Panthers' Playoff Push Runs Through Tampa Bay - And Derrick Brown Is Right in the Middle of It
The Carolina Panthers were riding high after a thrilling 31-28 upset over the Rams on Nov. 30, a win that had them eyeing the NFC South crown and a home playoff game. But a stumble against the Saints two weeks later - a 20-17 loss on Dec. 14 - threw a wrench in those plans. Now, the path to the postseason is a little more complicated, and it runs straight through a familiar opponent: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Both teams enter Sunday’s clash at Bank of America Stadium with matching 7-7 records. Kickoff is set for noon CST in Charlotte, and the stakes couldn’t be clearer.
For Carolina, a win keeps them in control of their playoff destiny. A loss?
That opens the door to a much more precarious route - one that requires help from the Dolphins and wins over both the Seahawks and the Bucs again in Week 18.
“We started this process all the way back in April,” said defensive lineman Derrick Brown. “Everything we talked about in the spring, everything we’ve worked for - it’s all right in front of us now. It’s an exciting time.”
Brown isn’t just talking the talk. After missing nearly all of 2024 with a knee injury, the former first-round pick has returned in 2025 with a vengeance - and he’s been a major reason why Carolina is even in this position.
Let’s break down the playoff math real quick. If the Panthers beat Tampa Bay on Sunday and then take care of business against Seattle on Dec. 28 - while Tampa loses to Miami - Carolina clinches the NFC South.
If both teams win or lose on Dec. 28, it all comes down to a Week 18 rematch in Charlotte. But here’s the kicker: Carolina can’t afford to finish tied with the Bucs.
The tiebreakers don’t favor them.
The head-to-head matchup is still being decided, but if one team sweeps the other, that ends the discussion. If they split, the next tiebreaker is division record - and both teams are 2-2 against the Falcons and Saints.
After that, it’s record against common opponents. Tampa Bay holds the edge there at 6-5, while Carolina sits at 5-6.
Translation: the Panthers need to win this one. Period.
“It’s hard enough to beat someone once,” Brown said during an appearance on Up and Adams on FanDuel TV. “But to do it twice in three weeks?
That’s a real challenge. But that’s what we live for.”
Brown’s not wrong. These late-season divisional matchups are where playoff teams are forged.
And when you see the same opponent twice in such a short span, adjustments become everything. “You play somebody once, they get a bead on you,” Brown said.
“So you’ve got to change things up. But I think we’re in a position to handle that.”
It certainly helps that Carolina’s defense has taken a massive leap forward - and Brown’s return is a huge part of that. Last season, the Panthers gave up a staggering 534 points - the most ever allowed by a single team in one year.
This season? That number is down to 317, good for 14th in the league.
“It’s made a big difference,” said cornerback Jaycee Horn. “He’s one of the best at his position in the league, if not the best.
When you get a guy like that back, it changes everything - more splash plays, more pressure, better run defense. It’s not just him, the whole D-line has come together, but yeah, DB’s a hell of a player.”
Brown, the seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Auburn, had been a model of durability before his 2024 injury, missing just one game in four seasons. After suffering a meniscus injury in Week 1 last year, he’s bounced back in 2025 - and he’s been playing like a man making up for lost time.
“Just a combination of wanting to be back with this team so bad,” Brown said of his comeback. “Trying to do my job within the scheme and be a difference-maker.
It’s been a lot of tough years where we haven’t gotten the results we wanted. Now, to be playing meaningful football in December - it’s a feeling like no other.”
And he’s not just talking - he’s producing. This season, Brown has racked up 49 tackles, four sacks, seven passes defended, and a forced fumble.
That stat line puts him in rare company. Among interior defensive linemen, only six have at least 49 tackles and four sacks this year - but none of them have seven passes defended.
That’s where Brown stands alone.
His knack for getting his hands on passes at the line of scrimmage has become a real weapon. He’s swatted away 28 in his career - second only to Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward (34) among defensive linemen since Brown entered the league, and Heyward’s done it in 10 more games.
“It’s just trying to mirror the quarterback’s hand,” Brown explained. “Put your hand up and pray you get a piece of it. I kind of get a feel for the trajectory of the ball, so I just throw my hand up and hope it hits.”
So far, it’s hitting - and so are the Panthers, at just the right time.
With three weeks left in the regular season, Carolina’s playoff hopes are alive and well. But if they’re going to make it, it starts with Sunday.
Beat the Bucs, and the road is clear. Lose, and they’ll need help, hustle, and a little bit of hope.
Either way, Derrick Brown and this Panthers defense won’t be backing down. They’ve come too far to let this opportunity slip away.