Panthers lead NFC South and host Buccaneers in first divisional game
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The gist
The Carolina Panthers (3-2, 1-0) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday atop the NFC South.
A win would move Carolina to 2-0 in the division for the first time since 2022.
Background
The Carolina Panthers are an NFL team that beat the Philadelphia Eagles 25-14 on the road in Week 6 to reach 3-2. They now lead the NFC South (the NFL's NFC South division) and open divisional play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Dave Canales spent a year on staff with Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles in 2023. Tampa Bay's quarterback situation is unsettled: Baker Mayfield, the incumbent starter, dislocated his throwing-hand thumb in the Week 3 loss, and Bowles said early in the week the team would plan as if rookie Jalon Daniels were playing.
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026Carolina beat the Eagles 25-14 in Philadelphia behind Bryce Young's 281 passing yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions; the Panthers outgained Philadelphia 399-222. Carolina was flagged 13 times for 149 yards, which Canales called "outrageous."
- Oct 18, 2026JJ Jansen became the league's all-time leader in games played by a long snapper.
- Oct 20, 2026The Panthers released their Week 7 depth chart: Taylor Moton returned as starting right tackle, Monroe Freeling was listed as his backup, and rookie tackle Albert Reese was waived Tuesday.
- Oct 23, 2026The Buccaneers announced quarterback Baker Mayfield was good to go this week; the Panthers-Buccaneers game was set for Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:00 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium on FOX.
- Oct 24, 2026The Week 7 Friday injury report ruled out outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Thomas Incoom; rookie tackle Monroe Freeling was questionable despite practicing fully all week.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Canales said the Buccaneers matchup is a division opponent first and foremost, that Tampa Bay is very physical, and that it usually comes down to who has the ball last.
- Official
- Canales said of the 13 penalties for 149 yards: "That's not our football."
- Caution
- Bowles told reporters at the start of the week that Tampa Bay would move forward with game plans as if rookie Jalon Daniels were playing.
Still unverified
Baker Mayfield is pushing to return to the field, but there are still markers the Buccaneers want him to reach, according to reports; the Panthers defense is game-planning without being entirely certain who they will face at quarterback on Sunday.