# Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) Week 7 Preview vs Carolina Panthers (3-2): Prediction, Depth Chart, Injuries, Odds Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-1-5-week-7-preview-vs-carolina-panthers-3-2-prediction-depth-chart-in > Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit a surging Carolina Panthers team Sunday with Baker Mayfield banged up and Emeka Egbuka out. By Rhett Zone ยท Published 2026-10-24 17:24 UTC _Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._ [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/tampa-bay-buccaneers) arrive at Bank of America Stadium riding a one-game skid, walking into a [Carolina Panthers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/carolina-panthers) team that's won two straight and looks like it's trending the right way. ## 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 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5, L1) travel to face the Carolina Panthers (3-2, W2) on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with kickoff at 1:00 PM ET at Bank of America Stadium, broadcast on Fox. Tampa Bay has scored 119 points and allowed 138 this season, while Carolina has outscored opponents 146-123. Tampa Bay's last outing ended in a 19-26 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, a game that went to overtime, following a 24-16 road win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. Before that stretch the Buccaneers dropped games to the Green Bay Packers (14-17), the Minnesota Vikings (16-23) and the Cleveland Browns (19-23). Carolina, meanwhile, beat the Philadelphia Eagles 25-14 on the road in Week 6 and knocked off the Detroit Lions 32-26 at home in Week 4, with a loss to the Browns (18-21) and a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons (34-3) mixed in. Carolina is favored by 3.0 with the total set at 44.5, and the market score has the Panthers winning 24-21. The series is close overall, with Carolina leading 26-25, but Tampa Bay has won six of the last seven meetings. Head coach Todd Bowles is 6-3 against this opponent including the postseason, while Dave Canales is 1-3 in the same measure. ## 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. [Chuba Hubbard](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chuba-hubbard) led Carolina with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 6 and is chasing his fourth straight game with 110-plus scrimmage yards. [Bucky Irving](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bucky-irving) has topped 60 scrimmage yards in two of his last three games and is going for his third straight road game with 90-plus scrimmage yards and a touchdown after putting up 98 scrimmage yards in the last meeting with Carolina. [Chris Godwin Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-godwin-jr) has racked up 63 receptions for 863 yards and two touchdown catches in 13 career games against Carolina. [Tetairoa McMillan](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tetairoa-mcmillan) caught six passes for 86 yards in Week 6 and has gone for 75-plus receiving yards in five of his last six games. ## Keys to the game Tampa Bay needs [Baker Mayfield](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/baker-mayfield), who is questionable with a thumb injury, to find rhythm quickly with [Emeka Egbuka](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka) sidelined by a concussion, leaning harder on Chris Godwin Jr. underneath. The Buccaneers have to ride Bucky Irving, who has produced 70-plus scrimmage yards in every career game he's played against Carolina. Tampa Bay's defense has to find a way to slow down Bryce Young and Chuba Hubbard, who have both been rolling the last several weeks for Carolina. ## Fantasy angles Baker Mayfield is a risky start at 12.5 projected points given his questionable thumb status heading into Sunday. Bucky Irving is a confident start at 12.0 projected points, especially with his track record of big scrimmage-yard games against Carolina. Emeka Egbuka is a clear sit this week since he's out with a concussion. [Chase McLaughlin](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chase-mclaughlin) is a solid streaming option at kicker with an 8.3 point projection. Chris Godwin Jr. is a low-end flex option at 6.0 projected points, though his career production against Carolina gives him some upside. ## Prediction The market has Carolina winning this one 24-21, and that lines up with where both teams are trending. The Panthers are riding a two-game win streak with Bryce Young throwing the ball well and Chuba Hubbard finding the end zone, while Tampa Bay is dealing with a banged-up Baker Mayfield and no Emeka Egbuka to lean on. Bucky Irving gives the Buccaneers a path to keep it close, but expect Carolina to pull away late for the 24-21 final the market projects. ## 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 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB | Baker Mayfield - RB | Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell - WR | Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Ted Hurst III - TE | Cade Otton ## Recent results - Team | Last games - Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Wk6 L 19-26 vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Wk5 W 24-16 vs Dallas Cowboys, Wk4 L 14-17 vs Green Bay Packers [**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