NFL December 21, 2025

Welcome to the NFC South, where mediocrity reigns supreme and an 8-8 team can claim a division title. The Panthers and Buccaneers square off with everything on the line in Tampa. Carolina can clinch the NFC South with a win or tie. Tampa Bay needs to win AND have Atlanta lose to New Orleans on Sunday.

Bryce Young has been the story of the 2025 season. After being benched early and written off as a bust, Young has led Carolina to an 8-6 record as a starter. He has 12 game-winning drives since entering the league, the most of any quarterback in that span. Young threw for 448 yards in one game this season, breaking the franchise passing record.

The Buccaneers are reeling. Tampa has lost four straight games and seven of their last eight. Baker Mayfield has thrown an interception in each of those losses, and the team is 0-8 when he throws a pick this season. In their Week 16 meeting, Carolina secondary held Mayfield to just 145 passing yards.

The line opened at Tampa -3 and has moved to -2.5. The Panthers already beat the Bucs 23-20 in December. Carolina has the momentum, the better quarterback play over the last month, and the confidence of a team that has already beaten this opponent.

This is it. The biggest game of the NFL regular season. The winner takes the NFC West, claims the #1 seed, gets a first-round bye, and has home field throughout the playoffs. The loser potentially drops to the 5-seed.

Seattle has won six straight and surged to a 13-3 record. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 1,709 receiving yards, first in the NFL and breaking DK Metcalfs single-season record. Sam Darnold has 3,850 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.

The 49ers have fought through injuries all season. Brock Purdy missed seven games with turf toe, but since returning he has thrown 11 touchdowns in three games, including back-to-back five-touchdown performances. George Kittle is questionable but expects to play.

Seattle is 1-7 in their last eight games against the 49ers. The line has moved toward Seattle, but buying the half-point to get San Francisco at +3 makes sense in a game this tight. Both teams are 11-5 ATS this season.