Allen Leaves His Mark On Smith The Tampa Tribune, published 11 December 2005 Will Allen didn't just knock WR Steve Smith to the ground - he apparently knocked him a little silly. How else do you explain Smith's recollection of the second-quarter hit by Allen that sent the league's leading receiver to the ground? Smith said he hopped right back up after the hit. Actually, he rolled over onto his knees and then onto his back where he lay for a while. The hit, which occurred as Smith cut across the middle for a pass on a third-and-8 play from Carolina's 41-yard line, was one of many physical plays by Tampa Bay's defense. "Our motto going in came from [defensive coordinator] Monte [Kiffin], who said we're going to be deep as the deepest, wide as the widest and anything in front wiggling, we're going to hit it and that's what we did," S Jermaine Phillips said. Smith left the game momentarily, but was able to return. He contributed with a 60-yard reception late in the third quarter to set up the Panthers' first points, a 39-yard field goal, and also returned a punt 44 yards early in the fourth quarter. He finished with five receptions for 103 yards, but was kept out of the end zone. Phillips later knocked Panthers RB DeShaun Foster from the game with a hard tackle. As for Allen, the hit signaled his return to the field for the first time in three games. Out with a knee sprain since the Nov. 13 game against Washington, Allen grew tired of idling on the sideline and wanted to make an impact. "I had an opportunity to make a play and I just seized the moment," Allen said of the big hit. "I've been waiting to get on the [ESPN highlight reel]. They call me a big hitter around here, but I haven't had a big hit in a long time." Bryant is back Matt Bryant originally was told the hamstring strain he sustained in the Nov. 27 game would keep him sidelined from two to four weeks. The Bucs decided during pregame warm-ups Sunday that Bryant would be good to go against Carolina. "I came back a lot earlier," said Bryant, who missed last week's game and was replaced by Todd France. "But this was a big game and I would have killed myself sitting on the sideline." Bryant was perfect on the day, making both field goal attempts - from 34 and 36 yards - and both extra point kicks. "We needed his trajectory, his get-off times, we needed him to come through today and he did that," Coach Jon Gruden said. Third down was the difference Tampa Bay was 10 of 17 (59 percent) on third downs, including two conversions on its first touchdown drive and three on its second touchdown drive. "I can't tell you how big that was," Gruden said. "They stopped us in a couple of situations, but we converted some long-yardage third downs, some short-yardage third downs and we did it repeatedly in a game that we needed." The Panthers, on the other hand, converted only two of 11 third downs. Entering Sunday's game, Carolina ranked fourth in the league in third-down efficiency, converting 43.6 percent. "We were awful on third down, and I think that was the key," Carolina QB Jake Delhomme said. "We were pathetic." Here come the other receivers Michael Clayton recorded his first catch in two games. Clayton dropped the first pass thrown his way, but the second time QB Chris Simms went to him, Clayton caught the ball for 12 yards and a first down. The reception helped set up a field goal and 10-0 halftime lead. WR Ike Hilliard led the Bucs with five receptions for 32 yards. Three of Hilliard's catches picked up first downs, including two that sustained scoring drives. "It felt good," Hilliard said of his most productive game as a Buccaneer. "You always want to be involved and you have to take advantage of the opportunities, whether they are few and far in between or are plentiful." Buc notes Anthony McFarland suffered a strained hamstring in the first quarter and did not return. He was replaced by DT Ellis Wyms, who was called for a 15-yard face-mask penalty and forced a fumble in the same series after McFarland left near the end of the first quarter. DT Jon Bradley also played in the rotation. For the first time since 1979, the Bucs won all their division road games. Tampa Bay won at NFC Central Division foes Green Bay (21-10), Chicago (17-13), Minnesota (12-10) and Detroit (16-14) en route to the NFC Championship Game that year. Former Bucs LB Hardy Nickerson attended Sunday's game. Nickerson, who lives in the Charlotte area with his family, greeted the Bucs players as they entered the locker room after the game. He was also interviewed during the game by TJ Rives for Buccaneer Radio. Cadillac Williams’ touchdown in the first quarter broke an 11-quarter streak in which the Panthers’ defense had not allowed a touchdown, dating back to its Week 11 loss at Chicago. CB Ronde Barber’s fourth-quarter interception was his fourth on the last two games. It gave him 28 in his career, moving him into a tie for third place on the Bucs’ all-time chart. Barber has equaled Mike Washington’s total and is only one behind Cedric Brown (29) and three behind Donnie Abraham (31).