Story line: Martin Gramatica kicked three of his four field goals in the fourth quarter–including a 47-yarder with five seconds to play–helping Tampa Bay (6-2) beat host Carolina (3-5) in a meeting of two of the NFL’s best defenses. The tying field goal with 1:55 to play was set up when Steve Smith fumbled away a punt after Carolina held on defense and appeared poised to win the game.
Stars: Tampa’s Simeon Rice had five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble, and John Lynch had two interceptions.
Extra point: Bucs third-string QB Shaun King relieved an injured Rob Johnson for one play and threw a 7-yard completion to Karl Williams to set up the winning kick. Panthers third-string QB Randy Fasani threw three interceptions.
Quote: “My cap is off to this kid; he wasn’t flustered even a little bit. … I like him, I like the kid a lot.”–Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp on Fasani.
