I put up a poll back before the Falcons to gauge everyone's opinion as to who is the Panthers biggest rivalry and not to my surprise the results, at first, showed the Falcons as the Panthers top rival by a 2-1 margin. Yet as we get closer to the upcoming game with the Bucs the poll is starting to shift. The Falcons may be the Panthers oldest rivalry but I have to admit the Bucs have provided some of the fiercest games in Panthers history.

Who can forget the game in 2003 where Kris Jenkins blocked that extra point to put the game into OT, which the Panthers won on a John Kasay FG?

The Panthers have pretty much owned the Bucs since the 2003 season, going 8-2 against them. The Panthers lead the all-time series 9-6 and as widely reported have beat them 5 straight in Tampa.

Regardless, the Bucs are the division champs so there is obviously a lot at stake. Which leads us to some of the smack talk coming out of Tampa, starting with DT Chris Hovan:

 "There's history between these two teams," Hovan said, "and it seems like Carolina and Tampa are always fighting for the division title. Even when I was playing up north, I would watch those games and think this is turning into a real rivalry. Over the years, it has developed. We respect what they put on tape, but at 1 o'clock Sunday, we don't have to like each other."

There's more of the same from their offense:

"We don't really like them and they don't really like us. I think they are a good team, and I really respect them a lot, but I don't really care for them, either. It's easy to get up for this game because they think they're so good. We're good, so we'll see who's better." - Bucs T Jeremy Trueblood, on the first-place Panthers

Bucs LB Derrick Brooks, who has been around since well before the two teams became division rivals, makes no qualms about who he considers the Bucs biggest rival:

"I must agree," he said with a laugh on a just-completed conference call. "We just feel it's the biggest rivalry from the standpoint that we're the two teams that represented the division in the Super Bowl. The games that we've played; 90 percent of them have come down to the last plays of the game, whether it be a field goal or a drive.

    "And now it's for first place in the division. It's a fun rivalry, and the way we feel too is the Panthers are our biggest rival."

    "And just the personalities; it's been good competition amongst us. There's usually some jabbering going on every snap. Just the importance, I feel that each time we've played each other, it's always been for high stakes.

Dare I throw in some of my own? I can't resist.

The Panthers are riding a wave of confidence and should handle the Bucs in the end. It will start evenly and both teams will battle for field position for a half. The Bucs offense though is bound to struggle given the QB problems and the lack of WR depth. The Panthers excel at stopping the run, the Bucs only strength. I'm guessing the Bucs put up 9-13 points max.

The Panther offense on the other hand will wear down the Bucs defense leading to some big plays late in the game. The Panthers two-headed RB monster will strike repeatedly and slow down that pass rush. Ronde Barber (can you please retire already?) and Steve Smith will have another epic match-up but as the Falcons learned that just opens things up for Moose and the TE combo of King and Rosario.

This will be one to enjoy and savor. Panthers 27 Bucs 13