Carolina concede 5.12 yards a carry, the worst run defense in the NFL. Tampa Bay have the second-best. Our Buccaneers vs Panthers prediction turns on which of those matters more.
The Carolina Panthers are 3-2 and Bryce Young has 11 touchdown passes to two interceptions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 1-5 and have conceded 22 sacks.
Buccaneers vs Panthers: our editor’s props
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Buccaneers vs Panthers: 2026 form so far
The league’s worst run defense against its second-best. The table sets each attack against what the opposite defense has actually allowed.
Buccaneers attack against the Panthers defense
| Per game | Buccaneers offense | Panthers allow |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 164.8 | 222.0 |
| Rushing yards | 127.8 | 132.2 |
| Yards per carry | 4.8 | 5.1 |
| Passer rating | 71.6 | 82.4 |
| Touchdowns | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| Third-down conversion | 36.8% | 42.0% |
| Red-zone conversion | 47.4% | 76.9% |
| Sacks conceded / recorded | 3.7 | 2.0 |
Panthers attack against the Buccaneers defense
| Per game | Panthers offense | Buccaneers allow |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 295.6 | 224.0 |
| Rushing yards | 108.8 | 75.5 |
| Yards per carry | 4.2 | 3.4 |
| Passer rating | 98.0 | 87.5 |
| Touchdowns | 3.4 | 2.2 |
| Third-down conversion | 38.8% | 33.8% |
| Red-zone conversion | 66.7% | 52.9% |
| Sacks conceded / recorded | 2.4 | 1.8 |
Figures are season to date, across 5 games.
Tampa Bay run for 4.76 a carry and Carolina give up 5.12. That is the clearest mismatch anywhere on this card.
Buccaneers vs Panthers quarterback matchup
Bryce Young has 11 touchdown passes to two interceptions at 98.5. Jalon Daniels has three to five at 63.4 and was sacked behind the league’s second-leakiest line.
| Team | Quarterback | Last game | Season to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | Jalon Daniels | 22/43, 164 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT, 49.0 rtg | 60/98, 501 yds, 3 TD, 5 INT, 63.4 rtg (4 games) |
| Panthers | Bryce Young | 20/39, 281 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT, 91.9 rtg | 121/201, 1549 yds, 11 TD, 2 INT, 98.5 rtg (5 games) |
Buccaneers vs Panthers injury report and team news
Carolina concede 5.12 yards a carry, the highest figure in the NFL.
Tampa Bay concede 3.41 a carry, second only to Jacksonville’s 3.23.
Tampa Bay have conceded 22 sacks in six games, second only to Cleveland.
Two run defenses at opposite ends of the league
Carolina give up 5.12 yards a carry and let opponents finish 76.9% of their red-zone trips. Both are among the worst marks in football.
Tampa Bay are the opposite against the run — 3.41 a carry, second only to Jacksonville — and they will need to be, because their own passing game rates 71.6.
Bryce Young is the separator. Eleven touchdown passes to two interceptions at 98.5 is a different standard to anything Tampa Bay have managed behind a line that has conceded 22 sacks.
Players to watch
- Bucky Irving (TB, RB): Fronts a ground game running at 4.76 a carry.
- Chris Godwin Jr. (TB, WR): A senior target in an attack rating 71.6 through the air.
- Bryce Young (CAR, QB): 1,549 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Tetairoa McMillan (CAR, WR): The first read in a passing game rating 98.0.
How to watch Buccaneers vs Panthers
Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 25 at Bank of America Stadium, which is 12:00 PM CT and 10:00 AM PT. FOX has the regional broadcast.
| Detail | Buccaneers vs Panthers |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 10:00 AM PT |
| Venue | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
| TV | FOX |
| Live stream | NFL+ / Fubo |
| Week | Week 7, 2026 NFL season |
Buccaneers vs Panthers prediction and score projection
Carolina win 24-20. The Panthers have the better quarterback by a distance, and Tampa Bay have not won since Week 1.
The live spread and our projected margin both update through the week.
Every Week 7 game, previewed
| Kickoff (ET) | Game | Our prediction | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 8:15 PM | Patriots @ Bears | Patriots 24-21 | Read |
| Sun 9:30 AM | Steelers @ Saints | Steelers 27-20 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Bengals @ Ravens | Ravens 27-23 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Browns @ Titans | Browns 20-16 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Colts @ Vikings | Vikings 27-13 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Dolphins @ Jets | Jets 20-16 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Giants @ Texans | Texans 23-17 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | 49ers @ Falcons | 49ers 30-20 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Buccaneers @ Panthers | Panthers 24-20 | You are here |
| Sun 4:05 PM | Broncos @ Cardinals | Broncos 26-17 | Read |
| Sun 4:25 PM | Packers @ Lions | Lions 27-24 | Read |
| Sun 4:25 PM | Rams @ Raiders | Rams 27-23 | Read |
| Sun 8:20 PM | Chiefs @ Seahawks | Chiefs 24-23 | Read |
| Mon 8:15 PM | Cowboys @ Eagles | Eagles 23-20 | Read |
For the rest of the week, see our weekly NFL picks and our wider NFL analysis. The outright markets are priced in our Super Bowl board. Player markets sit with player prop betting.
Buccaneers vs Panthers FAQ
Carolina. Our Signal model has the Panthers favored, with the live number in the Signal card on this page. Carolina are 3-2 at +23; Tampa Bay are 1-5.
1:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 25 at Bank of America Stadium, which is 12:00 PM CT and 10:00 AM PT.
Carolina, conceding 5.12 yards a carry — the highest figure in the NFL.
Twenty-two in six games, second only to Cleveland.
21+ | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER | Signal probabilities and odds approximate at time of writing and subject to change