NFL Recap (Carolina-Tampa Bay)
Posted: Sun October 18, 1998 at 5:50 p.m. EDT
TAMPA BAY 16, CAROLINA 13
TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Trent Dilfer sparked a
fourth-quarter comeback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
with a one-yard touchdown run and 29-yard scoring strike to Karl Williams with 1:39
remaining in a 16-13 victory over the winless Carolina Panthers.
Carolina (0-6) snapped a 3-3 halftime tie with 10 points in the third
quarter before Tampa Bay (3-3) rallied to win its second straight game and
improve to 3-0 at its new home, Raymond James Stadium.
The Buccaneers drew within 13-10 as Warrick Dunn carried eight
times for 43 yards in a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Dilfer easily
capped the series on a one-yard naked bootleg with 5:05 to go.
Tampa's defense came up with a big stop to get the ball back at its
own 43 with 2:47 to play. The Bucs crossed midfield on a 14-yard reception
by Bert Emanuel and
reached the 29 when cornerback Rod Smith was flagged for
interference on a throw to Williams.
"You don't want those things to happen," said Carolina coach Dom
Capers about the interference call. "You have them in a down and distance
situation that is an advantage to you. Then you get the pass interference.
They throw it and beat us deep and that was the game. We allowed them to
score two touchdowns late and you can't do that in close games."
On the next play, Dilfer went to Williams, who made a nice catch over
Smith in the right corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score. But Michael Husted's
extra-point try was wide left for a three-point margin.
"It wasn't anything spectacular," said Williams about the TD catch.
"We ran individual routes and I took advantage of the deep route. Trent
layed it out there and gave me an opportunity to make the catch."
Carolina quickly moved into position for a tying field goal on a
series of short passes by Steve Beuerlein. But John Kasay, who earlier
booted a 53-yarder, missed wide left on a 47-yard attempt with five seconds
remaining.
"I feel the same way when I missed it, I'm just going to try not to
make the same mistake again," said Kasay about the final play. "I knew God
didn't want me to make that field goal. It was a perfect snap and a perfect
hold. It breaks my heart that I let these guys down. In the NFL you can
never get too high or too low. It wasn't what I expected to happen. I hit
it completely square and it was about a foot wide."
Dilfer completed 21-of-31 passes for 219 yards with one interception
for Tampa Bay, which has won two of three all-time meetings with Carolina.
Dunn had 17 carries for 96 yards.
"It's tough to win in this league, but I'll tell you this, I'd rather
be frustrated for 59 minutes and win than play great for 59 minutes and
lose," said Bucs coach Tony Dungy. "Obviously there are some things we
need to correct, but it's a long season and I feel we will do that."
The Panthers are off to the worst start in franchise history and have
lost eight games in a row dating to last season.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Dilfer moved the Buccaneers into
scoring range with a 17-yard scramble to the Panthers 4. But Mike Alstott only gained a
yard before a delay-of-game call backed up Tampa Bay five yards. Dilfer
then fumbled a snap and Carolina defensive end Les Miller recovered at the
10.
Beuerlein's 22-yard throw to tight end Luther Broughton began the
game's first scoring drive, which resulted in Kasay's long kick with 6:28
left. It was his 15th career field goal of at least 50 yards.
Husted answered with a 33-yarder with 75 seconds to go in the half,
but Kasay retaliated with a 20-yard boot on Carolina's first possession of
the third period. The Panthers had reached the Tampa Bay 1 after Fred Lane's 15-yard catch,
but could not punch it in.
Cornerback Doug
Evans set up Carolina's next possession when he picked off Dilfer at
his own 41 and returned it 18 yards. A 27-yard reception by tight end Wesley Walls moved the ball
to the 1 and Lane plunged in two plays later to make it 13-3 with 2:31
left.
Tampa Bay's Reidel
Anthony hauled in six passes for 81 yards, while Emanuel had five
catches for 66 yards in his first game since suffering a sprained left
ankle in the season opener.
Beuerlein, making his second start of the year, was 22-of-31 for 234
yards with no interceptions. Lane rushed 20 times for 59 yards.
"I don't know how to describe it," said Beuerlein. "We come out and
play our butts off. To lose the way we did tears you apart. It's the worst
feeling an athlete can have. All losses hurt, but when you come so close,
it gets more frustrating. I felt we were in control at 13-3, but things
kept going against us."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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