Panthers, Buccaneers battle for NFC South title in matchup of teams going in opposite directions

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one game away from finishing off an epic collapse and entering an offseason of uncertainty.

The Carolina Panthers are closing in on their first playoff berth in eight years.

Two teams heading in opposite directions battle for the NFC South title on Saturday. But this isn’t a winner-take-all game.

The Panthers (8-8) can still clinch the division title with a loss because the Buccaneers (7-9) have to win and the Falcons (7-9) must lose or tie the Saints (6-10) for Tampa Bay to get in.

“First and foremost, we have to win on Saturday, so that’s the main focus,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said. ”(We) can’t control what happens in the game Sunday, but we can control how Saturday goes, how we prepare. ... The goal is still to go out there and try and find a way to win. Obviously, then play the waiting game, but we have to take care of our business and that’s winning on Saturday.”

If the Panthers win, they’ll earn their first division crown since Ron Rivera and Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago.

Carolina has gone through three coaching changes and started 10 different quarterbacks since their wild-card berth in 2017.

Dave Canales took over as head coach in 2024 after one season as the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers where he helped Mayfield revive his career. He’s turned the Panthers around and Bryce Young is still developing in his third season since he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.

The Buccaneers have lost seven of eight and eight of 10. Most organizations would make significant changes after freefalling. Todd Bowles has led the team to three division titles in his first three seasons, but is 1-3 in the playoffs.

He’s signed through 2028, so that helps his case. It also wasn't Bowles' fault the Bucs lacked talent on defense and endured several injuries to key players.

A strong running game helped propel Carolina into the playoff hunt earlier in the season and took some pressure off Young.

Rico Dowdle combined for 389 yards rushing in wins over Dallas and Miami in Weeks 5 and 6, but has only surpassed 80 yards rushing once since.

The Panthers are averaging 31.8 rushing attempts in their eight wins, but only 24.1 attempts in their eight losses.

“Good things happen when you run the ball; you run the ball when good things happen,” Canales said. “It works both ways, and it’s a part of who we are.”

Dowdle was listed on the team’s injury report early in the week with a toe injury, but said it’s not an issue and he’ll be fine to play.

The Bucs are seventh against the run, though they haven’t done anything well on defense lately.

It’s not quite the Philadelphia Eagles' version of the “tush push,” but the Panthers began employing their own short-yardage play last week against the Seahawks by motioning backup tight end Mitchell Evans under center to take a quarterback sneak on a fourth down attempt.

Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik wouldn’t call it a tush push, joking that “we didn’t push the tush.”

But it’s something the Panthers have been working on because they don’t feel comfortable using the undersized Young in those situations.

Opposing teams tend to shy away from throwing at Panthers two-time Pro Bowl pick Jaycee Horn, which means fellow cornerback Mike Jackson has seen plenty of action this season.

And he’s been up for the challenge.

Jackson leads the league with 19 passes defensed – one shy of the franchise record - and had an interception last week against Sam Darnold.

“We’ve been so blessed with the way Mike has really played these last few years and certainly exceeded the expectations of a lot of people, but did not exceed his expectations,” defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. “When you look at the way he prepares, the extra time he spent with coach (Jonathan) Cooley in the meeting rooms, this guy is as dialed-in a player as I’ve ever been around in that position.”

AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales celebrates with safety Lathan Ransom after after their win in an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered on Wall Street Friday to kick off the new year as early gains led by technology stocks failed to hold up.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2% after shifting between small gains and losses throughout the morning. The benchmark index is coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025.

The Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 289 points, or 0.6%, as of 2:32 p.m. Eastern.

Major indexes are closing a mostly tepid, shortened holiday week. Markets were closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.

Markets in Europe and Asia made strong gains. Indexes in Britain and South Korea hit records.

Technology stocks were steering the market, especially companies with a focus on artificial intelligence, continuing the trend that pushed the broader market to records in 2025.

Nvidia jumped 1.4% and was the biggest force trying to push the market higher. Broadcom rose 0.4%. But a 0.7% drop from Apple and a 2.4% fall for Microsoft helped to counter those gains.

Those technology companies are among the most valuable companies in the world and their outsized valuations give them more influence on the market's direction. That includes sometimes pushing the market up and down from hour to hour.

Technology companies have been a major focus because of advancements in artificial intelligence technology and the potential for growth within the sector. Wall Street has been betting that demand for computer chips and other items needed for data centers will help justify the big investments from technology companies and their pricey stock values.

Tesla fell 2.6% after reporting falling sales for a second year in a row.

Furniture gained ground following President Donald Trump's move to delay increased tariffs on upholstered furniture. RH rose 9.5% and Wayfair rose 6.3%.

E-commerce giant Alibaba climbed 4.3% and Baidu, maker of the Ernie chatbot, jumped 9.4% in Hong Kong after it said it plans to spin off its AI computer chip unit Kunlunxin, which would list shares in Hong Kong early in 2027. The plan is subject to regulatory approvals.

Crude oil prices were mostly stable. Prices for U.S. crude oil fell 0.1% to $57.38 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.1% to $60.77 per barrel.

The price of gold fell 0.2%.

Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.19% from 4.17% late Wednesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, held at 3.48% from late Wednesday.

Wall Street will move past the mostly quiet holiday season after Friday. The first full week of the new year will include several closely watched economic updates. They will also be some of the last big updates the Fed sees before its next meeting at the end of January.

Next week will feature private reports on the status of the services sector, which is the largest part of the U.S. economy, along with consumer sentiment. Government reports on the job market will also be released. They will all help paint a clearer picture of how various parts of the U.S. economy closed out 2025 and where it might be headed in 2026.

The Fed has had a more difficult task because of the complex shifts within the economy. It cut interest rates three times toward the end of 2025, partly to help counter a weakening jobs market. But inflation remains above its target rate of 2% and cutting interest rates could add more fuel to rising prices. Consumers have already expressed more caution amid the squeeze from stubborn inflation and the U.S. trade war with much of the world has added more uncertainty.

The Fed has already signaled concern and caution. Wall Street is betting that the central bank will hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its January meeting.

AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Trader Jonathan Mueller works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Specialists Patrick King, left, and Douglas Johnson work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Vincent Napolitano, foreground, works with colleagues on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Fred Demarco works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Jonathan Mueller works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Michael Capolino works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A screen shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as participants applaud during the opening ceremony of the 2026 trading year at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers in traditional costumes perform to celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A worker walks near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after the opening ceremony of the 2026 trading year at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean financial officers celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Dancers in a bull-shaped costume perform to celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)