathon Brooks |
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