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Davis rushes streaking Panthers past Bucs into top spot

Posted on: Sunday, 6 November 2005, 18:53 CST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stephen Davis ran for a pair of touchdowns as the streaking Carolina Panthers won their fifth straight game, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-14 in National Football League play in Tampa Sunday.

The Panthers (6-2) stayed in first place in the NFC South after what was also their fifth victory in a row over their divisional rivals.

Carolina never trailed, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, a 17-7 lead at the half and stretching their lead to 27 points in the fourth quarter before the Buccaneers (5-3) managed a late touchdown to make the score a little more respectable.

Tampa Bay have now lost three of their last four games to slip out of the first place tie in the division with Carolina and Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons kept pace with a 17-10 win at Miami.

John Kasay opened the scoring for the Panthers with a 30-yard field goal five minutes into the game and Davis ran four yard for a TD later in the first quarter, putting the Panthers in control.

Joey Galloway caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Chris Simms on the first play of the second quarter to get the Bucs close, but Davis scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 90-yard drive, restoring Carolina's 10-point lead before the half.

Chris Gamble scored on a 61-yard interception return in the third quarter, and Kasay added a 20-yard field goal to make it 27-7 after three quarters.

Steve Smith scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme early in the fourth quarter, while Mike Alstott's 1-yard TD run accounted for the Bucs final score later in the quarter.

FIVE CATCHES

Smith had five catches for 106 yards from Delhomme, who was 11-for-18 for 216 yards and no interceptions. Davis rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries.

Simms, the son of former New York Giants QB Phil Simms, wound up 25-for-41 for 259 yards and two interceptions.

In Miami, Michael Vick passed for a season-high 228 yards and rushed for another 38 yards, leading the Falcons to victory over the Dolphins.

Brian Finneran caught eight passes for 92 yards, including an 11-yard TD catch, while Warrick Dunn's 1-yard run accounted for Atlanta's other major. Dunn had 88 yards rushing on 25 carries.

Todd Peterson's 21-yard field goal was the only score of the final quarter as the Falcons improved to 6-2 to stay tied with Carolina in the NFC South.

Ronnie Brown rushed for 67 yards and Ricky Williams rushed for 52 more, including a 23-yard TD run for the Dolphins (3-5).

In Baltimore, Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes to help the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens 21-9.

Rudi Johnson ran for 97 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals, who improved to 7-2.

THIRD LOSS

Anthony Wright went 19-for-30 for 153 yards and Matt Stover kicked three field goals for the Ravens, who lost their third straight game to slip to 2-6.

In Cleveland, Reuben Droughns rushed for 116 yards and caught a crucial third-down pass for 51 yards as the Browns beat the Tennessee Titans 20-14.

Trent Dilfer went 18-for-34 for 272 yards for the Browns.

In Jacksonville, Byron Leftwich directed scoring drives of 80 and 82 yards in the fourth quarter to guide the Jaguars to a 21-14 win against the Houston Texans.

In Kansas City, Larry Johnson rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns as the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 27-23.

In Minneapolis, Brad Johnson passed for 136 yards and two touchdowns as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions 27-14.

In East Rutherford, LaDainian Tomlinson scored a career-high four touchdowns as the San Diego Chargers beat the New York Jets 31-26.

Tomlinson rushed for three TDs and 107 yards and also caught a 25-yard pass for another score.

Source: REUTERS

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