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Hot QBs, Strong Line Play Help Bucs Roll Past Pats, 27-10
Tribune Photo by Joseph Brown III
Brian Griese (8) looks for running back Warrick Dunn coming out of the backfield in the first quarter.
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Published: August 17, 2008
Updated: 08/17/2008 09:07 pm
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TAMPA - The improved Buccaneers offensive line helped quarterbacks look good and a lackluster New England team look pretty bad as the Bucs rolled to a 27-10 win over the Patriots on Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium.
Sabby Piscitelli returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half and Matt Bryant followed with a short field goal after an interception to give Tampa Bay its biggest lead at 27-3 in the third quarter, but it was the line that paved the way.
Brian Griese completed his first eight passes and led the Buccaneers on a 17-play touchdown drive that consumed more than nine minutes off the clock, and the Bucs took a 17-3 lead at halftime.
"We came out ready to play, we got into a good rhythm," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "A nice, 17-play drive to start the game was impressive."
McCown also threw a one-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter as Tampa Bay dominated the Tom Brady-less Patriots in the first half of both teams' second preseason game.
Griese, starting in place of the injured Jeff Garcia, was 8-for-8 on the game's first possession, hitting Warrick Dunn three times out of the backfield for 15 yards. Only one play on the entire drive covered more than eight yards, a 16-yard reverse by receiver Antonio Bryant on the third play of the game, on third-and-one from the Bucs 29-yard line.
"I know they had some guys out, but (New England) is a really good team," Griese said. "And for us to come out and put a drive out from the start of the game was good for our confidence and good for the team."
Gruden liked what he saw from Griese, who is battling Luke McCown for the backup quarterback spot.
"Brian Griese made some great decisions," Gruden said. "We are going to challenge him above the neck."
Earnest Graham finally capped the long drive by scoring on a one-yard run up the middle with 5:22 left in the first quarter.
Griese, replaced by McCown early in the second quarter, finished his night 9-of-10 passing for 44 yards. McCown was 7-of-10 for 79 yards and running back Michael Bennett had 57 yards on eight carries, all in the first half.
Bennett gave credit to the offensive line.
"Each and every week they keep getting better and better," he said. "They are the guys that are going to take us all the way, so we have to ride them and keep riding them until the wheels fall off."
McCown led the Bucs on a scoring drive of his own, moving the team 86 yards in eight plays late in the first half and hitting fullback Byron Storer on a one-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 left before intermission to give the Bucs a 17-0 lead.
The Patriots had the ball on their own 29-yard line to open the third quarter, but center Dan Connelly snapped the ball over quarterback Matt Cassel's head. Piscitelli, impressive in training camp, scooped up the loose ball and raced untouched to the end zone to give the Bucs a 24-3 lead with just 16 seconds gone in the second half.
The disinterested Patriots coughed up another turnover later in the third quarter when reserve quarterback Kevin O'Connell was intercepted along the sideline by cornerback Elbert Mack, who returned the ball five yards to the New England 29 with 11:36 left in the period.
Bryant then kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it 27-3 with 7:23 remaining in the quarter.
The Patriots scored their only touchdown when running back Heath Evans scored from one-yard out with 10:20 left in the game.
The Patriots got on the scoreboard on the final play of the first half, when kicker Stephen Gostkowski barely got a career-long 53-yard field goal over the crossbar to make the score 17-3.
Bucs middle linebacker Barrett Ruud was credited with an interception on New England's first possession, but Patriots coach Bill Belichick challenged the call and it was overturned after a replay review.
Ruud had a hand in a turnover later in the first half, causing a fumble by Patriots running back Kevin Faulk that was recovered by defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson at the Bucs 25-yard line with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bucs were quick to capitalize when Graham ripped off a 12-yard run on the first play after Faulk's fumble, followed by a 33-yard reception by Bryant that gave Tampa Bay a first down at the Patriots 30-yard line with 10:44 to play in the second quarter.
The drive stalled after that, though, and Bryant came on to kick a 34-yard field goal that gave the Bucs a 10-0 lead with 7:25 left in the first half.
Brady did not play for New England, which started Matt Cassel at quarterback. For the Bucs, receiver Joey Galloway was listed as a starter and took part in pre-game warmups, but was a last-minute scratch from the lineup.
Randy Moss did play, but did not make his first catch, for 10 yards, until 47 seconds were left in the first half. He finished with two receptions for 25 yards.
Dunn, returning to the Bucs after six years with the Atlanta Falcons, received a warm welcome from the Tampa Bay faithful.
"It felt like everyone missed me, so it was great to get introduced to the crowd and they all welcomed me back with a standing ovation, and that was great," Dunn said. "It was good, a great atmosphere."
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