FanHouse

To get you ready for Week 17, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is your Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers preview.

2007 Records:
Carolina Panthers: 6-9 (3rd in NFC South)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-6 (NFC South Champions)

Last Week:
Cowboys 20, Panthers 13.
49ers 21, Buccaneers 19.

Why We Care: Traditionally, games between these two division rivals have come down to the wire, so long as David Carr isn't involved. However, the Bucs are locked into the #4 seed in the playoffs, and after injuries to Maurice Stovall and Greg White last Sunday in San Francisco, Jon Gruden put his starters on the bench for this one. For the Panthers, team owner Jerry Richardson has said John Fox's job is safe, but there's this theory floating around that he needs one more win to save his job. So you have one team that cares playing another team that probably doesn't, despite what they tell the press.


When the Panthers have the ball: Basically, there are three people to watch -- quarterback Matt Moore, running back DeAngelo Williams, and wide receiver Steve Smith. Moore, the undrafted rookie from Oregon State, has proved surprisingly capable in the pocket and seems able to get the ball to Smith. Williams, meanwhile, has made several big plays in the last few weeks and seems poised to overtake DeShaun Foster (finally!) in the Panthers' starting lineup.

When the Bucs have the ball: Two key backups will likely get a lot of run here -- quarterback Luke McCown and running back Michael Bennett. McCown led the Bucs' comeback against the Saints in New Orleans a few weeks ago, which put the team in position to win the division title. Bennett, meanwhile, was brought in to spell Earnest Graham, but he hasn't gotten many touches, especially now that Michael Pittman is healthy again. That might change for this game.

Key defensive players to watch for Carolina -- defensive ends Charles Johnson and Stanley McClover. For all we know, those two could be the starters at that position next year.

The Edge: You have to give it to the Panthers, because they're playing their starters and the Bucs aren't. Carolina beat Tampa Bay in Raymond James Stadium last season, though it required a last-second John Kasay field goal. I don't think it will be quite that close this Sunday, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see that happen again. For a game without much meaning, this could be pretty entertaining. (That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.)