The Panthers (9-3) and Bucs (9-3) will do battle at Bank of America Stadium in a Monday Night Football game for sole possession of first place in the division.

Atlanta's loss to New Orleans Sunday elevated the significance of tonight's game by dropping the Falcons (8-5) out of close contention for first.

"We have every reason to go out there and play as hard as we can possibly play," said Carolina receiver Muhsin Muhammad.

Panthers' fans are planning a "black out" greeting for the Buccaneers, dressing color-coordinated en masse to match the Panthers' jersey color.

The game gives Carolina an opportunity to make amends for a 27-3 loss at Tampa on Oct. 12 that was arguably the Panthers' worst performance of the season.

The Bucs scored early on a blocked punt and dominated throughout that game, holding Carolina to a season-low 40 yards rushing and intercepting quarterback Jake Delhomme three times.

"We really did not execute very well," said Carolina coach John Fox. We had the ball at the 1-yard line when our quarterback [Delhomme] and running back [Jonathan Stewart] ran into each other and fell down. We were probably fortunate that we didn't fumble the ball and lose it. There are a lot of areas we need to improve in."

The Panthers will look to improve their perfect home record (6-0). They have a chance to have an unbeaten home season for only the second time in team history. The first time was in 1996, when they reached the NFC championship game in the franchise's second season.

Despite the magnitude of the game, it wasn't even the most hyped of the week in the NFL. That distinction went to Sunday's Pittsburgh-Dallas game.

"It's a great rivalry. If people don't know about it, then that's their own agenda," said Bucs' coach Jon Gruden. "We've had some great games, big games.

"This atmosphere will bring out the best in both teams, I think. Hopefully, it will be a good show for everybody."

It will showcase the NFC South, which has been overshadowed by the NFC East most of the season but has a chance to wind up with three of the conference's six playoff berths.

"There was a lot of attention paid to those guys at the beginning of the season [and] we literally got no press," Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber said of the NFC East. "We've kind of methodically gone about our business, just like Carolina, and racked up nine wins.

"Monday night, the eyes of the country get to see this division at its best."

Delhomme expects the stadium to have an electric atmosphere unique to big games this time of year.

"As players, you're 9-3, they're 9-3," he said. "What a great [thing]. You're not eliminated out of anything. You're playing for a ton."