Tampa Bay Buccaneers rout Panthers 43-13, force four turnovers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Oct. 25, 2026, in Charlotte. The Associated Press reported that the Buccaneers forced four turnovers and that Bucky Irving had two rushing touchdowns. ESPN’s game summary showed Tampa Bay improved to 2-5 overall and 2-1 on the road. Tampa Bay built a decisive lead by halftime.
Baker Mayfield, recovering from a dislocated thumb and wearing a protective glove on his throwing hand, played and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson with four seconds remaining in the second quarter. Kicker Chase McLaughlin converted field goals of 22 and 44 yards and handled the extra points for the Buccaneers. The touchdown to Johnson extended Tampa Bay’s lead just before halftime. McLaughlin also converted extra points after Tampa Bay touchdowns.
Bucky Irving scored on runs of 4 and 1 yards, anchoring the Buccaneers’ ground game. Sean Tucker added a 46-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to close out the rout. Calijah Kancey returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown, and Zyon McCollum returned a blocked PAT for a defensive two-point conversion. Overall, Tampa Bay forced four turnovers, and those takeaways contributed directly to the final margin.
Carolina answered with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Darren Waller in the second quarter, but the Panthers had the ensuing PAT blocked. Anthony Tyus III later added a 12-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Carolina could not overcome the deficit. ESPN’s summary listed the Panthers at 3-3 following the loss.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Buccaneers won this game by converting turnovers into points and by sustaining a productive rushing attack. Defensive scoring by Kancey and McCollum, combined with Irving’s two short touchdown runs, created a buffer that Carolina could not erase. Forcing four turnovers proved decisive in the 43-13 final. If Tampa Bay continues to win the turnover battle while protecting Mayfield’s hand, the defense’s playmaking could help the Buccaneers secure additional wins.