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Bucs Hold Off Falcons, 24-9

Tribune photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn celebrates his second-quarter touchdown.

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By AARON KNOX | TBO.com

Published: September 14, 2008

Updated: 09/14/2008 07:16 pm

TAMPA - Matt Ryan, welcome to Tampa Two.

Ryan, the rookie quarterback from Boston College whom the Atlanta Falcons drafted to replace Mchael Vick as the face of the franchise, showed his inexperience in the face of the Bucs' vaunted defense and Tampa Bay pounded out an ugly 24-9 victory today at Raymond James stadium.

Ryan completed one more pass to his teammates -- three -- than he did to the Bucs in his first 17 attempts, helping the Bucs build a 17-0 lead in the first half. He finished 13-of-33 for 158 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked four times -- twice by Gaines Adams -- and knocked to the ground many, many more.

Still, the Bucs let the Falcons hang around and make a game of it as they struggled under the direction of new starting quarterback Brian Griese. Despite that, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said he expected Griese to start against next week against his previous team, the Chicago Bears.

Earnest Graham scored on a 68-yard touchdown run to give the Bucs a 24-9 lead and some breathing room with about 3 minutes to play.

Graham broke into the Atlanta secondary, angled toward the right sideline and cut back inside the 10 to score on the longest run of his career with just 3:08 left in the game after Atlanta had drawn within eight points.

Griese was 18-of-31 for 160 yards and a touchdown in his 17th start as a Buc, and the first since rejoining the team this offseason. Overall, Tampa Bay had just 311 yards of total offense, with a big chunk of that coming on Graham's TD run.

Graham had 116 yards on just 15 carries. Warrick Dunn also scored on a 17-yard touchdown run and added 49 yards on 12 carries, as well as three pass receptions for 21 yards.

Jason Elam's third field goal brought the Falcons to within 17-9 of the Bucs with just over 5 minutes remaining.

The Falcons struggled offensively for most of the game, but put together a strange, 14-play, 77-yard midway through the final quarter to draw within eight points.

That drive, capped by Elam's 24-yard field goal with 5:12 to play, included an apparent fumble recovery by Sabby Piscitelli that was wiped out by two Bucs penalties -- including Piscitelli's own forward lateral -- and a completed pass by Ryan after he appeared to cross the line of scrimmage. The Bucs challenged that play, but it was upheld by officials after review.

Elam's second field goal provided the first points of the second half, but the Bucs continued to lead Atlanta, 17-6, earlier in the fourth quarter.

Elam's 27-yard field goal with 1:03 left in the third quarter capped the Falcons' best drive of the game as they moved 75 yards in 13 plays, helped by a roughing the passer penalty inflicted on the beleaguered Ryan.

The Bucs missed a chance to score points early in the fourth quarter, when Griese fumbled on a sack by John Abraham and Atlanta's Jason Jefferson recovered at the Bucs 17-yard line with 11:34 remaining.

The Bucs had a first-and-goal at their own 6 after tight end John Gilmore caught a 36-yard pass from Griese, but could not capitalize.

Elam got the Falcons on the board when he kicked a 32-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the first half, cutting the Bucs lead to 17-3.

The Bucs defense thoroughly dominated the first half, scoring 10 points off Falcons turnovers and holding Atlanta to five first downs and 112 total yards.

Ryan was miserable in the first half, 3-of-15 passing for 36 yards and two interceptions. He dropped to 3-of-17 when his first two passes of the third quarter fell incomplete.

Tampa Bay's offense didn't fair much better, mustering just eight first downs and 125 yards behind new starter Griese. Griese was 12-of-22 for 89 yards and a touchdown before intermission.

Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal after a Piscitelli interception, giving the Bucs a 17-0 lead in the second quarter.

Piscitelli, the second-year safety who missed most of last season with an injury, stepped in front of a poorly thrown pass by Ryan and returned the interception 22 yards to the Atlanta 17-yard line.

Bryant came on four plays later, giving the Bucs a 17-0 lead with 9:07 left in the first half.

Dunn scored on a 17-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, giving the Bucs a 14-0 lead.

Dunn's first touchdown since rejoining Tampa Bay after six seasons in Atlanta, came on a third-and-goal play from the Falcons 17 after rookie guard Jeremy Zuttah was called for holding. Dunn broke through the line untouched, then weaved through the Falcons secondary before diving across the goal line with 11:08 to go in the second quarter.

Dunn also picked up a key first down on the drive when he gained 12 yards on a third-and-10 shovel pass to the Atlanta 8-yard line.

Gilmore caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Griese to give the Buccaneers a quick, 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Gilmore's first touchdown as a Buc came after rookie cornerback Aquib Talib intercepted Ryan on the Falcons' first possession.

Talib jumped in front of a pass intended for Harry Douglas at the Falcons 21-yard line and took it to the 19 just 31 seconds into the game.

Griese hit Joey Galloway for a 12-yard gain to the Atlanta 7 and hit Gilmore for the score two plays later, giving the Bucs a 7-0 lead with 12:37 left in the first quarter.

Both Talib (hamstring) and Galloway (ankle) left the game with injuries in the second half.

Tanard Jackson nearly intercepted Ryan on the Falcons' next possession, failing to hold on when he made a diving attempt at an overthrown pass with 7:27 to go in the first period. Atlanta punted on the next play.

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