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Panthers: Carolina falls to Tampa Bay 43-13 at home, drops to 3-3

The Panthers lost 43-13 on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. Tampa Bay led 33-6 at halftime. Carolina is 3-3. Scoring is from the team's Week 7 game center.

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Newsroom · Published

What we know

Confirmed

  • The Carolina Panthers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 43-13 on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The team's Week 7 game center lists that final, the stadium, and a home game. Carolina is 3-3. Tampa Bay is 2-5.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers Week 7 game center
  • Tampa Bay led 33-6 at halftime. The game center scoring summary lists a 33-6 score after the second quarter (Buccaneers 7-26, Panthers 0-6 through two periods).Confirmed by Carolina Panthers Week 7 game center scoring summary; Carolina Panthers recap, Oct. 25, 2026
  • The scoring summary on the team's game center lists every score: Bucky Irving 4-yard run (7-0); Chase McLaughlin 22-yard field goal (10-0); Calijah Kancey 32-yard fumble return (17-0); Darren Waller 50-yard pass from Bryce Young, extra point blocked, Zyon McCollum defensive two-point conversion (19-6); Irving 1-yard run (26-6); Tez Johnson 14-yard pass from Baker Mayfield (33-6); McLaughlin 44-yard field goal (36-6); Sean Tucker 46-yard run (43-6); Anthony Tyus 12-yard run (43-13).Confirmed by Carolina Panthers Week 7 game center scoring summary
  • A team recap posted Sunday said Tampa Bay ran for 147 yards in the first half and finished with 258 rushing yards. The NFL's game summary lists 258 net rushing yards on 49 carries, and Irving with 24 carries for 106 yards and two rushing touchdowns.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers recap, Oct. 25, 2026; NFL Week 7 game summary
  • The same team recap said Carolina's offense turned the ball over three times and allowed five sacks. The Associated Press recap, posted on ESPN, wrote that Tampa Bay forced four turnovers. The team recap also described a David Moore muffed punt that led to a field goal.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers recap, Oct. 25, 2026; Associated Press recap via ESPN
  • The team recap said Young finished 14-of-27 for 163 yards, with one touchdown pass and two interceptions, and that Kenny Pickett replaced him in the fourth quarter.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers recap, Oct. 25, 2026
  • The team recap framed the afternoon around honoring Luke Kuechly. The Associated Press recap, posted on ESPN, wrote that Kuechly received his Hall of Fame ring at halftime.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers recap, Oct. 25, 2026; Associated Press recap via ESPN
  • The team recap said right tackle Taylor Moton left on a cart in the third quarter with an ankle/fibula injury and did not return.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers recap, Oct. 25, 2026
  • The Panthers' 2026 schedule lists Green Bay next, on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8:15 p.m. Eastern, on the road.Confirmed by Carolina Panthers 2026 schedule

Still unknown

  • A direct team-site line for Irving's 106 rushing yards. The NFL game summary and the Associated Press recap both list 106 yards and two rushing scores; the Panthers recap gives the team rushing totals, not Irving's full line
  • How the team counts the muffed punt against the "three offensive turnovers" line in its recap

What happened

The Carolina Panthers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 43-13 on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Carolina is 3-3. Tampa Bay is 2-5. The team's Week 7 game center lists the same final, the stadium, and a home game.

How they scored

The scoring summary on the Panthers' game center lists every score:

  • First quarter: Bucky Irving 4-yard run (Chase McLaughlin kick), 7-0
  • Second quarter: McLaughlin 22-yard field goal, 10-0
  • Second quarter: Calijah Kancey 32-yard fumble return (McLaughlin kick), 17-0
  • Second quarter: Darren Waller 50-yard pass from Bryce Young; extra point blocked, Zyon McCollum defensive two-point conversion, 19-6
  • Second quarter: Irving 1-yard run (McLaughlin kick), 26-6
  • Second quarter: Tez Johnson 14-yard pass from Baker Mayfield (McLaughlin kick), 33-6
  • Third quarter: McLaughlin 44-yard field goal, 36-6
  • Fourth quarter: Sean Tucker 46-yard run (McLaughlin kick), 43-6
  • Fourth quarter: Anthony Tyus 12-yard run (Ryan Fitzgerald kick), 43-13

That board shows Tampa Bay ahead 33-6 at the half.

What the team recap and league summary added

A Panthers recap posted Sunday said Tampa Bay ran for 147 yards before halftime and 258 for the game. The NFL's written game summary lists 258 net rushing yards on 49 carries. It lists Irving with 24 carries, 106 yards, and the two short rushing scores.

The recap said Carolina's offense turned the ball over three times and was sacked five times. It also described a David Moore muffed punt that set up a field goal. The Associated Press recap, which ESPN posted, wrote that Tampa Bay forced four turnovers.

Young's line in the team recap was 14-of-27 for 163 yards, one touchdown throw, and two interceptions. The same recap said Kenny Pickett took over in the fourth quarter. It said right tackle Taylor Moton left on a cart in the third quarter with an ankle/fibula injury and did not return.

The recap framed the afternoon around honoring Luke Kuechly. The Associated Press recap wrote that Kuechly received his Hall of Fame ring at halftime.

What's next

The team's 2026 schedule lists Green Bay on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8:15 p.m. Eastern, on the road.

Why it matters

The Panthers are North Carolina's NFL team and have a large following in the Triangle. Sunday's loss dropped them to 3-3 heading into a Thursday night game at Green Bay.

Sources

  1. Buccaneers vs. Panthers | 2026 Week 7 Game Center (final 43-13; Bank of America Stadium; Buccaneers 2-5, Panthers 3-3; scoring summary)

    Official sourcePublished by Carolina Panthers · Checked Oct 26, 2026, 10:20 AM

  2. Rapid Reactions: Panthers fall to Bucs at home (43-13; 3-3; Bank of America Stadium; 33-6 at half; 147 first-half rushing yards allowed; 258 rushing yards allowed; three offensive turnovers; five sacks; Young 14-of-27, 163 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions; Luke Kuechly day; Moton carted off)

    Official sourcePublished by Carolina Panthers · Checked Oct 26, 2026, 10:20 AM

  3. National Football League Game Summary, Tampa Bay at Carolina, Oct. 25, 2026 (Bank of America Stadium; final 43-13; Irving 24-106-2 rushing; Buccaneers 49 rushes, 258 net rushing yards)

    Official sourcePublished by NFL · Checked Oct 26, 2026, 10:20 AM

  4. Bucky Irving runs for 2 TDs and Bucs force 4 turnovers in 43-13 rout of Panthers (Associated Press recap on ESPN: Irving 106 yards and two rushing touchdowns; 258 yards on 49 carries; four turnovers; 33-6 at half; Buccaneers 2-5; Panthers 3-3; Kuechly Hall of Fame ring at halftime; next at Green Bay Thursday night)

    Published by Associated Press / ESPN · Checked Oct 26, 2026, 10:20 AM

  5. Associated Press recap on AP News (same Week 7 result; this file uses the ESPN reprint we could read in full)

    Published by Associated Press · Checked Oct 26, 2026, 10:20 AM

  6. Panthers 2026 schedule (Week 7 L 13-43; Week 8 at Green Bay, Thursday, Oct. 29, 8:15 p.m. Eastern)

    Official sourcePublished by Carolina Panthers · Checked Oct 26, 2026, 10:20 AM

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