As the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Dave Canales is preparing for a challenging end to the 2025 NFL season. The schedule features two matchups against Tampa Bay in the final three games, which may evoke personal reflections for Canales, who served as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2023.
Despite any emotional connections, Canales remains focused on his team’s performance. “I honestly, I love every game, and so I just think there’s such great teachable moments from each game,” he said while discussing the upcoming season.
Canales acknowledges that certain games stand out on the schedule due to their significance as a measure of the team’s abilities. “I love seeing Buffalo coming in here, and I love seeing the teams that have played really well so that we can see who we are against the best,” he remarked.
The Panthers will first face Tampa Bay in Week 16 before meeting them again in Week 18. This setup allows for extensive analysis of game tape and trends between matches. However, it also presents challenges in game planning. “Certainly, the end of the season, when it comes down to crunch time, playing the Bucs a couple of times right there…it’s like, ‘Shoot, what plays didn’t we call in the first one?'” Canales explained.
With months to go before these crucial games, Canales emphasizes consistent messaging throughout all matches. “My message to the team—which is gonna be consistent—is like no game is bigger than the other one,” he stated. He aims to create high stakes for every game and practice session.
Canales hopes this approach will help identify key players who can make significant contributions during both preseason and regular-season games. “These are all the best opportunities that we have as a team and then individually as players,” he added.
