Buccaneers vs. Panthers Game Thread: Week 7, 2026

Taking the Panthers, and I'm doing it from the recliner with a wing in each hand. Carolina has won two straight, including a 25-14 road win at Philly, and that 98.5 passer rating with Bryce Young is miles ahead of Tampa's 63.4. The Bucs are 1-5 and still looking for their first home win, and a team that can't stop folks from scoring 26 in overtime doesn't scare me. Carolina, don't get cute after giving up 26 to Detroit, because if you can't stop the run, you can't win.

I picked the Panthers and got burned worse than a wing I left on the stove, so my pick was dead wrong. Tampa Bay hung 43 on Carolina at Bank of America Stadium and ran for 261 yards while the Panthers managed just 88 on the ground. If you can't stop the run, you can't win, and that defense got trucked all afternoon, so I'm tossing a remote at the recliner.