Bucs Tame Cats
- Updated: October 27, 2026
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers delivered a dominant performance on Sunday, October 25, defeating the Carolina Panthers 43–13 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The victory was especially important for Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield, who returned after missing three games with a dislocated right thumb. The Buccaneers established control immediately, marching 70 yards on their opening possession for a touchdown by running back Bucky Irving. Tampa Bay also took advantage of a muffed Carolina punt to add a field goal, and the Buccaneers carried a commanding 33–6 lead into halftime.
Tampa Bay’s running game was the driving force behind the victory. Irving rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, while Sean Tucker broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and Kenny Gainwell contributed 88 rushing yards. Mayfield kept his workload limited, completing seven of 11 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Tez Johnson. The Buccaneers finished with an impressive 258 rushing yards, consistently finding openings in a Carolina defense that had struggled to contain opposing ground attacks.
The Buccaneers’ defense and special teams proved just as decisive as the offense. Tampa Bay forced four turnovers, intercepted Panthers quarterback Bryce Young twice, and sacked him five times. Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey returned a forced fumble 32 yards for a touchdown, while safety Tykee Smith blocked an extra-point attempt that cornerback Zyon McCollum returned for two points. Young finished with 163 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, as Carolina struggled to find an offensive rhythm until late in the game. The 30-point victory gave Tampa Bay a much-needed boost after a difficult start to the season, while the Panthers were left to regroup following a costly divisional defeat.
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