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Buccaneers Run All over Panthers in NFC South Opener
Bucky Irving scored twice and Tampa Bay forced four turnovers while Baker Mayfield returned with just 11 passes after missing three games.
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 43-13 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with quarterback Baker Mayfield returning from a three-game thumb injury.
- Entering with a 1-5 record and last place in the NFC South, the Buccaneers employed a run-heavy offensive strategy to minimize strain on Mayfield's injured right thumb while the Panthers led the division at 3-2.
- Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards with running back Bucky Irving recording 106 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries; cornerback Zyon McCollum added two points by returning a blocked extra point.
- Despite the loss, the Panthers fell to 3-3 but maintained first place in the NFC South, facing a short turnaround for Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
- The Buccaneers improved to 2-5 and host the Atlanta Falcons on November 1, keeping Tampa Bay mathematically alive in the NFC South race after a dominant divisional victory.
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Baker Mayfield has a pointed response to a question about beating the Panthers
Baker Mayfield believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ win on Sunday over the Carolina Panthers was more a message about his team’s potential than a statement victory. “I think it’s a statement internally for us, not to anybody else, but for us,” Mayfield told reporters after the game, via Scott Smith of the Buccaneers’ official site. …
Mooresville TribuneReposted by 
Record and Landmark
Record and LandmarkBiggest takeaways from the Panthers' putrid Week 7 loss to Buccaneers
The Carolina Panthers allowed a franchise-record 59 points in their 2026 regular-season opener. And yet, that still won't go down as their most embarrassing performance of the year.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources75
Leaning Left13Leaning Right6Center38Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 23%
C 67%
Factuality
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