NFC South: Bucs overcome dullness with determination
Sports Network | November 04, 2008
(Sports Network) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' performance against the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday certainly wasn't without its flaws, but it was still good enough to produce the biggest comeback win in the team's 33-year existence.
The Bucs overcame a 21-point second-quarter deficit in their stirring 30-27 overtime victory over the downtrodden Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, which moved Tampa Bay within a half-game of idle Carolina for first place in the NFC South standings.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia sparked the improbable rally by throwing for 239 yards in the second half and orchestrating a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including a five-play, 50-yard march that culminated in the gritty veteran's 24-yard scoring pass to wideout Antonio Bryant with 19 seconds remaining in regulation. He then found tight end Alex Smith in the end zone on the two-point conversion try to tie the contest at 27-27.
Garcia, who completed 31-of-43 throws for 339 total yards -- his highest passing total since 2003 -- later connected with Michael Clayton for two big receptions in overtime that set up kicker Matt Bryant's game-winning 34-yard boot.
Rookie Clifton Smith was one of Sunday's heroes as well, as the former practice squad member took the Buccaneers out of their early state of shock with a rousing 97-yard kick return touchdown late in the first half that pulled his club within 24-10. Bryant did his part by hauling in eight Garcia passes for a game-high 115 yards.
Tampa Bay also had its share of low points during its roller-coaster win. The Bucs committed four turnovers on the afternoon, including two fumbles by usually sure-handed running back Earnest Graham, while the Chiefs piled up 183 rushing yards on Tampa's well-regarded defense despite not having two-time Pro Bowler Larry Johnson available.
"We didn't start off so great," said Graham. "We had some turnovers, but this team has responded before. We have some tough, resilient characters on our team. We decided we weren't going to lose."
Sunday's triumph marked the second time this season the Buccaneers have mounted a furious comeback that resulted in an overtime win. Tampa Bay scored 13 unanswered points to record a 27-24 decision over Chicago back in Week 3.
QUICK HITS: Clifton Smith's return was the longest in Buccaneers history, surpassing a 90-yard runback for a touchdown by Micheal Spurlock in a victory over Atlanta during Week 15 of last season. The rookie also saw time in the backfield late in the game with Graham hobbled by a knee injury...Garcia's yardage total was his highest since a 344-yard output while with San Francisco on December 14, 2003...Running back Warrick Dunn sat out Sunday's game with a pinched nerve in his lower back, while starting strong safety Jermaine Phillips (broken arm) and regular left guard Arron Sears (concussion) were also inactive...Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud compiled a team-best 13 tackles (11 solo) along with a sack against the Chiefs.
NEXT UP: The Buccaneers' injured players will get a chance to heal during the team's upcoming bye week. Tampa Bay returns to action with a home matchup against Minnesota on November 16.
ATLANTA: Although the Falcons' offseason upgrade on offense has received a great deal of the credit for the team's impressive first-half turnaround, the defense showed this past weekend that it shouldn't be overlooked for its contributions.
The unit made an emphatic statement in Sunday's 24-0 road trouncing of the hapless Oakland Raiders. Atlanta set a team record by yielding a meager 77 total yards en route to its first shutout since a 41-0 blanking of Carolina on November 24, 2002.
Oakland mustered only three first downs and a paltry 10 net passing yards against a Falcons' defense that entered the game ranked 25th in the NFL in total yards allowed. The Raiders failed to move the chains at all in four first-half drives and had minus-two yards at the break, marking the first time one team has held the other to negative yards over two quarters since San Diego did so against Indianapolis in a 1992 clash.
While the defense earned the headlines, Atlanta's offense was no slouch either on Sunday. The Falcons amassed 453 total yards and 30 first downs for the game, while abusing the Raiders for 252 rushing yards. Atlanta controlled the football for a whopping 45 minutes and 15 seconds, the second-most by any team in an NFL game since 1991.
"I am really proud of our football team (Sunday)," exclaimed Falcons' first- year head coach Mike Smith. "Any time you can come out on the road and play efficiently, like our team did today, in all three phases and win the football game like we did, you have got to be very encouraged."
Running back Michael Turner led Atlanta's ground onslaught with 139 yards on a career-best 31 carries, with speedy backup Jerious Norwood adding 63 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts. The running game's success also helped young quarterback Matt Ryan to another efficient day, with the poised rookie completing 17-of-22 throws for 220 yards and a pair of scoring strikes to wide receiver Michael Jenkins.
The 5-3 Falcons have now eclipsed their entire victory total of last year's forgettable 2007 campaign. Atlanta also improved to 4-0 in games in which Turner has rushed for more than 100 yards this season.
QUICK HITS: Defensive end John Abraham delivered his second three-sack game of the year in Sunday's rout and now has 10 quarterback takedowns through Atlanta's first eight tests. The three-time Pro Bowler also had three sacks in the Falcons' season-opening win over Detroit...Atlanta's previous low for yards allowed in a game was 78, set against Tampa Bay on November 27, 1997...Jenkins had the second multi-touchdown day of his career, having first accomplished the feat in a win over Houston during Week 5 of last season... Rookie offensive tackle Sam Baker underwent back surgery last Thursday and will be sidelined indefinitely. In a related move, the Falcons re-signed 15th- year veteran Wayne Gandy, who started 21 games at left tackle for the club over the previous two seasons.
NEXT UP: The improving Falcons hope to break through in the win column against a division opponent when New Orleans visits the Georgia Dome this coming Sunday. Atlanta lost to NFC South foes Carolina and Tampa Bay earlier this year, with both defeats coming on the road by identical 24-9 scores. The Saints swept last season's series with the Birds and came through with a 34-14 triumph in Atlanta back in December.
CAROLINA: When the Panthers return to action this Sunday for a matchup with the punchless Raiders, the team will be hoping to field its entire starting offensive line for a full game for the first time this season.
Only twice in Carolina's first eight outings has the entire front five started a game together, and at least one member of the group was forced to exit due to injury on both occasions. Only one regular, right guard Keydrick Vincent, has started every contest so far this season.
With the Panthers coming off their bye week, the unit figures to be the healthiest it's been since the season opener during the Oakland game. Rookie right tackle Jeff Otah appears to be fully recovered from a high ankle sprain that has kept him out of the club's last four tilts, while second-year center Ryan Kalil is also expected to play for the first time since missing three straight games due to a sore ankle of his own.
Reserves Geoff Hantgartner and Jeremy Bridges, both of whom had possessed extensive previous starting experience, have enabled the offense to survive the depletions up front. Quarterback Jake Delhomme has been sacked just twice over the team's last five games, while top running back DeAngelo Williams garnered a pair of 100-yard efforts in two of the four tests prior to the bye week.
The Panthers did make some news during the hiatus, signing longtime kicker John Kasay to a four-year contract extension last Wednesday. The 18th-year pro, the only player remaining from Carolina's inaugural 1995 season, has shown no signs of slowing down at age 39. Kasay has made good on all 16 of his field goal tries this year, eight of which have come from beyond 40 yards.
In other team news, middle linebacker Jon Beason was named the NFC Player of the Month for October after he racked up 37 tackles and two interceptions during a four-game span. The sophomore standout is the first Panther to win the award since defensive end Julius Peppers was honored in October of 2006.
NEXT UP: The NFC South-leading Panthers will be aiming for a much different result than their only other visit to Oakland's McAfee Coliseum, a 52-9 shellacking by the Raiders in the 2000 season finale that still stands as the most lopsided defeat in franchise history. Carolina is just 1-2 on the road so far this year.
NEW ORLEANS: Charles Grant won't have to worry about whether or not he'll be hit with a suspension from the NFL in 2008. The defensive end's season officially came to an end after he was placed on injured reserve by the Saints on Monday.
Grant hurt his triceps during New Orleans' 37-32 victory over San Diego in London in Week 8, although he managed to play the entire game. The former first-round pick is tied for the team lead with three sacks this season and had been one of the Saints' better run-stoppers up front as well.
The 30-year-old is also one of three New Orleans players, along with fellow end Will Smith and running back Deuce McAllister, that are facing possible disciplinary action by the league after testing positive for a banned substance that was contained in a weight loss pill the trio had taken. Guard Jamar Nesbit received a four-game penalty for using the same substance earlier this season.
All three players have appealed their pending suspensions, with their cases slated to be heard sometime later this month.
In the meantime, the Saints are left awfully thin at the defensive end spot with Grant out. Pass rush specialist Bobby McCray is a viable replacement in the starting lineup, but the lone reserve currently on the roster is Jeff Charleston, an undrafted second-year pro who's been used sparingly so far.
New Orleans did take steps to beef up the interior of the defensive line on Monday, re-signing veteran tackle Hollis Thomas to an undisclosed contract. The 34-year-old had been released by the Saints with an injury settlement after suffering a torn triceps during the preseason.
The Saints will also be entering Sunday's tussle with Atlanta with two new specialists, as the team cut both kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and punter Ben Graham loose following the San Diego game. Rookie Garrett Hartley will take over for Mehlhaff, who sealed his fate with a missed extra point against the Chargers, while journeyman Glenn Pakulak was signed to handle punting duties.
NEXT UP: New Orleans will play the first of back-to-back road games with this Sunday's divisional encounter with Atlanta, a team whom the Saints have defeated four consecutive times. New Orleans, which has lost all three of its outings as the visitor this season, will also visit Kansas City on its two- game swing.
