Grand Strand Football Briefing: NFL Week 7

Image credit: Bank of America Stadium via The Sporting Blog's Carolina Panthers profile.

Verified October 2026: game times, watch locations and injury reports change, so call ahead.

As of Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Carolina Panthers are 3-2 and alone in first place in the NFC South after last week's win in Philadelphia — and today they defend that lead at home against a 1-5 Tampa Bay team that is running out of season. Three teams are still unbeaten (San Francisco at 6-0, Minnesota and Kansas City at 5-0), the week opened Thursday with Chicago beating New England 30-24, and Sunday starts with history: the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Paris.

Every matchup gets a quick reason to care plus an editorial call.

🏖️ The Grand Strand angle: Buccaneers at Panthers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) at Carolina Panthers (3-2), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX — Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

Why it matters: First place is only fun if you hold it. Carolina took the NFC South lead last week on the road; today the Panthers get the division's last-place team at home in Charlotte. Tampa Bay has lost five of six and gives Carolina a chance to bank a division win before the schedule turns — the Panthers' next game is Thursday night at Green Bay, on a short week.

Bryce Young and the league's top-ranked passing attack (301 yards a game through six weeks) against a Bucs defense that has been on the field all season is the matchup. If Carolina's run defense shows up at all, this is the kind of game a first-place team is supposed to close out by the fourth quarter.

My call: Panthers 28, Buccaneers 20. Carolina defends home field and the division lead.

Where to watch: Panthers fans: The Grumpy Monk on Highway 501 (4545 US-501, reports a Panthers crowd) and Dave & Buster's at Broadway at the Beach for the big-screen setup. Call ahead either way.

Thursday night is already in the books

Chicago Bears 30, New England Patriots 24 — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

Why it matters: Chicago (5-2) wins a Super Bowl XX rematch on Prime Video and keeps pace in the NFC North. New England (4-3) drops its second in three weeks after a hot start.

Editorial result: Bears 30-24. Caleb Williams and a blitz-happy defense did just enough on the road.

Paris: breakfast with football, history edition

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-4), 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network — Stade de France, Paris

Why it matters: The first NFL regular-season game ever played in France. Pittsburgh is tied for first in the AFC North; New Orleans is 2-4 and tied for second in the NFC South, which makes this a Panthers-relevant game — a Saints loss helps Carolina either way.

My call: Steelers 27, Saints 20. Pittsburgh's defense travels, even to another continent.

Steelers fans: The Boathouse Waterway Bar & Grill, King Street Grille at The Market Common, Oscar's Food & Spirits in North Myrtle Beach, Spencer'z Sports Pub in Surfside Beach, and Surfside Charlie's in Surfside Beach (newer listing — call ahead). Call ahead.

The 1:00 p.m. window

San Francisco 49ers (6-0) at Atlanta Falcons (2-4): FOX — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Why it matters: The league's last 6-0 team visits a Falcons team that is the closest thing Carolina has to a pursuer in the NFC South. An Atlanta loss is good news on the Strand.

My call: 49ers 31, Falcons 20. The perfect season rolls on.

Cleveland Browns (3-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5): CBS — Nissan Stadium, Nashville

Why it matters: Tennessee finally won last week to shed the winless tag; Cleveland keeps hanging around the AFC North race.

My call: Browns 20, Titans 16. Cleveland's defense is the difference.

Browns fans: Drifters Saloon (Myrtle Beach Mad Dawgs) and Putter's Pub (official Browns Backers chapter). Call ahead.

Indianapolis Colts (2-3) at Minnesota Vikings (5-0): CBS — U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

Why it matters: Minnesota is quietly 5-0 and home. Indianapolis is better than its record but keeps finding ways to lose late — this is a bad week to try fixing that.

My call: Vikings 27, Colts 21. Minnesota stays perfect.

Miami Dolphins (0-5) at New York Jets (2-4): CBS — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

Why it matters: Miami is the league's last winless team. The Jets have a real chance to stack a second win and make the Dolphins' season officially a rebuild.

My call: Jets 23, Dolphins 17. The winless stay winless.

Jets fans: Big Dave's Chews & Brews in Myrtle Beach, the owner-supplied NY teams spot. Call ahead.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) at Baltimore Ravens (4-2): CBS — M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

Why it matters: The best game of the early window. Baltimore can take sole possession of the AFC North lead with a win and a Pittsburgh slip in Paris; Cincinnati needs it to stay in the race.

My call: Ravens 30, Bengals 26. Baltimore at home in a shootout.

Bengals and Ravens fans: Ravens crew has Main Street Taphouse in North Myrtle Beach (official Ravens Flock directory), 7th Ave Crab House & Bar on the South End, and AlleyOops in North Myrtle Beach (newer listing — call ahead).

New York Giants (3-2-1) at Houston Texans (2-4): FOX — NRG Stadium, Houston

Why it matters: The Giants' surprise season meets a Houston team that finally got right in London last week. Somebody's October turns here.

My call: Texans 24, Giants 21. Houston at home, narrowly.

Giants fans: Big Dave's Chews & Brews shows all games and is the owner-supplied NY teams option. Call ahead.

Image credit: Sunrise over Myrtle Beach via A Luxury Travel Blog.

The 4:05 p.m. window

Denver Broncos (4-2) at Arizona Cardinals (2-4): CBS — State Farm Stadium, Glendale

Why it matters: Denver keeps winning ugly and hanging around the AFC West race. Arizona is better than 2-4 but running out of runway.

My call: Broncos 24, Cardinals 20. Denver's formula travels.

Broncos fans: Smuggler's Den is the Strand's Broncos home (newer listing — call ahead).

The 4:25 p.m. window

Green Bay Packers (4-2) at Detroit Lions (3-2): FOX — Ford Field, Detroit

Why it matters: NFC North heavyweight fight, and a Panthers-relevant one — Carolina goes to Lambeau on Thursday night, so today's tape is next week's homework. Detroit at home with the division watching.

My call: Lions 30, Packers 27. Ford Field tips it.

Packers fans: 810 Entertainment in North Myrtle Beach, the Myrtle Beach Area Packers Fan Club spot. Call ahead.

Los Angeles Rams (2-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (3-3): FOX — Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Why it matters: The Rams need this one badly at 2-4. The Raiders are a respectable .500 at home.

My call: Rams 26, Raiders 23. Los Angeles steals one in Vegas.

Raiders fans: Sammy's is the Strand's Raiders home (newer listing — call ahead).

Sunday night

Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) at Seattle Seahawks (3-3), NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET — Lumen Field, Seattle

Why it matters: The toughest test yet for 5-0 Kansas City — a night game in Seattle, the loudest building in the league. The Seahawks have dropped two straight and need a statement.

My call: Chiefs 27, Seahawks 23. Perfect survives, barely.

Chiefs fans: 810 Billiards & Bowling at The Market Common (owner-supplied, and not the North Myrtle Beach 810 — that's the Packers spot). Call ahead.

Monday night

Dallas Cowboys (2-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-4), ESPN/ABC, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Image credit: Lincoln Financial Field via Guia Mundialista's stadium guide.

Why it matters: Somebody's season bends here. Both teams are 2-4; Philadelphia is still without Jalen Hurts (injured reserve, calf blood clot), with Tanner McKee starting, and Dallas has lost two straight. The loser falls a long way back in the NFC East.

My call: Eagles 23, Cowboys 20. Home field and desperation, in that order.

Cowboys fans: Pub International is the Strand's Cowboys home (newer listing — call ahead). Eagles fans: Foster's Cafe & Bar on North Kings Highway (owner-confirmed), The Crooked Cork in Pawleys Island, and Coastal Ale House (newer listing — call ahead).

Bye weeks: Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders. Bills fans, your Grumpy Monk and OD Arcade crews get a Sunday off.

Image credit: Sports bar watch scene via FB101's best sports bars for football fans. ...[truncated 4279 chars]