CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Baker Mayfield will be playing for an NFC South title on Sunday and a shot at personal redemption against the team that released him last season.Mayfields Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) can secure the NFC South division title and the fourth seed in the playoffs with a win at Carolina. However, a lo s would eliminate the Buccaneers from playoff contention and open the door for the Atlanta-New Orleans winner on Sunday to capture the division.The Panthers acquired Mayfield in a trade before the 2022 season, but he struggled from the onset and went 1-5 as a starter before being benched and later released.The often outspoken Mayfield has never been critical of the decision, but beating the Panthers on their home field to win a division title surely couldnt help but Ro Torrence Jersey be satisfying for a player who has gone from 2018 No. 1 draft pick to journeyman quarterback after having played for four teams in the last three seasons.ADVERTISEMENT My mentality playing against the Panthers the guys in the locker room are great. For other reasons, Ill be extremely motivated to play, Mayfield said. Obviously, the division is on the line. Theres many things. Everyone in our locker room should be motivated, not just me personally.Mayfield will be looking to reach the Bilal Nichols Jersey playoffs for only the second time in his NFL career (Cleveland, 2000) but will have to do it , the result of a hit sustained in last week's 23-13 lo s to the Saints.The Panthers (2-14) will finish a horribly disappointing season which included injuries to several key players, the firing of first-year head coach Frank Reich and a drink-throwing incident by owner David Tepper last Sunday that .TEPPER TANTRUMIt has been a bad week for Tepper, who has caught plenty of flack from an already disgruntled fan base which went viral after he appeared to following Carolina's 26-0 lo s at Jacksonville.It's unclear if Tepper will be in his regular club suite for Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium.Tepper never i sued an apology to fans, instead releasing a statement that read: I am deeply pa sionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday. I should have let NFL stadium security handle any i sues that arose. I respect the NFLs code of conduct and accept the leagues discipline for my behavior.The Panthers are 31-67 since Tepper purchased the team in 2018 and have mi sed the playoffs six straight seasons, a source of frustration for fans. Carolina had gone to the playoffs including a trip to Super Bowl 50 three of the four seasons before Tepper's arrival.SACK PARADEThere were questions about how Carolina's 5-foot-10, 204-pound rookie quarterback Bryce Young would hold up physically in the NFL, where players are much stronger and faster than in college. But Young has only mi sed one game despite being sacked 59 times in 15 starts.Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor said of Young's toughne s: It just says who he is.Hes taken some shots, but he pops right back up, and he dusts himself Tarik Cohen Jersey off, and he goes," Tabor said. "So, to me, those narratives are just narratives. Obviously, he has shut those down, in my opinion.NO ASSUMPTIONSTampa Bay won the first meeting of the season between Roquan Smith Jersey the division rivals 21-18 at home on Dec. 3. Even though they've won six of the past seven meetings, the Bucs insist they dont take anything for granted against the Panthers.I know their record doesnt show it, but theyre really scrappy, so we have to come with it, Bucs receiver Mike Evans said.Coach Todd Bowles said the Bucs can't take Carolina lightly.We were underdogs most of the year we cant afford to, Bowles said. Theyre a lot like us theyre tough. Theyre very tough to play. Theyve got physical guys all the way around the board. We have physical guys all the way around the board. Its who plays the smartest thats going to win the ballgame.TOUGH MATCHUPOnce again, the Panthers figure to have their hands full trying to contain Mike Evans, who has 76 receptions for 1,233 yards and a NFL-leading 13 touchdowns. Hes the only player in league history to begin a career with 10 consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving. Last month, he joined Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Randy Mo s as the only players whove had 12-plus TD receptions in a season five or more times.In his last two games against the Panthers, Evans has 17 catches for 369 yards and four TDs numbers that suggest he matches up extremely well against Carolina.They do run some different coverages to where he gets one-on-one situations. And hes a guy that, when hes 1-on-1, were going to take advantage of that, Mayfield said. Were going to look for those shots to him."DUBIOS STREAK AT STAKEThe Panthers could become the first team since at least 1991 to for a single fourth-quarter play. Both of Carolinas wins came on field goals by Eddy Pineiro as time expired when the Panthers Cassius Marsh Jersey were trailing before the kick.___AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall contributed to this report.___AP NFL: