By Steve Reed, AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to work overtime to keep their playoff surge alive.

Josh Freeman threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Clark in overtime to cap the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 27-21 comeback win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

It was Freeman's third touchdown pass of the game for the Buccaneers (6-4), who have now won five of their last six games.

Carolina appeared to have the game in hand after a 29-yard touchdown pass from Cam Newton to Brandon LaFell put the Panthers (2-8) up 21-10 with six minutes left in the game. But after a 40-yard field goal by Connor Barth, the Panthers' offense couldn't put the game away and had to punt.

Freeman led the Bucs 80 yards on seven plays in 50 seconds, despite not having any timeouts.

He finished the drive with a perfectly thrown 24-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson between three defenders with 12 seconds left. Freeman went back to Jackson for a 2-point conversion on a slant route to tie the game and send it into overtime.

In overtime, the Bucs moved quickly down the field and Freeman found an open Clark along the left sideline for the game-winner.

Newton finished with 252 yards passing and a touchdown and Jonathan Stewart ran for 43 yards and a score for the Panthers, who failed to avenge a 16-10 loss to the Bucs in the season opener.

Of Carolina's last six losses, they've led in the fourth quarter in five of them.

The Bucs came in as one of the hottest teams in the league having scored an average of 35.6 points per game during the past five games.

But after scoring a quick 10 points, the Panthers defense shut them down for most of the remainder of the three quarters forcing three turnovers, including a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown by Captain Munnerlyn and a key fumble by rookie Doug Martin on a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.

Trailing 14-10, the Bucs appeared ready to take the lead after driving 15 plays to the Carolina 1.