The 3-2 Carolina Panthers play in their second NFC South matchup of the season as they take on the 1-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium.
Sunday features an important division game that could help the Panthers out down the road with an increased division lead ahead of Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. To win this game, Carolina could be in for another tight battle.
With that in mind, here are three bold Panthers predictions for Week 7 against the Buccaneers.
Bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers in Week 7 against the Buccaneers
Devin Lloyd has massive performance with Kuechly ceremony
Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly will be honored at halftime, and given how the team’s linebackers have been playing this season, the days of having a routine big game each week from the starting off-ball defenders are firmly back.
Following Bobby Okereke’s big game last weekend in Philadelphia, starting MIKE linebacker Devin Lloyd follows up with a stout performance of his own.
The Panthers' defense swarms the Buccaneers on the ground, continuing their incredible stretch of great play. Lloyd tallies a team-leading 12 tackles, three for loss, one sack, and an interception.
Princely Umanmielen picks up the tab for Jaelan Phillips
With Jaelan Phillips out this week with a hamstring injury, the Panthers will be relying on outside linebackers Princely Umanmielen and Patrick Jones II.
We’ve been waiting for a breakout performance from one of these edge defenders. In the preseason, Phillips called Umamielen the team’s best pure pass rusher, and while the pressure rate has been there, the sacks are bound to come.
On Sunday, it does.
Umanmielen has a terrific game, leading Carolina in total pressures with two sacks, all drive-ending plays that lead to potential scoring drives for the offense.
Another week, another quality offensive performance
Two of Bryce Young’s “bad” games this season, against the Cleveland Browns and last week versus the Eagles, were still impressive, with big numbers and downfield aggression. Regression from this offense and the quarterback was widely predicted, and it has yet to happen.
The Buccaneers may have a good defense, but they haven’t faced an explosive offense like Carolina. The consistent production and big plays continue for offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Young, who completes around 70 percent of his passes for at least 290 yards and a touchdown.
Tampa Bay has shut down the run all season long, but that ends on Sunday as running back Chuba Hubbard adds another 100-yard game to his 2026 resume.
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