17–14 halftime score. On the first drive of the third quarter, Freeman was intercepted by Jonathan Babineaux at the Tampa Bay 30-yard line. Matt Ryan threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Michael Palmer. After another field goal Atlanta led 27–14. On the ensuing kickoff, Maurice Stovall bobbled the ball, and Micheal Spurlock scooped it up at the 11-yard line. Spurlock avoided tackles, and tightroped down the sideline for an 89-yard kickoff return touchdown. Trailing 27–21 with 2:44 remaining, Freeman had driven the Buccaneers 89 yards in 12 plays to the Atlanta 2-yard line. Facing 4th down & 1 at the Atlanta 2, LeGarrette Blount was tackled for no gain, and held at the line of scrimmage, which turned the ball over on downs. Atlanta remained undefeated at home, winning 27–21. Week 10: vs. Carolina Panthers Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Falcons the Buccaneers played on home ground for an NFC South rivalry match against the Panthers. In the 1st quarter the Buccaneers took the lead as QB Josh Freeman made an 8-yard TD pass to WR Arrelious Benn. The Panthers narrowed the lead with kicker John Kasay hitting a 46-yard field goal. The Buccaneers increased their lead in the second quarter with RB LeGarrette Blount getting a 17-yard TD run; but the Panthers replied with RB Josh Vaughan making a 2-yard TD run. Tampa Bay scored again when Freeman found TE Kellen Winslow on a 20-yard TD pass. The lead was narrowed with Kasay's 28 and 48-yard field goals, but the Buccaneers pulled away in the fourth quarter with kicker Connor Barth nailing a 32-yard field goal, and with RB Cadillac Williams getting a 45-yard TD run. With the win, Tampa Bay not only improved to 6–3, but achieved a season sweep over the Carolina Panthers. Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers Tampa Bay sacked Troy Smith six times, forced two turnovers, and held the 49ers to only 189 total yards of offense, in a shutout win by the score of 21–0. It was the Buccaneers first win at San Francisco since 1980, and the 49ers first home shutout since 1977. Early in the second quarter, Tampa Bay drove 80 yards in 14 plays, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown run by Cadillac Williams. Tampa Bay took a 7–0 lead into halftime. With 3:36 remaining in the third quarter, Josh Freeman completed a pass 33 yards to Mike