Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Tampa Bay 12 at Carolina 9 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Tampa Bay Buccaneers: K Martin Gramatica made all four field goal tries, three of them in the 4th quarter, including a 53-yarder. QB Rob Johnson, playing in place of injured starter Brad Johnson almost was the goat. With the game tied, less than two minutes to go, and within field goal range, he let the play clock expire on 3rd down, moving the offense out of Gramatica's range. But on the next play, he scrambled for the first down to put them right back in it. He was injured on the play, however, and gave way to Shawn King for one play before Gramatica hit the game-winner. WR Joe Jurevicius led the team with five catches for 55 yards but left in the 3rd quarter sprained right knee and ankle. He did not return. DT Anthony McFarland broke his right wrist. The Bucs will miss his run-stuffing ability if he is out for an extended period of time. Carolina Panthers: QB Randy Fasani took a beating and hung tough but he was pretty awful, completing 5-18 for just 46 yards and three interceptions. He was sacked three times and hit about a dozen more. RB Lamar Smith didn't put up gaudy numbers (22-82-0) but he kept the train rolling until the 4th quarter, when the offense died when Fasani couldn't get anything going. Carolina's defense did the job again, limiting the Bucs to just 71 yards on 26 carries and sacking Johnson five times. PR Steve Smith had a pretty bad day. He caught only one ball (albeit for 39 yards) and his muffed punt led to Tampa Bay's game-tying field goal with 1:55 to go. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB: Rob Johnson, playing in place of injured starter Brad Johnson, was not effective. He was nearly the goat. With the game tied, less than two minutes to go, and within field goal range, he let the play clock expire on 3rd down, moving the offense out of Gramatica's range. But on the next play, he scrambled for the first down to put them right back in it. He was injured on the play, however, and gave way to Shawn King for one play before Gramatica hit the game-winner. Johnson finished with 179 yards and an interception. He added 17 on the ground but was shut out of the end zone completely. RB: Michael Pittman was stuffed all day and ended up with 36 yards on 12 carries. Caught one ball for -4 yards. Pittman could never get anything going at all. Aaron Stecker got some of the late carries but was also not a factor on the ground, picking up 17 yards on five carries. Stecker did manage four receptions but only 26 yards. Mike Alstott managed just 15 yards from scrimmage on eight touches. WR: Joe Jurevicius led the team with five catches for 55 yards but left in the 3rd quarter with a sprained right knee and ankle and did not return. Keyshawn Johnson caught only two balls for 21 yards and appeared to be sulking on the sidelines as the rest of the team was celebrating the game-winning field goal. Could be because he was not on the field during the Bucs' final drive. Definitely a situation worth watching, as he may be in Gruden's doghouse. These things are hard to tell and sometimes the camera catches a guy at a bad time, but this is what it looked like. TE: Ken Dilger, one of Johnson's favorite targets, had four catches for 45 yards, including the team's longest pass reception, a 22-yarder in the late 3rd quarter. Rickey Dudley also caught a pass, a 15-yarder. Tampa Bay's Pass Defense: blitzed Fasani mercilessly and sent the rookie to the turf on numerous occasions. He was sacked three times but hit at least a dozen more. Ronde Barber was especially active, helping hold Muhsin Muhammad to just three catches, while providing excellent outside run support. Tampa Bay's Run Defense: Lamar Smith seemed to be going forward all the time, until things bogged down in the 4th quarter, when the Bucs stiffened. Allowed 110 yards but at only a 3.5-yard clip. DT Anthony McFarland broke his right wrist. The Bucs will miss his run-stuffing ability if he is out for an extended period of time. Tampa Bay's Special Teams: K Martin Gramatica made all four field goal tries, three of them in the 4th quarter, including a 53-yarder. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Carolina Panthers QB: Randy Fasani took a beating but showed toughness. But he was pretty awful, completing 5-18 for just 46 yards and three interceptions. He was sacked three times and hit about a dozen more. He looked like a typical rookie�dazed and confused. It's tough to get a bead on him, since he was facing the best defense in football but all in all, he seemed no worse for the wear and really hung in there despite the battering. His third interception came on the final play of the game. RB: Lamar Smith seemed to carry the offense, especially in the 3rd quarter, when Carolina built up a six-point lead. But in the 4th, with Fasani sufficiently shell-shocked, Tampa started loading up the box and Smith was shut down completely. Still finished with 82 yards on 22 carries but no touchdowns. Brad Hoover (15 yards) and Nick Goings (6 yards) each had a couple of touches but were not an active part of the offense. WR: Both WRs were non factors. Steve Smith caught one ball for 39 yards and Muhsin Muhammad caught three for 31 yards. Each was blanketed all day, even though Fasani rarely had time to wait for them to get open. TE: Wesley Walls had one of the worst days of his football career, catching one ball for seven yards. Until Weinke comes back, it's a safe bet to stay away from any Carolina pass-catcher. Carolina's Pass Defense: harassed Johnson all day and sacked him five times. Mike Minter made the hit of the game in the 4th quarter, when he leveled Tampa Bay receiver Reggie Barlow with one of the nastiest, cleanest hits you'd ever hope to see. Barlow never saw him coming and amazingly seemed to hang onto the ball but it was ruled incomplete and Tampa Bay had already used all of their challenges. Biggest play allowed was 22 yards. Carolina's Run Defense: did the job again, limiting the Bucs to just 71 yards on 26 carries and no touchdowns. This unit is beginning to look like the second coming of the Buccaneers' defense every game. Did not allow a run greater than nine yards. Carolina's Special Teams: PR Steve Smith had a pretty bad day, as his muffed punt return led to Tampa Bay's game-tying field goal with 1:55 to go. Shayne Graham hit all three of his field goal attempts, including a 47-yarder.