Quick answer: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Sunday, 25 October in Charlotte. A 26-point second quarter broke the game open, the Bucs ran for 258 yards on 49 carries, sacked Bryce Young five times and won the turnover battle 4-0.
Bucs vs Panthers: score by quarter
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 43 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
Scoring summary
- TB: Bucky Irving 4-yard TD run
- TB: Bucky Irving 1-yard TD run
- TB: Chase McLaughlin 22-yard field goal
- TB: A. Muhammad strip-sacks Bryce Young; Calijah Kancey recovers in the end zone for a defensive TD
- CAR: Bryce Young 50-yard TD pass to Darren Waller — extra point blocked and returned by Z. McCollum for a defensive two-point conversion
- TB: Baker Mayfield 14-yard TD pass to T. Johnson
- TB: Chase McLaughlin 44-yard field goal
- TB: Sean Tucker 46-yard TD run
- CAR: A. Tyus 12-yard TD run
The second quarter was the whole game. Tampa Bay turned a 7-0 lead into 33-6 at half-time, scoring on offence, defence and special teams in the same period. The blocked PAT returned for two points summed up Carolina’s afternoon: even the Panthers’ best play, Young’s 50-yarder to Waller, ended with points going the other way.
Key team stats
| Category | Buccaneers | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing | 258 yards (49 carries) | — |
| Total yards | — | 266 |
| Sacks | 5 | — |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 (2 fumbles lost, 2 INT) |
| Time of possession | 35:57 | 24:03 |
What it means
For Tampa Bay
This was a complete performance: a ground game that controlled the clock for almost 36 minutes, a pass rush that lived in Carolina’s backfield, and zero giveaways. Irving’s two short scores and Tucker’s 46-yard burst show the depth in the backfield, which lets Mayfield play off play-action rather than carry the offence.
For Carolina
Four turnovers and five sacks allowed is a hard combination to survive against anyone. The Panthers moved the ball in spurts — 266 total yards — but a strip-sack touchdown and a blocked extra point gave Tampa Bay 8 points without its offence on the field.
What’s next
- Panthers: at Green Bay on Thursday Night Football, 29 October — a short week after a heavy loss.
- Buccaneers: host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, 1 November in a division game.
FAQ
Who won Bucs vs Panthers?
Tampa Bay won 43-13 in Carolina on 25 October 2026.
Who scored touchdowns for the Buccaneers?
Bucky Irving (2 rushing), Calijah Kancey (fumble recovery), T. Johnson (14-yard catch from Baker Mayfield) and Sean Tucker (46-yard run).
How many turnovers did the Panthers commit?
Four — two lost fumbles and two interceptions. Tampa Bay committed none.
When do the Panthers play next?
Thursday, 29 October at the Green Bay Packers.
Related: Seahawks vs Chiefs SNF recap · Dolphins vs Jets recap
Sources: NFL play-by-play and team stats (Sportradar); Google Trends US.
