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Garcia leads resurgent Buccaneers against Panthers

Sep 30, 2007 - 12:21 PM Tampa Bay (2-1) at Carolina (2-1) Sunday 4:05 pm EDT

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Jeff Garcia's career renaissance is continuing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Garcia leads the Buccaneers against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday with first place on the line in the NFC South.

Tampa Bay was the lowest-scoring team in the NFC en route to a 4-12 finish in 2006. But they have been revived by free-agent signee Garcia, who won his final five regular-season starts last season in leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the NFC East crown.

After averaging 13 points last season, the Buccaneers (2-1) are putting up just over 20 points per game this season and have scored 55 points in back-to-back wins over New Orleans and St. Louis.

The 37-year-old Garcia's stats are not eye-popping - he is 43-of-65 for 595 yards and two touchdowns - but he has not turned the ball over.

Garcia's favorite target has been the ageless Joey Galloway. A No. 1 pick in 1995, Galloway, 35, has 13 receptions for 249 yards and two TDs in three games.

The Bucs augmented the passing game with the three-pronged running attack of Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham, who combined for 177 yards on 27 carries, including the first two career touchdowns by Graham.

The Panthers (2-1) may have a new face at quarterback against the Bucs. Jake Delhomme was knocked out of Sunday's 27-20 victory at Atlanta with an elbow injury.

There were initial fears that Delhomme has suffered a broken arm, but an MRI exam Monday revealed an elbow sprain. Delhomme has been listed as day-to-day and coach John Fox refused to rule him out for Sunday's game.

Delhomme finished 10-of-18 for 109 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. He has thrown eight touchdown passes in three games. If he is unable to start, former No. 1 overall pick David Carr will get the nod.

Carr, who was acquired in an offseason trade from the Houston Texans, finished up for Delhomme on Sunday and completed 3-of-4 passes for 56 yards.

The Panthers finally got their ground game going against Atlanta as DeShaun Foster rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a 13-yard TD pass from Delhomme.

Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith, who was held to one reception for 10 yards last week, is seeking his fifth straight 100-yard receiving day against Tampa Bay, which was swept in the season series in 2006.