NFL Football BETTING PREVIEW - Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

NFL Football

2026-10-25 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
United States : NFL Week 7
Sunday 25th October 2026 - Scheduled 1pm EST
5pm (British Time)

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Preview

In recent seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) had dominated the NFC South, but the Carolina Panthers (3-2) broke their hold on the Division in 2025. Once again it is Carolina leading the way through the early part of the 2026 season, but it has been a really disappointing opening for Tampa Bay who need this win to just give themselves a realistic hope of getting back into the mix.

This is the first Divisional game of the season for the Buccaneers, but they would not want to fall five games below 0.500 with over a third of the regular season schedule completed. They will also be aware that the Panthers are already 1-0 in NFC South games in 2026 and so the return of Baker Mayfield could not have come at a better time for the road team.

Baker Mayfield has missed three games in a row and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a spark on the Offensive side of the ball, but this may not be as comfortable a match up as it may have felt before his injury.

Over the last three games, the Carolina Defensive unit have toughened up and that has all begun at the Line of Scrimmage where they have looked to make things more difficult for teams trying to run the ball against them. This has been a problem for the Panthers earlier in the season, but they will feel they can at least slow down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bucky Irving and that will give the Panthers some real belief if they are able to do that.

Tampa Bay's Offensive Line have been strong when it comes to the run blocking, but they have not been as comfortable keeping a Quarter Back upright, even though Jalon Daniels has been able to use his legs to move the pocket around. The Buccaneers may feel the experience of Baker Mayfield is key though and he is going to be throwing into a Secondary that has given up some big plays, although injuries in the Receiving corps will make things that much more difficult.

The Buccaneers and Mayfield struggled in a road loss here last season and they are facing a Carolina Panthers team that have looked more confident in 2026 having played in the post-season at the end of 2025.

Everything has come down to the development of Bryce Young who is now an established starter at Quarter Back and who can pick up from where he left off in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.

Carolina will want to stay balanced and run the ball, although they are facing a Buccaneers Defensive Line that has been pretty strong at the Line of Scrimmage. That will not see the Panthers change the plan and Bryce Young is capable of tucking the ball and running for First Down markers himself, and it is important to give the Quarter Back the open playbook to attack this Tampa Bay Secondary.

If the Panthers can at least keep Tampa Bay thinking about the run, Bryce Young and company should be able to make some big plays against this Secondary and that should give them the edge in this contest. There has been some problems for Tampa Bay against the pass in recent weeks and Carolina should be able to exploit that in their bid to beat this Divisional rival.

Bryce Young may get a little longer in the pocket than he has been used to in recent outings, and that should allow the Panthers to move the ball with some consistency.

A returning Baker Mayfield will give the Buccaneers a boost, but they may also struggle to lift themselves after some recent disappointments and the Carolina Panthers are good enough to win and cover.

Prediction

Lay the points with the home favourite in this NFC South clash.

The Pick :

Carolina Panthers 23-17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3 Points at +100 with Bovada