TAMPA, Fla. — Jeff Garcia longed for another chance to show he's the right quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection got it today and delivered exactly what the Bucs were looking for in a 27-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers. He completed a high percentage of passes, managed the offense and — most of all — protected the football.

Garcia, starting for the first time since the season opener because Brian Griese is injured, threw for 173 yards and a touchdown. Warrick Dunn had his most productive day running the ball since rejoining the Bucs with 115 yards on 22 carries.

The victory, Tampa Bay's first at home against the division rival Panthers since 2002, gave the Bucs (4-2) a share of first place in the NFC South with Carolina (4-2), which sputtered a week after routing Kansas City 34-0.

Garcia, benched after a poor performance at New Orleans in the opener, threw a 2-yard TD pass to Alex Smith in the first quarter. With Griese out with a sore elbow and shoulder, Garcia completed 15 of 20 passes with no interceptions to make a case for regaining the starting job.

Earnest Graham's 1-yard scoring run made it 27-3 early in the fourth. Rookie Geno Hayes blocked a punt and returned it 22 yards for Tampa Bay's first touchdown, and Matt Bryant added field goals 37 and 49 yards.

The defense did its job, too, intercepting Bucs nemesis Jake Delhomme three times, setting up a touchdown and stopping two other promising drives.

The Carolina quarterback entered the game 7-1 vs. Tampa Bay, including 4-0 at Raymond James Stadium, where the Panthers had not lost in five trips since 2002 — the year the NFC South was formed.

All three of Tampa Bay's interceptions came on passes that glanced off Delhomme's intended targets.

Tanard Jackson picked off a first-quarter pass that deflected off tight end Dante Rosario; Jermaine Phillips intercepted a deep throw that receiver Muhsin Muhammad and cornerback Aqib Talib were battling for in the end zone, and Talib got the last one on a ball that went through Steve Smith's hands.

Turnovers weren't the only obstacles for the Panthers. Delhomme underthrew a wide open Smith on a 48-yard completion that easily could have been a 72-yard scoring pass.

As it was, Smith made a nice adjustment and caught the ball as he was falling to the ground, where Jackson touched him down at the Tampa Bay 24. The Panthers eventually settled for John Kasay's 20-yard field goal after Jonathan Stewart lost a yard on second-and-goal from the 1 and Delhomme's third-down pass was broken up in the end zone.

Smith, who also dropped what would have been a TD pass in the final minute, finished with six catches for 112 yards. However, the Bucs limited DeAngelo Williams to 27 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Delhomme was 20 of 39 for 242 yards.