The Buccaneers are heading back on the road in Week 7, and the oddsmakers aren’t giving them much room to breathe. Tampa Bay opens as a 3-point underdog against the Carolina Panthers, according to FanDuel, as the NFC South rivals meet Sunday in Charlotte.
That line makes sense based on where both teams are right now. The Bucs come in at 1-5 after another painful finish, this time a 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tampa Bay had built a 16-3 lead, only to watch Pittsburgh storm back in the fourth quarter. The Bucs did enough to push the game into overtime with a late field goal, but they couldn’t close it out and wound up with their fifth loss in six games.
Carolina, on the other hand, is trending the other way. The Panthers improved to 3-2 with a 25-14 road win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and they did it behind a sharp performance from Bryce Young.
The quarterback threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, while Chuba Hubbard added 120 rushing yards and a score. It was Carolina’s third win in its last four games, and the Panthers are carrying that momentum into a divisional matchup at home.
For Tampa Bay, the task is straightforward: regroup fast and try to shake off a season that has been defined by missed chances. For Carolina, it’s about keeping the offense rolling and protecting home field.
The Bucs and Panthers are set for Sunday, October 25, with kickoff at 1:00 PM ET at Bank of America Stadium.
In Other News...
Bucs Inactive List Creates One Big Problem Against Pittsburgh
The Buccaneers arrived for Week 6 already thin in a few key spots, and their inactive list only sharpened the edge of the matchup with Pittsburgh. Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield Jr. are both out with multi-week injuries, which keeps Tampa Bay without its starting quarterback and one of its most important defenders as it tries to navigate another difficult week.
Easton Stick is back as the backup quarterback for the third straight game, while the backfield got another shake-up with Sean Tucker inactive and Josh Williams elevated for the game. The Steelers brought their own list of absences into the afternoon as well, including receivers Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson, while cornerback Jamel Dean was active and Sean Murphy-Bunting was not, leaving both sides to work around some familiar lineup uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Brutal Test If Two Problems Don't Improve
Bucky Irving gave Tampa Bay exactly the kind of spark it needed last week, piling up a career-high 165 rushing yards and adding a rushing-plus-receiving touchdown against Dallas. If the Buccaneers are going to keep up that momentum against Pittsburgh, they may need Irving to stay central to the plan while the offense also gets quarterback Jalon Daniels into a cleaner early rhythm.
The matchup gets even trickier if Tampa Bay cannot tighten up two areas that have been lagging. The Bucs have had trouble getting after the quarterback, with only six sacks in five games, and they are still waiting for a first-career sack from Rueben Bain Jr., while also having to deal with Steelers back Jaylen Warren and the usual turnover battle that can swing a close game fast. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Goedeke Is Becoming A Bucs Strength Where Fans Once Worried
Luke Goedeke has gone from an early source of concern to one of the more dependable pieces on Tampa Bays offensive line. After beginning his career with the Buccaneers at left guard and running into real growing pains, he found a better fit at right tackle and has settled in as a steady pass protector beside Tristan Wirfs.
The result has been a far more secure edge for the Bucs than many fans expected when Goedeke first arrived. His consistency has given Tampa Bay a valuable presence on the line and a reminder that development in the NFL is not always linear, especially for linemen who need the right position and the right role to show what they can do. [Read more 🡒]