CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dismantled the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on the road Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, piling up 258 rushing yards and five sacks in a dominant performance across all three phases of the game.
RB Bucky Irving led the ground attack with 106 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns, his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. OLB Yaya Diaby wrecked the Panthers’ offense from the other side of the ball, recording three sacks and three total tackles against QB Bryce Young.
Tampa Bay’s 33 first-half points were the third-most in franchise history. The Buccaneers outgained Carolina 147 rushing yards to 114 total yards in the first two quarters, a margin that set the tone for the afternoon.
The Bucs opened the scoring on a 14-play, 70-yard drive capped by a four-yard Irving touchdown run, then extended the lead to 17-0 when DL Calijah Kancey scooped up a strip-sack fumble forced by OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad and returned it for a touchdown. TE Darren Waller pulled Carolina within 17-6 on a 50-yard touchdown reception, but the Panthers’ extra point attempt was blocked by Tykee Smith and returned for two points by Zyon McCollum, pushing the lead to 19-6. Irving added a one-yard scoring run to make it 26-6, and QB Baker Mayfield - who finished 7 of 11 for 64 yards and one touchdown - scrambled right and threw off-platform to a wide-open WR Tez Johnson in the end zone for a 33-6 halftime advantage. Johnson finished with 2 receptions for 33 yards and the score.
Diaby opened the second half with two more sacks on Young, and a Chase McLaughlin 44-yard field goal stretched the lead to 36-6 after three quarters. RB Sean Tucker broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run early in the fourth, pushing Tampa Bay’s advantage to 43-6 before Carolina scored a late consolation touchdown on a 12-yard Anthony Tyus III run to set the final at 43-13.
Young finished 14 of 27 for 163 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Carolina. RB Chubba Hubbard managed just 33 yards on seven carries, while LB Bobby Okereke led the Panthers’ defense with 10 total tackles.
The Buccaneers, now 2-5 on the season, return to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. ET.