Buccaneers

Buccaneers’ second-year OT Benjamin Chukwuma started at right tackle in Week 7’s win over the Panthers, with Luke Goedeke out. Tampa Bay HC Todd Bowles thinks Chukwuma was a big reason they gained 258 rushing yards. 

“I thought Chuk did a great job,” Bowles said, via Gabriel Kahaian of the team’s site. “I mean, 258 yards rushing, all those guys up front did an outstanding job. Chuk with his first start this year coming in, did an outstanding job. He’s got great size, an athlete and he’s strong so the run game kind of benefits him.”

Chukwuma feels “amazing” after helping Tampa Bay’s offense have a big day. 

“It felt amazing,” Chukwuma said. “Being able to be a part of a group that put those big numbers up is crazy. It’s amazing. It’s a blessing. After the game, I was just calling my folks, telling them how happy I was, how fulfilling it is. It’s just a blessing.”

Chukwuma originally signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2025. He reflected on what he learned as a rookie, saying he came into this year with a lot more confidence. 

“Last year, I was able to get into some games,” Chukwuma said. “I was able to learn, I was able to grow from the games I had played. I feel like coming back for my second year, I came back with a lot of confidence since I’ve seen a little bit of what the NFL is like and I know I can be in it.”

Falcons 

The Falcons are coming off a huge 29-20 upset win over the 49ers in Week 7. Atlanta HC Kevin Stefanski credited DC Jeff Ulbrich for energizing the team going into the game. 

“I give ‘Brick’ all the credit, and the guys, for fighting,” Stefanski said, via Albert Breer of SI. “We knew that was going to be a heavyweight fight today. You’re going up against Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy and that crew. You better be ready to go. … But sticking with the boxing analogy, we’re scrappy. We’re going to fight. And we got two rookie linebackers starting against a Kyle Shanahan offense. That’s scary. That’s not ideal. And were we perfect? Hell, no, we were not perfect. But if you keep fighting, you keep swinging, you have a chance. And then Kendal [Daniels] makes a play at the end. I mean, the kid one week ago is literally on his way to the hospital. Or maybe at the hospital at that time. And here he is making as big a play as there is in the game to help us win.”

Panthers

The Panthers allowed Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving to run for 106 yards and two touchdowns in Carolina’s 43-13 Week 7 loss. Panthers OLB Bobby Okereke said Tampa Bay set the tone early with a long 14-play opening series. 

“I mean, kudos to them. They got off to a really good start. Anytime on defense you start with a 14-play drive, and they score, that’s not the tone you want to set for the rest of the game, and they fed off that momentum,” Okereke said, via Kassidy Hill of the team’s site. “And we saw they had that momentum all day today. When you’re not creating any negative plays, and you’re allowing them to get three, four yards a carry, against an offense like that, it’s tough.”

Tampa Bay gained 258 of its 322 total yards on the ground. Okereke praised the Buccaneers’ scheme. 

“I thought they had a good scheme,” Okereke said. “Some of the gap scheme stuff, some of the pullers, you know, getting to the edge, making the corners tackle. It’s a multitude of things: tackling, not getting knocked back up front. If everybody’s just stalemates and you’re fighting your block, the running back’s going to fall forward for three or four yards, which is a positive play from the offensive standpoint.”

Panthers DL Derrick Brown admits they didn’t manage Irving well enough. 

“Most of the season they’re handing the ball to Bucky,” Brown said. “Be able to turn around and hand it to him. So I mean, you got to be able to stop it. He’s elusive. He likes to get on the edge and be able to cut the ball back. So I mean just, you got to do a better job.”