Frank Gore and the Bucs slay a heard of Panthers

After a disappointing opening to the season the Bucs looked to bounce
back strong against the Panthers of Carolina. All the receivers were
visibly pumped up during the pregame festivities. "We dropped what
could have been 3 touchdowns" Mohamed Masaqoui said of last weeks 20-13
loss to the Cheeseheads. "To be that close and know we left points on
the field is killing us.". Masaqoui's receiving corp held up their end
of the bargain, as did newly acquired Carson Palmer. Palmer was 14-17
for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns. The other half of the Bucs big
offseason deal, Frank Gore, lived up to his hoped for hype. "I was
rumblin, bumblin, stumblin out there!" yelled Gore as he left the
field. Gore scored the first two td's for the Bucs as well as the
last. These td's came on a 25 yard strike on 3rd down, a 30 yard run
when Gore broke around 67 tackles, and a 73 yard draw play.

On the other side of the ball the Bucs put much emphasis on stopping the
run. Knowing there was a beast (CJ) on the loose in the Panthers
backfield, the Bucs focused to stop him...and stop him they did. The
Bucs held Johnson to a 2.9 yard average (37 yards) on 13 carries....but
CJ had 2 other carrys that went for 141 and 2 td's....so was the mission
accomplished? Ole Jimbo Clauson had a game to remember to forget.
Clauson opened the game well in leading a march down the field only to
throw the first of his 2 int's.

A tie game after the first the Bucs would open up a 27-10 lead at the half and never look back.

Final score : Bucs 51
Panthers 31


Key stats

QB's

Palmer (Bucs) 14/17 358 and 4 td's
Clauson (Panthers) 13/28 236 and 2td's as well as 2 int's

RB's

Gore (Bucs) 21 attempts 194 yards and 2 td's
Johnson (Panthers) 15 attempts 178 yards ad 2 td's

WR's

Gibson (Bucs) 5 balls 173 yards and 2 td's
Carlson (Panthers) 4 balls 119 yards and 1 td