CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers are in the home stretch, or more apt, the road stretch, with two games left this season, both on the road. First up is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday. This will be the second time in the month of December that the Panthers face their divisional rival, finishing the back half of the two-game series.

The Bucs defeated the Panthers 26-23 in overtime in the two teams first meeting back in Week 13. That matchup saw Chuba Hubbard rush for his third lowest output of the season (43 yards) but also featured a Bryce Young performance that was his highest of the season thus far (298 passing yards).

Now, the Panthers sit at 4-11, coming off another overtime game (their third of the season) and this one an emotional win in the home finale. The Bucs are 8-7, tied for first place of the division, but coming off a close 26-24 loss to the Cowboys. The loss in Dallas means the Bucs aren’t in charge of their own playoff destiny now, so they'll be in must-win mode, while also hoping for some help.

While these two teams faced each other recently, things are constantly changing in the NFL. With that in mind, get to know the current Bucs ahead of this weekend.

Bucky Irving

Following the Panthers first game against the Bucs, Carolina nickel Chau Smith-Wade was asked if he'd ever had a running back run all over his defense the way Bucky Irving had against the Panthers that previous Sunday.

"Yeah, in college," he laughed. "It was Bucky Irving."

When Irving was at Oregon, he ran for 129 yards on 15 attempts against Smith-Wade's Washington State Cougars. At this point, Smith-Wade is tired of seeing Irving impose his will on the football field. But in his defense, the rookie Irving has been doing it all season. He sits at 920 yards and seven touchdowns on 168 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

As if he wasn't threat enough out of the backfield, Irving also has 320 yards on 41 receptions (43 targets).

Irving's 1,240 scrimmage yards this season, 920 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns—in addition to forcing 62 missed tackles, all lead the rookie class.

Baker's weapons

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has seen his wide receiving corps go through a string of changes this season. As long as Mike Evans is on the field though, the Bucs can typically work through any issue they might face in the passing game. Despite missing three games with injury, Evans is still in shooting distance of another 1,000-yard season. He currently sits at 818 yards on 57 receptions, with nine touchdowns.

Evans, along with tight end Cade Otton, could see even more action for Tampa Bay Sunday. Sterling Shepard left this past week's game against the Cowboys with a hamstring injury. Mayfield has found recent success with rookie Jalen McMillan. He has posted three games now of 57-plus yards, and has four of his five touchdowns in those three games.

Guys to watch on defense

This is a Tampa Bay defense that allowed an NFL low 15 points during their four-game win streak ahead of the Cowboys loss. Overall, they are still in the Top 10 in rushing defense, holding teams to 104 yards per game on the ground.

So much of the Bucs defense revolves around Vita Vea. That hasn't changed since December 1 game, or the last six years for that matter. He has six sacks, now second on the team, trailing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who has 6.5 sacks. But Tampa Bay could also get some secondary help back on the field this week.

Safety Jordan Whitehead (pectoral) was designated to return to practice this week, his 21-day window opening on Tuesday. Bucs coach Todd Bowles hasn't ruled out the chance Whitehead could play this week, but said he wants to see Whitehead run on Thursday.