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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Martin Gramatica lined up for the go-ahead field goal and the Carolina Panthers assumed they would have to come from behind to beat Tampa Bay.

In this series, nothing should be assumed.

Allen's Analysis

Buccaneers at Panthers: Do you see the Panthers getting one of the wild-card spots? The Panthers have put themselves in too deep a hole to make the playoffs despite how weak the NFC is looking. They have to take pride and satisfaction in how hard they are playing. They are doing a tremendous job of being in each game each week. Last year this team's success was based on the run, but due to injury they've been forced to throw the ball and have responded well. They should be proud of their effort and ability to adjust to the circumstances that have surrounded them. Next season they should be able to rebound and make a run for the playoffs. Eric Allen played cornerback for 14 NFL seasons with the Eagles, Saints and Raiders. He's a regular contributor to Insider.

Gramatica missed all three of his field goal attempts in one of his worst games, while Carolina's Julius Peppers and Keary Colbert played their best in the Panthers' 21-14 victory over the Bucs on Sunday in one of the NFL's newest rivalries.

The Bucs (4-7) had a chance to break a 14-14 tie with 1:48 to play when Gramatica lined up for a 37-yard field goal. Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme immediately began plotting his comeback strategy.

"We assumed they are going to make this," Delhomme said. "He was pretty close in, he's right here."

But when the ball sailed wide left, Delhomme seized on the opportunity.

He marched Carolina (4-7) straight down the field and threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Colbert with 20 seconds to play for the Panthers' third straight victory.

"When he missed it, we knew it was time to step up," Delhomme said. "It was an uplifting deal for us."

As was the victory, which Carolina celebrated as if it had just won the Super Bowl. No victory is sweeter than one against the hated Bucs, and this one put Carolina on the fringe of the NFC wild-card chase.

They did it behind Colbert, a rookie who had 72 yards on three catches, two for touchdowns. In addition to the game-winner, Colbert caught a 24-yard TD pass on Carolina's opening drive.

Then there was Peppers, who ran an interception back 46 yards for a score, blocked a field goal and had a sack to continue a four-game tear. After getting two sacks through seven games, Peppers now has seven sacks in the past four weeks.

It's no coincidence his play has improved at the same time as the Panthers, who are slowly climbing out of a 1-7 hole after a Super Bowl appearance last year.

"It took a little while for us to come around," Peppers said. "Now we are just playing hard and taking it one game at a time. Who knows what can happen? Maybe we can sneak in."

The Bucs also had been on a slow climb after an 0-4 start. Tampa Bay has Gramatica to blame for halting the rise.

Gramatica was off all day, missing the potential game-winner, a 39-yarder in the first quarter, and a 26-yarder Peppers got a hand on. It was all too reminiscent for Gramatica, who had three kicks blocked by Carolina last season, including a potential winning extra point at the end of regulation in a game the Panthers won in overtime. He declined to speak to the media after the game, but the Bucs said enough for him.

"The disheartening thing is the missed extra points and field goals, it shouldn't come down to that," said Tampa Bay receiver Joe Jurevicius. "It's almost laughable."

Bucs coach Jon Gruden initially passed on defending his kicker before backtracking.

"I'm never going to address publicly how I truly feel -- I don't trust enough people out there," Gruden said. "He's won a tremendous amount of games for this franchise. I'm not going to talk about it anymore."

No one was happier about Gramatica's awful day than Carolina punter Todd Sauerbrun, who has publicly feuded with Gramatica and both of his kicking brothers.

"I don't feel bad for him ... I'm glad he missed as many as he did," Sauerbrun said.

Carolina had its own kicking woes.

Jeff Chandler, filling in for injured John Kasay, nearly mirrored Gramatica by missing one field goal and having a second one blocked.

Brian Griese threw for a season-high 347 yards and two touchdowns for the Bucs. Both scores came on shovel passes to Michael Pittman, who had eight catches for 134 yards and touchdown receptions of 6 and 8 yards.

One pass Griese wished he could have back was a floater intended for Ken Dilger that Peppers saw coming from a mile away. He stepped in front of the ball at least 5 yards ahead of Dilger, and sprinted into the end zone for a 14-7 lead in the third quarter.

"I saw him, I just thought I could get it past him ... he's a defensive end," Griese said. "He made a great play on the ball, and he's faster than me and I couldn't catch him."

Game notes

Carolina jumped offside in the second quarter, then stood around as Tampa Bay continued the play -- resulting in a 19-yard completion the Panthers did not defend. ... Gramatica is 11-for-19 on the season. ... The Bucs lost two of four fumbles. ... Delhomme was sacked four times. ... Carolina fullback Nick Goings ran for 106 yards a week after rushing for a career-high 121.