7-0 Tampa Bay early as Panthers D malfunctions

Tampa Bay has drawn first blood in Sunday's divisonal game, as the Panthers trail 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

It's a hot day -- about 90 degrees on the field -- and the Bucs are the team sizzling early, as they went 54 yards on eight plays on their second drive after an exchange of punts opened the game.

The Bucs beat Carolina with Josh Freeman's legs -- a key 17-yard scramble -- and his arm (a 24-yard pass to Kellen Winslow over Jon Beason for another big third-down conversion). The TD came on what looked to be a blown assignment, as Earnest Graham slipped out of the backfield all alone and scored on a 14-yard pass.