TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

5 Plays That Made A Difference

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2007

Despite taking a sack and committing a penalty that cost them 5 yards, the Bucs needed just five plays to move the ball into the red zone during their second possession of the day. Once they got there, though, the sledding once again got tough for them. A fumbled snap by QB Jeff Garcia on a second-and-goal play from the 3 was the killer. Combined with a broken-up pass on third down, that fumble forced the Bucs to settle for a field goal for the second time in as many possessions. Those two field goals provided the Bucs with a 6-0 lead but they quickly found out that failing to capitalize fully on scoring chances can really hurt you in this league.

The 49ers had shown nothing offensively during their first two drives. Whatever adjustments they made on the sideline gearing up for their third, though, worked. Like the Bucs on their second drive, the 49ers moved smartly into scoring range after just a few plays. Unlike the Bucs, though, the 49ers capitalized completely on the opportunity afforded them. With WR Darrell Jackson breaking sharply away from CB Brian Kelly and toward the end zone off a post pattern, QB Shaun Hill turned a first-and-10 play from the Bucs' 21-yard line into a touchdown by rifling a throw into Jackson's hands. The score gave the 49ers a 7-6 lead one play into the second quarter.

The 49ers were moving the ball again. On a first-and-10 play from their own 24 late in the second quarter, they'd moved it to their 39 off a pass to TE Vernon Davis. Thanks to a hit by SS Jermaine Phillips, though, the 39 was as far as the 49ers would go. Phillips' hit on Davis caused a fumble that was recovered by MLB Barrett Ruud. Four plays later the Bucs were in the end zone. After a dumpoff pass to RB Michael Pittman got them to the 49ers' 24, a Jeff Garcia pass to TE Jerramy Stevens helped get them the seven points they needed to regain the lead.

It was early in the third quarter and the Bucs led by only six points. In Coach Jon Gruden's mind, it was enough. He'd started leaning on his reserves, including QB Luke McCown. On a third-and-6 play from his team's own 10, though, Gruden's decision proved costly. When McCown failed to throw the ball away or sprint to the sideline on a scramble, he fumbled the ball away, the 49ers recovering at the Bucs' 14. Four plays later the 49ers took the lead back when QB Shaun Hill bounced back from a devastating Gaines Adams hit to drill a ball into the hands of TE Vernon Davis for a touchdown that gave them a 14-13 edge.

The Bucs were moving the ball early in the fourth quarter but not smartly. A series of mistakes resulted in them virtually losing as many yards as they gained, but a dumpoff pass to RB Michael Pittman on a third-and-9 play allowed them to pick up 16 yards to the 49ers' 32. On the very next play, though, CB Nate Clements picked off a Luke McCown pass and returned it 62 yards to the Bucs' 23. RB Frank Gore did the rest from there. He took a short swing pass from Hill and ran untouched into the end zone for the touchdown that all but finished off the Bucs and sealed San Francisco's victory.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT