With the NFC South still very much up for grabs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are staring down a must-win matchup against the Carolina Panthers - and veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard knows exactly what’s at stake.
Appearing on a podcast with DJ Siddiqui, Shepard didn’t sugarcoat the situation. The Bucs are fighting for their postseason lives, and every snap from here on out matters. After letting a two-touchdown fourth-quarter lead slip away against the Falcons last week, Tampa Bay can’t afford another late-game collapse - especially not against a divisional opponent they’ll face twice before the season ends.
Shepard kept it real when asked what the Bucs need to do to come out on top against Carolina: clean football, sharp execution, and no unforced errors.
“Just the small details,” he said. “This late in the season, most of your playbook is already on film.
Teams know your tendencies. So it’s about execution - not beating ourselves with penalties or mental mistakes.
That’s what we’re locked in on now.”
And he’s right. At this point in the year, it’s not about reinventing the wheel.
It’s about doing the little things right - staying disciplined pre-snap, finishing blocks, running precise routes, and avoiding those back-breaking penalties that can flip a game. The Bucs have shown they can hang with anyone when they’re locked in.
But when they lose focus, things unravel fast - just ask anyone who watched them blow a 28-14 lead to Atlanta in the fourth quarter.
That loss clearly struck a nerve. According to reports, head coach Todd Bowles didn’t hold back in the locker room afterward, letting his frustration boil over in a heated postgame message. And while veterans like Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Shepard haven’t drawn the coach’s ire, the younger players - still learning what it takes to close out games in the NFL - have become a point of concern.
It’s not just about talent at this stage. It’s about mentality.
The Bucs have dropped six of their last eight games, including two straight, and the margin for error is now razor-thin. Once seen as a legitimate NFC contender, they’re now scrambling to stay in the playoff picture.
And the Panthers? Don’t let their record fool you.
They’ve been inconsistent, sure, but they’ve also shown flashes - especially on the defensive side of the ball. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young is still finding his footing, but he’s dangerous when he gets into rhythm.
If Tampa Bay comes in sloppy or unfocused, Carolina has enough firepower to make them pay.
Shepard knows it. Bowles knows it.
And if the Bucs want to keep their season alive - and maybe their head coach’s job intact - they’ll need to play smart, disciplined football. No more self-inflicted wounds.
No more fourth-quarter meltdowns. Just clean execution, start to finish.
Because in a division this tight, one mistake can be the difference between playing in January and packing up early.