GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL)
(NFL) Tampa Bay vs. Carolina, 12/24/2017 8:00 AM, Score: 19 - 22
Point Spread: -9.00 | -110.00 Carolina (Home)
Result: Loss
The Carolina Panthers (10-4) are coming off impressive back-to-back triumphs against Minnesota and Green Bay to make it six wins through their last seven games. There's no time for rest though as they enter the week with the same record as the Saints at the top of the NFC South, but losing the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Here they'll host a Tampa Bay Buccaneers that stood up well in Monday night's 24-21 loss to the Falcons, but this will be tough playing on short rest, facing a Carolina offense that is firing on all cylinders and averaged 32 points through its last five games.

The Panthers have had plenty of success running the ball all season (4th in the NFL with an average of 135 rushing yards per game) and accumulated 151 rushing yards against Green Bay. The Bucs were just torched for 201 rushing yards by Atlanta.

These two teams squared up in Week 8, a game the Panthers won 17-3 while holding Jameis Winston to only 210 passing yards with zero touchdowns against two interceptions.

Motivation beat class, but the Panthers have the advantage in both aspects in this matchup with the 4-10 Bucs just looking to play spoiler in their last two games of the season.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Carolina Panthers.