Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 Carolina Panthers 24
The Buccaneers travelled to Bank of America Stadium for an NFC South rematch on Monday Night Football with the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, QB Bruce Gradkowski completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard for the only score of the period and the first half. However, in the third quarter, the Panthers struck back with a vengeance as kicker John Kasay nailed a 28-yard field goal, QB Jake Delhomme completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR Keyshawn Johnson, and FB Brad Hoover contributing a 5-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, even though kicker Matt Bryant would nail 28-yard field goal, Carolina managed to put the game away with Delhomme completing a 36-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. With the loss, the Bucs fell to 2–7.
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Bill Vinovich
- UMPIRE: Tony Michalek
- HEAD LINESMAN: Derick Bowers
- LINE JUDGE: John Hussey
- SIDE JUDGE: Laird Hayes
- FIELD JUDGE: Gary Cavaletto
- BACK JUDGE: Keith Ferguson
- REPLAY OFFICAL: Lloyd McPeters
- VIDEO OPERATOR: Roger Ruth
SCORING
- BUCCANEERS: 2:23-1Q Hilliard 6 pass from Gradkowski (Bryant kick)
- PANTHERS: 12:52-3Q Kasay FG28
- PANTHERS: 8:27-3Q Johnson 4 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick)
- PANTHERS: 1:50-3Q Hoover 5 run (Kasay kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 8:32-4Q Bryant FG28
- PANTHERS: 3:11-4Q Smith 36 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick)
STARTERS OFFENSE
- TE: #81 A. Smith
- LT: #69 A. Davis
- LG: #72 D. Buenning
- C: #76 J. Wade
- RG: #75 D. Joseph
- RT: #65 J. Trueblood
- TE: #88 A. Becht
- WR: #80 M. Clayton
- QB: #07 B. Gradkowski
- RB: #49 M. Alstott
- FB: #24 C. Williams
STARTERS DEFENSE
- DE: #94 G. Spires
- DT: #95 C. Hovan
- DT: #98 J. Bradley
- DE: #90 D. White
- MLB: #51 B. Ruud
- OLB: #55 D. Brooks
- DB: #27 T. Cox
- LCB: #21 J. Bolden
- RCB: #20 R. Barber
- SS: #23 J. Phillips
- FS: #26 W. Allen
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 3 Bryant, 9 Bidwell, 19 Hilliard, 31 Buchanon, 32 Pittman, 33 Sowell, 34 Graham, 39 Pearson, 46 Adams, 50 Winborn, 52 Cash, 54 Mallard, 56 Nece, 71 Haye, 74 Green, 79 Mahan, 83 Moore, 84 Galloway, 85 Stovall, 86 Jolley, 91 Jenkins
DID NOT PLAY
- 13 Rattay, 93 Bennett
INACTIVE
- 2 McCown, 29 Zemaitis, 53 Quarles, 70 Penn, 77 Terry, 82 Warren, 96 Wyms, 97 Rice
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: Williams 15-44, Gradkowski 5-22, Alstott 2-3.
- PANTHERS: Foster 13-48, Williams 7-19, Hoover 5-14, Delhomme 3-2, Smith 2-(-5).
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: Gradkowski 32-17-173-2-1.
- PANTHERS: Delhomme 34-22-240-1-2.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: Galloway 5-87, Hilliard 4-30, Smith 3-18, Clayton 2-22, Alstott 2-16, Pittman 1-0.
- PANTHERS: Smith 8-149, Johnson 6-37, Hoover 3-18, Foster 2-9, Williams 1-11, Mangum 1-10, Gaines 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: Barber 1-0.
- PANTHERS: Lucas 1-0, Williams 1-0.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Pittman 4-95, Cox 1-26.
- PANTHERS: Williams 3-54.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Buchanan 2-(-4), Hilliard 1-12, Barber 1-(-1).
- PANTHERS: Gamble 3-20, Smith 1-0.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: none
- PANTHERS: Peppers 3-20
