CHARLOTTE — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, mired at 1-5 after blowing a 13-point fourth-quarter lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers, travel to Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 25 to face the division-leading Carolina Panthers in the first of six NFC South matchups that represent the Buccaneers’ best path back to relevance in 2026.
The Buccaneers held a 16-3 advantage heading into the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh before quarterback Jalon Daniels was intercepted twice in the period, allowing the Steelers to score on four straight possessions and take a 19-16 lead. Kicker Chase McLaughlin’s 53-yard field goal forced overtime, but Pittsburgh scored a touchdown on the opening possession and Tampa Bay could not answer. The defense finished with a season-high five sacks, two of them from emerging young pass rusher David Walker.
Carolina enters the matchup at 3-2 and as the defending NFC South champions, having won a three-way tiebreaker over the Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons last season. The two clubs split their two meetings in the final three weeks of that campaign.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is playing at a high level heading into Sunday’s game. Young threw for 281 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a Week Six win in Philadelphia, holding the Eagles’ depleted offense to 222 yards. On the season, Young has thrown for 11 touchdowns against two interceptions and is averaging 309.8 yards per game.
Running back Chuba Hubbard has been equally productive for Carolina, coming off a 120-yard, one-touchdown performance against Philadelphia.
The two franchises have met 51 times all-time. A Buccaneers victory Sunday would even the all-time series at 26-26. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast locally on FOX.