Stewart helps lead Panthers to win over Buccaneers

Jonathan Stewart rushed for two touchdowns, including a key tiebreaking score in the fourth quarter to help lead the Carolina Panthers to a 38-23 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers last night.

The teams entered the final quarter tied 17-17.

Stewart scored on a 4-yard run with 13:27 left to put the Panthers ahead 24-17. DeAngelo Williams then scored the first of two touchdowns when he capped a four-play, 90-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run that increased the lead to 31-17.

That drive featured a 41-yard run by Williams and a 30-yard run by Stewart.

The Panthers are now 10-3 and in sole possession of the NFC South lead. The Bucs (9-4) are in second place and are the conference's wild-card leader.

Williams rushed for a career-high 186 yards on 19 carries. Stewart added 115 yards on 15.

Tampa Bay's Antonio Bryant had nine receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

He scored on a 50-yard pass from Jeff Garcia in the third quarter that tied the score at 10-all. He then hauled in a 16-yard toss from Garcia with 2:36 left that pulled the Bucs to within 31-23.

But, with 2:17 left, Williams scored on a 36-yard run to cap the scoring. *