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Bucs Run Wild in Charlotte: Tampa Bay Pounds Carolina 43-13

Published

11 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked into Bank of America Stadium with one win in six games and walked out with a statement. Tampa Bay ran over, through and away from the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, 43-13, in a division game that was decided by halftime.

With Baker Mayfield still nursing a thumb injury, the Bucs leaned on the ground game and the Panthers never found an answer. Tampa Bay piled up 258 rushing yards, led by Bucky Irving, who carried 24 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Tucker broke the game open for good in the fourth quarter, ripping off a 46-yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 43-6.

Mayfield threw only nine passes in the first half, but one of them made history. Rolling right with four seconds left in the second quarter, he found Tez Johnson for a 14-yard score — the 200th touchdown pass of Mayfield’s career — and the Bucs took a 33-6 lead into the locker room.

The defense made sure it stood up. Tampa Bay sacked Bryce Young five times and forced three turnovers — interceptions by Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith plus a strip-sack. McCollum also authored the rarest play of the afternoon: after Carolina’s extra point was blocked in the second quarter, he scooped up the loose ball and returned it the length of the field for a defensive two-point conversion.

Carolina’s points came on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Young to Darren Waller and a 12-yard touchdown run by Anthony “Tre” Tyus III late in the fourth — the first touchdown of the rookie’s career.

The win lifts Tampa Bay to 2-5 heading into next Sunday’s home date with Atlanta. Carolina falls to 3-4 and turns around quickly, traveling to Green Bay on Thursday night.

We Speak NFL

Smith-Njigba, Wilson Lead Seahawks Past Chiefs 20-3 on Sunday Night, Handing Kansas City Its First Loss

Published

3 hours ago

October 26, 2026

We Speak Media

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) scores a touchdown in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane (5) during the first half at Lumen Field in Seattle on Oct. 25, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown and Emanuel Wilson rushed for 100 yards and a score as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 on Sunday night at Lumen Field, handing Kansas City its first loss of the season.

Sam Darnold completed 20 of 28 passes for 257 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Seattle (4-3), which snapped a two-game skid and outgained Kansas City 410-213. The Seahawks converted 11 of 16 third downs, while the Chiefs managed just 3 of 11 and never reached the red zone.

After a scoreless first quarter, Seattle opened the scoring on Jason Myers’ 25-yard field goal with 8:22 left in the second quarter, set up by a 33-yard Darnold completion to Smith-Njigba. On Kansas City’s next series, safety Ty Okada intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass intended for Jalen Royals, and Darnold finished the ensuing drive with a 28-yard touchdown strike to Smith-Njigba down the left sideline with 1:44 left in the half. Smith-Njigba was originally ruled out of bounds inside the 1, but a video review determined the ball had crossed the goal line, giving Seattle a 10-0 lead.

Seattle threatened again in the closing seconds of the half, reaching the Kansas City 2, but cornerback Nohl Williams intercepted Darnold in the back of the end zone and returned it 64 yards. Harrison Butker’s 58-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half fell short, leaving the score 10-0.

Myers added a 35-yard field goal on Seattle’s opening drive of the second half to make it 13-0. Kansas City’s lone score came on Butker’s 50-yard field goal with 1:42 left in the third quarter. Early in the fourth, Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for 19 yards to move into scoring range, but Butker missed a 45-yard attempt wide right. Seattle put the game away on Wilson’s 21-yard touchdown run around the left end with 3:47 remaining, capping a nine-play, 65-yard drive. Wilson finished with 24 carries.

Mahomes was 19 of 33 passing for 165 yards with an interception for the Chiefs (5-1), who played without wide receiver Rashee Rice. It was a quiet homecoming for running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl LX MVP for Seattle last season before signing with Kansas City. Walker, who entered the night as the NFL rushing leader averaging 133 yards per game, was limited to 36 yards on 14 carries. Kelce’s four catches for 44 yards gave him 1,104 receptions for his career, moving him past Marvin Harrison and Cris Carter into fifth place in NFL history.

Kansas City visits the Denver Broncos next Sunday in a matchup for the AFC West lead. Seattle hosts the Chicago Bears on Monday, Nov. 2.