Panthers rally to knock off Bucs Chris Harry, The Orlando Sentinel, published 14 November 2006 Bruce Gradkowski had earned the trust of his coach by not turning the ball over. Now what? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were handling rival Carolina on Monday night until their rookie quarterback decided to play giveaway. Three Gradkowski turnovers on consecutive possessions awakened the Panthers and their restless crowd in plenty of time to rally for a 24-10 victory in front of 67,717 at Bank of America Stadium. "I'm sick about the outcome of this game," Jon Gruden said. Former Buc Keyshawn Johnson caught a 4-yard touchdown pass and fullback Brad Hoover scored on a 5-yard run during a 17-point third period that saw the home team erase a 7-0 deficit to seize control at 17-7. After pulling within 17-10, thanks to a 20-yard field goal from Matt Bryant, the Bucs (2-7) needed a stop for one last chance. The Panthers (5-4) answered with a 59-yard scoring drive, capped by a 39-yard touchdown strike from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith to ice the game. Things might have been different if the Bucs had taken care of the ball. "The game is about momentum," Carolina Coach John Fox said of the turnovers. "We needed that." Gradkowski's two interceptions late in the second quarter -- with the Bucs looking to build on their 7-0 edge -- killed scoring drives in Carolina territory. His fumble on the opening possession of the third period set up the Panthers' go-ahead touchdown. Cadillac Williams added to the Bucs' woes with a fumble of his own, part of a generous flurry in which Tampa Bay turned the ball over on four of five possessions spanning just 13 minutes. Coming into the game, the sixth-round pick from Toledo had totaled just three turnovers in his first five starts. Equaling that number against a heated NFC South Division rival proved too much for the Bucs to overcome in losing for the third straight week. Gradkowski finished 17-of-32 for 173 yards and a touchdown. Tampa Bay had just 222 yards of total offense, but defensively stifled the Panthers in the first half, holding Delhomme and friends to a mere 98 yards and no points. Gradkowski's two interceptions, however, were killers. And his second-half fumble was even more costly. Ahead by a touchdown and with a first down at the Carolina 44, Gradkowski underthrew wideout Joey Galloway on a long pass down the left sideline for his first interception. Cornerback Ken Lucas had great position and came down with the ball at the 1-yard line. It was a great play, but the Panthers were backed up. On third-and-3 from his own 3, Delhomme lobbed a ball into Tampa Bay's cover-two zone that landed in the hands of cornerback Ronde Barber. The 31st interception of Barber's career -- tying the team's all-time record -- set up a first down at the Carolina 45, after the Bucs were flagged for a 15-yard celebration penalty. On third-and-1 from the 36, Gradkowski again went for the deep ball. This time, the throw was too far inside and safety Shaun Williams intercepted the throw at the Carolina 6 with 36 seconds to go in the first half. Two straight possessions in Panthers territory, two blown opportunities. Out of the locker room in the third period, Carolina went 64 yards in eight plays to get on the board with a 28-yard field goal from John Kasay to make it 7-3 at the 12:55 mark. The Bucs' first possession of the second half picked up where Gradkowski left off in the first. After reaching his own 41, Gradkowski faced a third-and-3. Under pressure, he scooted up the middle for what would have been a first down -- if he'd held onto the ball. As Gradkowski fell forward, linebacker Chris Draft jarred the ball loose. Defensive end Julius Peppers, who had three sacks on the night, recovered for the Panthers at the Bucs' 44. It took Delhomme, who threw for 240 yards, eight plays to march the Panthers to the lead. His 4-yard touchdown to Johnson gave Carolina the lead for good at 10-7. Two possessions later, Williams' fumble helped set up Hoover's scoring run and 17-7 lead.