Week 12
Bucs at Panthers
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV:WTVT Ch. 13, DirecTV 707
Radio:  Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather:  If any Bucs fans will be in Carolina to tailgate, per AccuWeather.com, it will be rather chilly. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 48 under partly sunny skies. The weather may break 50 late in the game but no higher. Fortunately, there will be very light winds.
Odds: PerBodog.com, Panthers -6.
Outlook: The Bucs have a decent chance of winning this game. Backup Panthers quarterback Matt Moore and his habit of throwing interceptions will start. The fact Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib will not play concerns Joe but the Bucs should be OK. The critical element for the Bucs is stopping the run, something the Bucs have not been able to do the last couple of times they have faced the Panthers. In particular Jonathon Stewart has punished the Bucs. If the Bucs somehow stop the run, the defrocking of defensive coordinator Jim Bates will look even better than it does now. It would help if the Bucs can get a running back, any running back, to rush for 100 yards. The Bucs have gone 21 consecutive games without a running back running for 100 yards, the longest drought of any NFL team.
Fun facts: Cadillac Williams usually shines against the Panthers with five touchdowns in his last six games against Carolina. … Panthers receiver Steve Smith has at least 100 yards receiving in six of his last nine games against the Bucs. … Whatever happened to the two lesbian Panthers cheerleaders who got caught “getting busy” in a stall of a Channelside hotspot?