Panthers cut Buc lead to 14-10

Just when it looked like this game was getting out of hand, Carolina has come back to score a rare touchdown and slice Tampa Bay's lead to 14-10.

The TD was a 2-yard run by Josh Vaughan, who wasn't even on the roster until this week but is playing this week because 3 of Carolina's top 4 running backs are out for this game.

The TD was set up when a Tampa Bay blocker accidentally touched a short Jason Baker punt, which Dante Rosario recovered at the Tampa Bay 46.

From there came two big plays: an 18-yard Mike Goodson run and a third-and-4 conversion when David Gettis beat one-on-one coverage and grabbed a Jimmy Clausen pass to the Tampa Bay 4.

Goodson has already run for 58 yards today and Clausen has thrown for 72. For the Panthers this year, that qualifies as an offensive explosion.

Wiith 7:57 left in the second quarter, it's:

Tampa Bay 14, Carolina 10