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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers higher than the Carolina Panthers overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the stronger defense and the deeper roster.

Current PFM Team Scores

Clear edgeTB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

79.2PFM Team Score#17 NFL
CAR

Carolina Panthers

73.2PFM Team Score#29 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: Previous Meetings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the recorded series 1–0 over 1 meetings.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers1 wins
Carolina Panthers0 wins
Recorded meetings1

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Oct 25, 2026Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers43–13Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  1. Oct 25, 20262026 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway43 – 13Carolina PanthersHome
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers won

Results shown: 2026. Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Higher

The Buccaneers can lean on their defense more than the Panthers can. That creates a better floor when the offense stalls or field position turns against the team. The Carolina Panthers are closest in explosiveness, where the teams remain essentially even.

Tampa Bay also brings the deeper roster. Tampa Bay adds the less uncertain coaching staff. That is enough to keep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Tampa Bay vs. Carolina Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

TBTampa Bay Buccaneers
CARCarolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.8, Carolina Panthers 77.3, edge TB +1.5; Offense: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 79.9, Carolina Panthers 77.0, edge TB +2.9; Defense: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 84.0, Carolina Panthers 72.8, edge TB +11.2; Coaching Direction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 76.8, Carolina Panthers 70.3, edge TB +6.5; Roster Depth: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.7, Carolina Panthers 69.1, edge TB +9.6. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
CAROLINA’S BEST PUSHBACK

Explosiveness Is Carolina’s Only Close Fight

Carolina's big-play ability gives the team one place to push back. Carolina sits only 0.5 points behind Tampa Bay in Explosiveness, but close is not the same as an edge. Tampa Bay still has Baker Mayfield at quarterback and the deeper roster, two advantages the Panthers cannot match in this comparison.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

TB79.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 79.2
CAR73.2
Carolina Panthers 73.2
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Overall NFL Rank

TB#17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #17
CAR#29
Carolina Panthers #29
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranks higher

QB Stability

TB78.8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.8
CAR77.3
Carolina Panthers 77.3
Slight Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Roster Strength

TB78.7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.7
CAR69.1
Carolina Panthers 69.1
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Coaching Direction

TB76.8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 76.8
CAR70.3
Carolina Panthers 70.3
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Recent Performance

TB80.6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 80.6
CAR75.8
Carolina Panthers 75.8
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Offense

TB79.9
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 79.9
CAR77.0
Carolina Panthers 77.0
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Defense

TB84.0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 84.0
CAR72.8
Carolina Panthers 72.8
Major Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Franchise Direction

TB75.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75.2
CAR71.9
Carolina Panthers 71.9
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Explosiveness

TB74.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 74.2
CAR74.7
Carolina Panthers 74.7
Slight Carolina Panthers edge

Conference Rank

TB#8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #8
CAR#16
Carolina Panthers #16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranks higher

Division Rank

TB#1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #1
CAR#4
Carolina Panthers #4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranks higher

Outlook

TBIn the Playoff MixCARPlayoff Long Shot
Stronger outlook: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Remaining schedule rank: #24

Toughest stretch: Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers

Strongest opponents: Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens

Next five difficulty: 77.9

View Tampa Bay Buccaneers Road Ahead

Carolina Panthers

Remaining schedule rank: #19

Toughest stretch: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks

Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers

Next five difficulty: 77.3

View Carolina Panthers Road Ahead

Carolina has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 19. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Tampa Bay also has the more favorable road, which adds to the stronger defense and the deeper roster.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 3, 2026. Schedule data updated November 9, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams