PLAYER OF THE GAME Jeff Garcia took a beating Sunday. He was sacked six times and he lost two fumbles, including one that helped the Lions build their 17-point first-quarter lead. Without Garcia, though, the Bucs probably don't beat back the Lions and win this game. Though he admits he was sloppy at times, there were also times when Garcia was as precise as a hand-crafted timepiece. He finished the game with a 137.5 passer rating that was largely a result of the fact he completed 13 of 18 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns and was not picked off. His biggest plays came in the second quarter, when he solved the Bucs' red zone problems by making sure they scored before they got there. With pressure in his face on both plays, Garcia found Ike Hilliard 36 yards downfield for one score and Jerramy Stevens 24 yards downfield for another that proved to be the game-winner. ...more

November 24, 2008