Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 09 Carolina Panthers 12

The Buccaneers home opener against division foe Carolina Panthers turned into an embarrassment. A defensive-oriented game saw young Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme held to only 9-for-23, 96 yards and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Brad Johnson threw for 339 yards. Unfortunately, special teams breakdowns cost the team dearly. Contributing to the frustrating day, the Buccaneers committed 17 penalties for 168 yards.

After two earlier botched field goal attempts, the Buccaneers trailed 9–3 late in the fourth quarter. On the last play of regulation, Brad Johnson connected to Keenan McCardell for a dramatic game-tying touchdown pass in the back of the endzone time expired. The extra point would have given Tampa Bay the win. Martin Gramatica's extra point attempt, however, was blocked. The game went to overtime tied 9–9.

Both teams traded possessions, and with just over 6 minutes left in the overtime period, Tampa Bay punted to Carolina. Steve Smith returned the punt 52 yards to the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. Five plays later, Carolina won 12–9 after a 47-yard field goal.

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GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Walt Anderson
• UMPIRE: Carl Paganelli
• HEAD LINESMAN: Tony Veteri
• LINE JUDGE: Gary Arthur
• SIDE JUDGE: Jeff Lamberth
• FIELD JUDGE: Bill Lovett
• BACK JUDGE: Tony Steratore
• REPLAY OFFICAL: Jim Blackwood
• VIDEO OPERATOR: Not Documented

SCORING

• PANTHERS: 2:05-1Q Kasay FG28
• PANTHERS: 0:14-2Q Kasay FG36
• PANTHERS: 10:11-3Q Kasay FG20
• BUCCANEERS: 2:07-3Q Gramatica FG41
• BUCCANEERS: 0:00-4Q McCardell 6 pass from BJohnson (kick blocked)
• PANTHERS: 3:28-OT Kasay FG46

STARTERS OFFENSE

• WR: #19 K. Johnson
• LT: #72 R. Oben
• LG: #60 C. Coleman
• C: #76 J. Wade
• RG: #65 J. Whittle
• RT: #67 K. Walker
• TE: #85 K. Dilger
• WR: #87 K. McCardell
• QB: #14 B. Johnson
• RB: #32 M. Pittman
• WR: #83 J. Jurevicius

STARTERS DEFENSE

• LE: #94 G. Spires
• DT: #99 W. Sapp
• NT: #92 A. McFarland
• RE: #97 S. Rice
• SLB: #56 R. Nece
• MLB: #52 N. Webster
• WLB: #55 D. Brooks
• LCB: #25 B. Kelly
• RCB: #20 R. Barber
• SS: #47 J. Lynch
• FS: #26 D. Smith

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 7 Gramatica, 9 Tupa, 22 Jones, 23 Phillips, 27 Stecker, 30 Barnes, 31 Wansley, 35 Ivy, 38 Howell, 40 Alstott, 41 Wilcox, 57 Rudd, 58 Golden, 66 Benjamin, 71 Jenkins, 80 Yoder, 86 Williams, 89 Heller, 91 Darby, 95 Warner, 96 Wyms

DID NOT PLAY

• 10 King, 79 Mahan

INACTIVE

• 2 Simms, 43 Cook, 53 Quarles, 61 Pinkney, 62 King, 74 Green, 84 Barlow, 90 White

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Pittman 10-38, Alstott 4-9, Jones 4-8, Stecker 3-6, B.Johnson 1-(-1).
• PANTHERS: Davis 33-142, Foster 3-20, Smart 2-5, Delhomme 1-2, Hoover 1-2.

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: B.Johnson 61-34-339-1-1.
• PANTHERS: Delhomme 23-9-96-2-0.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: K.Johnson 9-102, Pittman 6-43, McCardell 5-53, Jurevicius 4-31, Dilger 3-30, Alstott 3-22, Stecker 2-7, Williams 1-43, Yoder 1-8.
• PANTHERS: Muhammad 4-61, Smith 3-27, Proehl 1-8, Mangum 1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: Kelly 1-0, Rice 1-0.
• PANTHERS: Wallace 1-53.

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Stecker 2-39, Jones 2-35.
• PANTHERS: Smart 2-47.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Williams 4-18.
• PANTHERS: Smith 3-66.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: Rice 1-9.
• PANTHERS: Burton 1-2

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