Dilfer Too Much for Panthers

There was no first victory for the Carolina Panthers, only more heartbreak.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit Sunday to beat the winless Panthers, 16-13, on Trent Dilfer’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Karl Williams with 1:39 to play.

Steve Beuerlein, making his second start since Kerry Collins was demoted to third-string quarterback and subsequently released, led a drive that put Carolina in position for a 47-yard, tying field-goal attempt. But John Kasay’s kick sailed wide left with five seconds remaining.

“To lose the way we lose tears you apart. It’s the worst feeling an athlete can have,” said Beuerlein about the Panthers (0-6), who lost their eighth consecutive game dating to last season. “All losses hurt, but when you come so close, it gets frustrating. I felt we were in control at 13-3, but things kept going against us.”

The victory evened Tampa Bay’s record (3-3) as the Buccaneers try to work themselves back into the NFC Central race.

Dilfer, booed much of the game, vindicated himself for a poor third quarter by scoring on a one-yard run to trim Carolina’s lead to 13-10 with a little more than five minutes remaining. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Williams one play after a pass interference call against cornerback Rod Smith gave Tampa Bay a first down at the Panthers’ 29.

“Trent is very tough and mature. . . . We know he won’t quit on us,” fullback Mike Alstott said about Dilfer, who completed 21 of 31 passes for 219 yards and was intercepted once. “That last drive said a lot for him. He never looked scared, never panicked.”

Beuerlein, who played well in Carolina’s 27-20 loss to Dallas last week, completed 22 of 31 passes for 234 yards.