The Buccaneers have found their clearest path against Carolina, and it runs straight through the ground game.
Tampa Bay’s lone win this season came in prime time against Dak Prescott and a Dallas defense that couldn’t stop much of anything. In that game, rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels did his part by taking care of the ball, but Bucky Irving was the real difference-maker. He piled up 165 rushing yards, broke off a 72-yard sprint, and finished with two total touchdowns for the Tampa offense.
The follow-up told the other side of the story. The Bucs didn’t lean on Irving and the run game enough the next week, managed only 102 rushing yards, and wound up losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Without that smash-mouth approach to control the clock and keep the opposing offense parked on the sideline, Tampa Bay had to watch Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers keep answering while the Bucs never quite caught up.
Now Baker Mayfield is back in the mix, which gives Tampa Bay more at quarterback. But with the way he has struggled this season, the Buccaneers still need the run game to carry real weight. Even in 2024, when Mayfield was one of the league’s top quarterbacks, Tampa Bay was at its best because of what Irving was doing on the ground.
Irving shouldn’t be the only hammer, either. Sean Tucker needs more work, too. The No. 3 back in the Buccaneers’ backfield was outstanding at times in the 2025 NFL season when Irving was injured, and he also flashed this season in spot duty during a tough loss to the Green Bay Packers.
That matters because Carolina’s run defense is the soft spot. The Panthers are 9th in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed, but they are dead last in the league against the run at 5.1 yards per carry allowed.
That’s the matchup Tampa Bay has to exploit. Irving and Tucker are both built to punish defenses between the tackles, and Irving has already shown he can turn those carries into explosive plays, just like he did against Dallas. If the Buccaneers want to win this rivalry game, the answer is simple: keep pounding Carolina’s weakest spot until it breaks.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfield Carries One Huge Buccaneers Question Into Panthers Game
Baker Mayfield has carried the Buccaneers through the first part of the season with the kind of toughness Tampa Bay has come to expect, and now he heads into Week 7 with a little extra attention on his right hand. Officially listed as questionable against Carolina, Mayfield was a full participant in practice all week after dislocating his thumb in Week 3, leaving the team to sort through the usual pregame injury-report suspense around its quarterback.
Todd Bowles said Mayfield looks ready to play, which is the key development for a Buccaneers offense that also has to navigate the absence of top receiver Emeka Egbuka, who has been ruled out with a concussion. Mayfield is expected to wear a custom glove on the injured hand, a small but notable detail for a team that would rather keep the conversation centered on the game plan than on what its quarterback is wearing when he takes the field. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Face A Season Pressure Game In Carolina Shorthanded
Sundays trip to Bank of America Stadium carries a little extra weight for Tampa Bay, and it comes with a depleted roster on both sides. The Buccaneers head to Carolina on Oct. 25 with several players unavailable, adding another layer of difficulty to a division matchup that already has plenty riding on it. Fans who want to follow along can catch the game locally on FOX, with streaming options on NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket, while radio coverage is set for WXTB 97.9 FM and SiriusXM Channel 380.
The injury list is the bigger story for Tampa Bay, though, because it trims away some of the teams margin for error at a time when every AFC South-style slip in the division feels magnified. Carolina has its own absences to manage, but the Buccaneers challenge is figuring out how to get through a road game without some key pieces available, and how much it can still demand from a shorthanded group in a matchup that could shape the tone of the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get The Weather Break They Needed In Carolina
A much-needed break is waiting for Tampa Bay in Charlotte, where the Buccaneers are set to play the Panthers under sunny skies and mild temperatures around 65 to 70 degrees. After dealing with some less cooperative conditions in recent weeks, the setting at Bank of America Stadium should be about as clean as it gets for an offense trying to get back on track, with no rain expected and only a moderate breeze in the forecast.
The wind, listed around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, should not force any real changes to Tampa Bay's game plan, especially with Baker Mayfield on track to return after missing three games because of a thumb injury. It could still be enough to add a little difficulty on the edges of the operation, particularly for the kicking game and for any longer punts, but the bigger picture is simple: the Buccaneers should be able to lean on their passing attack without the weather getting in the way. [Read more 🡒]