Florida Tuskers coach Jim Haslett said though the level of competition level in the first-year United Football League “may not be the National Football League,” he believes his team is “pretty close.” So what would happen if the unbeaten Tuskers played the winless Buccaneers? Tuskers running back Michael Pittman, a former Buc, acknowledged Wednesday that there are some guys on the team who would “probably tell you we can (beat the Bucs).” That’s when running back Tatum Bell chimed in, “I’m one of them.”

Coach Raheem Morris didn’t say who his QB was going to be following the game. He officially made the change today when the team practiced for the first time since returning from London. The Bucs (0-7) have a bye this week, meaning Freeman will have extra time to prepare for his first start, which will be November 8th at home against Green Bay.

Freeman replaces second-year pro Josh Johnson. Johnson made four starts after Byron Leftwich led the team the first three weeks of the season.

The Bucs made the switch to Josh Freeman after Josh Johnson threw three interceptions. Two came in the first quarter by safety Brandon Meriweather, including one returned for a touchdown on the fifth play of the game. At 0-7 and entering a bye week, the move to the rookie from Kansas State could be permanent. Rahim Morris wouldn’t commit to it, but even Johnson, who was 9-of-26 for 156 yards and a touchdown, sounded resigned to it. “I told (Morris), ‘You don’t have to say anything.’ I understand,” Johnson said. “It’s just the same situation as Byron (Leftwich). If we don’t win games, maybe Josh is going to play. “It’s about taking advantage enough, and if we are not winning football games, I’m not taking advantage of that opportunity. We are an 0-7 football team. So somebody has to step up and do something about it.”

About the only interesting thing to come from the latest Bucs setback was seeing first-round pick QB Josh Freeman for the first time. He played the final nine minutes of the game and completed two of four passes for 16 yards while getting sacked twice.

Otherwise, it was another long day. The Pats got off to a fast start and never looked back. S Brandon Meriweather returned the first of two first-quarter interceptions for a 39-yard touchdown. Then is was Brady’s turn, as he added touchdown passes to Wes Welker and Sam Aiken to give New England a 21-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter.

A two-minute drill made it 21-7 as QB Josh Johnson threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to WR Antonio Bryant. The game was put out of reach a few minutes later though as after halftime Brady threw a 35-yard TD pass to TE Benjamin Watson, then in the final period the Pats wrapped up the win on a one-yard Laurence Maroney run.

Will Freeman get his first start after the bye week on November 8th vs the Packers? Johnson, who was 9-of-26 for 156 yards and a touchdown, sounded like it could happen. “I told (Morris), ‘You don’t have to say anything.’ I understand,” Johnson said. “It’s just the same situation as Byron (Leftwich). If we don’t win games, maybe Josh is going to play.”

And for the 0-7 Bucs, it may be the only thing left interesting to watch in the 2009 season.

Carolina Panthers Jake Delhomme, while much maligned, can be accused of being resourceful – if anything else. And that resourcefulness would be put to the test as the Panthers visited the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at Raymond James Stadium. And interestingly enough, Delhomme contributed little in this game as it was more of a rushing plethora as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart rushed for 262 of the team’s 267 yards as Carolina allowed head coach John Fox to coach for another week by outlasting Tampa Bay 28-21.

Passing wouldn’t really factor in to this contest as both quarterbacks – Delhomme and the Buccaneers’ Josh Johnson, combined for a total of 212 yards. The first half, like the Buccaneers sinking ship, was listless as only two scores took place – one on a 20-yard touchdown run by Tampa’s Carnell Williams and coincidentally another 20-yard run by Carolina’s Williams – which would allow both teams to slink into their respective locker rooms at halftime tied at 7.

Business would pick up markedly in the third quarter as a 1-yard Delhomme-to-Jeff King TD pass would give the Panthers a 14-7 lead; they would further pad their cushion at 21-7 on a 26-yard Stewart TD run. At the 2:17 mark of the third period, special teams would allow the Buccaneers to narrow the gap to 21-14 on a 97-yard kickoff return by wide receiver Sammie Stroughter; defense would benefit Tampa Bay as safety Tanard Jackson scored on a pick-6 with 8:33 of the fourth quarter, tying things up at 21.

But as the remaining 6:27 of the game would indicate, Delhomme would lead the Panthers on a drive which would be capped by a game-winning 1-yard run by Williams with only 29 seconds remaining in the game.

As previously mentioned, passing was a mere afterthought for both teams as Delhomme went 9-of-17 for 65 yards with a TD and 2 interceptions while Johnson went 11-of-17 for 147 yards and an INT. Williams had his first 100-game this season, rushing 30 times for 152 yards and 2 TD’s while catching 2 passes for 20 yards; Stewart added 110 yards on only 17 carries. Williams led the Biccaneers rushing attack with 16 carries for 77 yards and a score while Johnson added 45 yards on 8 carries.

Muhsin Muhammad led all Panthers receivers with 3 receptions for 27 yards while Stroughter led the Bucs’ receivers with 3 receptions for 65 yards. Carolina (2-3)makes the short trip home to host the Buffalo Bills next Sunday while Tampa Bay (0-6) has their work cut out for them as they remain home to host the New England Patriots – also next Sunday.

Carolina 30 Tampa Bay 17