The Buccaneers will travel to Charlotte to take on the Panthers in Week 13 at Bank of America Stadium. Here are five players to observe//

The Buccaneers will battle an NFC South opponent on Sunday against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Coming off their Week 11 bye, the Bucs dismantled the Giants in a rousing 30-7 victory in the Meadowlands, en route to an impressive 450 yards of total offense. Tampa Bay (5-6) will vie to carry that momentum against the 3-8 Panthers, a club that ranks 31st in total offense, 31st in pass offense, last in rush defense, last in points allowed and 31st in sacks. Here are five Buccaneers to watch following the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

Zyon McCollum

Xavier Legette, the 32nd overall pick by the Panthers in 2024, has made an imprint in Carolina's offense. He leads the team with 33 catches along with a team-high four touchdown receptions. He pairs instant acceleration with body control and play strength. Legette is adept in contested catch situations and can extend to make high-point catches. He creates separation vertically with run-after-catch burst and on Sunday, he will go up against Bucs' corner Zyon McCollum. McCollum combines 4.33 speed with rare athleticism. He leads the Bucs with 10 passes defensed and is having his best season on the gridiron. McCollum has smooth footwork to match releases and has above-average skills at the catch-point. With hip fluidity and patience when phasing routes, McCollum has bolstered the Bucs' secondary in 2024 and will strive to lock down Legette on Sunday.

Bucky Irving

The Panthers are allowing a league-worst 160.5 average yards per game to the opposition on the ground and this week could provide opportunities for the Bucs' revitalized run onslaught, notably rookie Bucky Irving. Irving leads the NFL in forced missed tackle percentage (40.7%) and his juice on the field has helped the Bucs' ground game go from being an afterthought to becoming a unit that opposing defenses have to account for. Tampa Bay currently ranks fourth in yards per rush (4.9) after finishing last in that category over the previous two seasons. That is a testament to Irving's prowess and the offensive line, receivers and backs working in tandem with an understanding of the scheme, angles and the course for the backs. Irving leads the Bucs in rushing yards (579) and rushing touchdowns (five). He routinely makes the first defender miss with outstanding contact balance and leg drive, fighting through tackles to maximize yards. Irving has lethal lateral cuts to work across the field post-cut and downhill charge to quickly get north-south.

Lavonte David

Chuba Hubbard's 876 rushing yards rank fifth in the NFL, and he has been a bright spot in an offense that ranks 31st in the league. Hubbard had the best game of his career in Week 10 and has been one of the best performing backs in the NFL in 2024. His skillset is tailored to outside zone and Hubbard runs with good tempo and is natural downhill. He is instinctive at navigating through traffic and has been a workhorse for the Panthers. Lavonte David, the quarterback of the Bucs' defense, has tallied 174 tackles (16 for loss) and 106 solo tackles against the Panthers in 21 career games against the rival. He sets the tone on defense for Tampa Bay and has not lost a step at the age of 34. David's instincts separate him from the pack, along with his understanding of leverage and angles. He stonewalls rushers at the point, and he will play a critical role in limiting Hubbard on Sunday.

Anthony Nelson

When starter Joe Tryon-Shoyinka left the game against the Giants with an ankle injury, reliable outside linebacker Anthony Nelson took advantage of his opportunities. He concluded the matchup with a sack on Tommy DeVito, along with two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss – a performance that was a microcosm of what he has done throughout his career in the Bucs' defense. Nelson, an upfield rusher, has range and play strength to collapse the pocket. If Tryon-Shoyinka is forced to miss additional time with the ankle sprain, Nelson will provide stability off the edge for Tampa Bay.

Calijah Kancey

Todd Bowles was relentless with the blitz against Tommy DeVito in Week 12, forcing the young quarterback to speed up his process and he will undoubtably look to do the same against Bryce Young. Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea have a combined 11 sacks in 2024 and complement one another in the interior. Vea has insane power to drive blockers back and Kancey has first-step quickness and change-of-direction speed. Kancey missed the first five weeks of the season but has accumulated 4.0 sacks over the previous three games, tying for fifth in the NFL in sacks per game since Week Nine. He has been a nightmare in the middle of the Bucs' defense, easily winning versus interior blockers. Kancey has twitchy feet and the ability to slide across the line from gap to gap to wreak havoc. With a forward-charging attack and elite closing burst, he elevates Bowles' system. He will look to add Young to his quarterback takedown list on Sunday.