# Carolina Panthers (3-2) Week 7 Preview vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5): Prediction, Depth Chart, Injuries, Odds Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/carolina-panthers-3-2-week-7-preview-vs-tampa-bay-buccaneers-1-5-prediction-depth-chart-in > Carolina Panthers aim for a third straight win as they host a reeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Week 7. By Rhett Zone · Published 2026-10-24 18:22 UTC _Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._ The [Carolina Panthers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/carolina-panthers) ride a two-game winning streak into a Sunday home date with a [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/tampa-bay-buccaneers) team that's lost five of its last six. ## Game details - When | Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET - Where | Bank of America Stadium - TV | Fox - Line | Carolina Panthers -3 | O/U 44.5 (market view) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers record | 1-5 - Carolina Panthers record | 3-2 ## Overview Kickoff is set for Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET at Bank of America Stadium, with the game airing on Fox. Weather should be a non-factor: clear skies, 63 degrees and 11 mph wind with no chance of rain. The Panthers enter at 3-2 on a two-game winning streak, while the Buccaneers stumble in at 1-5 having dropped their last outing. Carolina's recent form has been up and down but trending the right way. The Panthers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 25-14 on the road in Week 6, following a 32-26 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 4, though they lost 18-21 at the Cleveland Browns in Week 3. They also blew out the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 in Week 2 before an ugly 37-59 loss to the Chicago Bears to open the season. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, lost 19-26 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 in Week 5, then dropped games to the Green Bay Packers (14-17), Minnesota Vikings (16-23) and Cleveland Browns (19-23) in the weeks before that. The numbers back up Carolina as the side with momentum. The Panthers have outscored opponents 146-123 on the season, while the Buccaneers sit at 119 points for and 138 against. The market agrees, installing Carolina as a 3.0-point favorite with a total of 44.5. Tampa Bay also walks in banged up, with quarterback [Baker Mayfield](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/baker-mayfield) questionable with a thumb injury and leading wideout [Emeka Egbuka](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka) ruled out with a concussion, which only widens the gap on paper. ## Key players [Bryce Young](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bryce-young) threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns for a 91.9 rating in Week 6 and is aiming for his seventh straight game with a touchdown pass and sixth straight with 280-plus passing yards. [Chuba Hubbard](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chuba-hubbard) led the Panthers with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 6, has scored in four of his last five games, and is chasing a fourth straight outing with 110-plus scrimmage yards. [Tetairoa McMillan](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tetairoa-mcmillan) caught six passes for 86 yards in Week 6 and has topped 75 receiving yards in five of his last six games. Baker Mayfield has thrown for 615 yards and two touchdowns across three games this season and is looking for a third straight game with a touchdown pass, though he's questionable with a thumb injury. [Bucky Irving](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bucky-irving) has posted 60-plus scrimmage yards in two of his last three games and is chasing his third straight road game with 90-plus scrimmage yards and a touchdown. ## Keys to the game Keep riding Chuba Hubbard on the ground — he's scored in four of his last five games and just piled up 120 rushing yards. Let Bryce Young keep pushing the ball downfield since he's strung together six straight games with 280-plus passing yards. Contain Bucky Irving, who has topped 70 scrimmage yards in each of his four career games against Carolina. ## Fantasy angles Start Bryce Young with confidence — he's projected for 20.0 DraftKings points and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in five of his last six games. Chuba Hubbard is a clear start at 18.5 projected points, especially with a touchdown in four of his last five outings. Tetairoa McMillan slots in as a solid start at 16.0 projected points off back-to-back strong receiving weeks. [Jalen Coker](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jalen-coker) is a flex-worthy option at 13.0 projected points after a team-high 97 receiving yards in Week 6. [Ryan Fitzgerald](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ryan-fitzgerald) is a fine streaming option at kicker, projected for 8.7 points. ## Prediction The market sets this one at Carolina Panthers 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, lining up with Carolina's 3.0-point edge and the 44.5 total. That number fits a Panthers team riding momentum behind Bryce Young and Chuba Hubbard against a Buccaneers offense dealing with injuries at quarterback and receiver. ## Injury report - Player | Team | Pos | Status - Antoine Winfield Jr. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | S | Out - Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | QB | Questionable - Emeka Egbuka | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | Out - Luke Goedeke | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | OT | Out - Christian Rozeboom | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LB | Did not practice (no game status yet) - Bam Martin-Scott | Carolina Panthers | LB | Questionable - Jaelan Phillips | Carolina Panthers | LB | Out - Monroe Freeling | Carolina Panthers | OT | Questionable - Thomas Incoom | Carolina Panthers | LB | Out ## Depth chart - Pos | Carolina Panthers - QB | Bryce Young - RB | Chuba Hubbard, AJ Dillon - WR | Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Brycen Tremayne - TE | Tommy Tremble ## Recent results - Team | Last games - Carolina Panthers | Wk6 W 25-14 vs Philadelphia Eagles, Wk4 W 32-26 vs Detroit Lions, Wk3 L 18-21 vs Cleveland Browns [**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/100) *Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts). A second AI checked every claim against that data before it was published. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).* From Pro Football News Hub. More at https://profootballnewshub.com/llms.txt