Home for the holidays, the Carolina Panthers entertain the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon with control of the NFC South on the line.

It changed their perspective but not the preparation. When tackle Tristan Wirfs learned the Panthers lost to the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, he was grateful it moved the Bucs back into a tie for first place in the NFC South.

The Panthers were stunned by the Saints, who saw a game-winning field goal fly through the uprights with two seconds remaining to give them a 20-17 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The loss not only completes the Saints’ second sweep of the Panthers in three seasons but also drops the Panthers to 7-7 on the season — and robs them of sole possession of the NFC South lead.

New Orleans’ win was sealed by kicker Charlie Smyth, who hit a 47-yard field goal with two seconds left. That field goal was set up by a costly 15-yard penalty committed by Panthers safety Lathan Ransom, who hit Saints quarterback Tyler Shough while he was sliding, turning what would have been a 62-yard field goal into a 47-yard field goal.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 season has not gone according to plan, but somehow, someway, they are still alive for their fifth consecutive NFC South title and

Carolina got their ducks in a row for the big matchup on Tuesday, with the release of their initial depth chart for Week 16. Here, without any changes from last week, are the ranks for this weekend .