GAME: Carolina (4-1) at Tampa Bay (3-2)

KICKOFF: 1 p.m.

SITE: Raymond James Stadium

CAPACITY: 65,908

TV: FOX (Matt Vasgersian, Brian Baldinger, Laura Okmin)
SERIES HISTORY: 16th regular season meeting. Panthers lead series 9-6. The Panthers have dominated the se-ries of late, winning 8 of the last 10 games including five straight at Raymond James Stadium.

LAST MEETING: In last year's regular season finale, DeAngelo Williams ran for two touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 31-23 victory. However, the Bucs rested most of their starters that day after clinching a playoff spot.

LAST WEEK: The Bucs offense floundered against one of the league's worst defenses, managing just one touch-down in a 16-13 loss to the Denver Broncos. Keep in mind this is the same Broncos defense that allowed Larry Johnson to rush for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Still, the Bucs rank seventh in the league it total offense.

OPPONENT NFL RANKINGS: Bucs Offense: Run 8th (134.8), Pass 12th (215.4), Overall 7th (350.2), Points Scored t-15th (22.8). Bucs Defense: Run 14th (99.6), Pass 21st (218.6), Overall 16th (318.2), Points Allowed 18th (18.8).

PANTHERS NFL RANKINGS: Panthers Offense: Run 11th (123), Pass 15th (207), Overall 14th (330), Points Scored t-15th (22.8). Panthers Defense: Run 13th (98.4), Pass 4th (156), Overall 4th (254.4), Points Allowed t-3rd (14).

INJURY UPDATE: The Bucs will be without three offensive starters - quarterback Brian Griese, wide receiver Joey Galloway and fullback B.J. Askew.

Jeff Garcia will start at quarterback. He's won his last four games against the Panthers, although not all of those came with the Bucs. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to him given the strife between he and coach Jon Gruden. Garcia did come off the bench last week and lead a touchdown drive.

For Carolina, Jordan Gross is expected to start at left tackle, while Jeff Otah (sprained ankle) remains a game-time decision. Center Ryan Kalil will not play, meaning Geoff Hangartner is back in the starting lineup.

Late note: Center Ryan Kalil (ankle) and receiver D.J. Hackett (knee) did not make the trip to Tampa with the Panthers and will not play Sunday against the Bucs. That doesn't come as much of a surprise as neither practiced this past week and both were listed as doubtful on the injury report.
Look for Geoff Hangartner to start at center, while Dwayne Jarrett will be the No. 3 receiver.

GAME PREVIEW: What makes this matchup so interesting is that both teams are so similar, priding themselves on running the football and playing great defense.

Of course, you need to the pass the ball as well, and that's where the Panthers have an edge.

Carolina has a deep threat in Steve Smith, while the Bucs don't with Galloway on the sidelines. Look for the Panthers to run the ball quite a bit with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but still get Smith included in the offense early on in the game.

Tampa Bay will counter with a series of short timing routes in typical West Coast offense style. Carolina's front seven may have a tough time getting to Garcia, so their best bet may be to get their hands up and disrupt his pass-ing lanes.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL: With Hackett likely out this week with a sprained MCL, Dwayne Jarrett has a chance to capture the No. 3 receiver spot and keep it. Hackett hasn't played all that well after missing most of training camp with a foot injury. If Jarrett can show something these next few games he can keep Hackett on the sidelines. There are plenty in Carolina who really want to see Jarrett make the most of this opportunity.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Panthers QB Jake Delhomme vs. Bucs DBs - Delhomme has been a Buc-killer over the years, completing 13 TD passes with only seven INTs. More important, he's 7-1 as Carolina's starter against the Bucs. He'll look to find Steve Smith, who should be a little angry after dropping two potential touchdown passes last week. To be fair, he was pretty hard on one of them, but the other on was catchable.

Panthers DL vs. Bucs RB Ernest Graham - The Panthers have shutdown some of the game's best running backs this year and have allowed just one rushing touchdown. But the Bucs, who rank third in the league in rushing, will challenge them on Sunday. The Panthers have allowed only one rushing TD. That was by a fullback.

NOTABLE: Bucs tailback Earnest Graham has scored a rushing touchdown in five straight home games dating back to last season. In those games he's averaging 101 yards rushing per game.

BY THE NUMBERS: 17-0 - Bucs record under coach Jon Gruden when they don't commit a turnover.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "One thing that I'm really proud of this team is that it's a one-week deal. You don't look ahead.

That's what I enjoy most about this team. There's a focus on the task at hand and that's what you have to do."
-Panthers QB Jake Delhomme.

PREDICTION: This is a tough one. Everything on paper says the Panthers should win this one. They play well in Tampa. They're more talented. And, the Bucs quarterback situation is in a bit of turmoil. But this is a division game and you can basically toss what you know out the window. I'm going to pick the red hot Panthers in a close game. Carolina 23, Tampa Bay 20. (Season record: 5-0).

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