The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have endured a depressing begin to the 2026 NFL season, shedding 5 of their first seven video games. But after a dominant Week 7 win over Carolina and one other Panthers loss Thursday evening, Tampa Bay can transfer inside half a recreation of first within the NFC South.
The Buccaneers improved to 2-5 with Sunday’s 43-13 victory over Carolina, their first divisional matchup of the season. The Panthers adopted that defeat with a 27-19 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Thursday Evening Soccer, dropping to 3-4 and opening the door for Tampa Bay forward of Sunday’s matchup with Atlanta.
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Carolina’s struggles additionally prompted a training change. In accordance with the Panthers’ official announcement, head coach Dave Canales fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing recreation coordinator Jonathan Cooley on Friday. Line of defense coach Todd Wash was named interim defensive coordinator and can assume play-calling tasks.
The Panthers allowed 70 factors of their consecutive losses to Tampa Bay and Inexperienced Bay. Carolina has surrendered 27.6 factors per recreation this season, rating twenty seventh within the NFL, and now faces the problem of correcting its protection whereas attempting to keep up its division lead.
Coming into Sunday’s video games, Carolina and Atlanta are tied at 3-4 atop the NFC South, adopted by Tampa Bay and New Orleans at 2-5. A Buccaneers victory over the Falcons would enhance their file to 3-5 whereas dropping Atlanta to the identical mark. Tampa Bay would transfer into second place due to its head-to-head win and sit simply half a recreation behind Carolina.
Extra importantly, the Buccaneers would enhance to 2-0 in opposition to NFC South opponents after beginning the season 1-5. They already maintain a head-to-head victory over Carolina and will add one other in opposition to Atlanta, giving them an early benefit in potential divisional tiebreakers.
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Tampa Bay’s general file stays troublesome to miss, however the NFC South has given few groups with 5 losses this early within the season this opportunity. No staff within the division at the moment has a successful file, and the Buccaneers nonetheless have 5 divisional video games remaining.
Sunday’s matchup in opposition to Atlanta is a chance to show a promising consequence in opposition to Carolina into one thing extra significant. A win would not erase Tampa Bay’s early struggles, however it will put the Buccaneers inside hanging distance of the division lead with 9 video games left.
This text initially appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers can shut NFC South hole to half a recreation in Week 8
