Bryant field goal lifts Bucs over Bears
27-24 in OT
For one brief moment, Brian Griese acknowledged a little extra
satisfaction.
He refused to take shots at his former team during the week, but landed a big
one at the last moment on a day when he was off target.
“I can’t lie to you guys,” he said. “The game meant a lot to me, personally,
coming back.”
Griese set up Matt Bryant’s winning 21-yard field goal in overtime with a
38-yard pass to Antonio Bryant, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied to beat the
Chicago Bears 27-24 on Sunday.
After blowing a 14-point lead in a 20-17 loss at Carolina last week, the Bears
couldn’t protect a 24-14 advantage in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers got a 35-yard field goal from Matt Bryant with 3:11 left, and
Griese orchestrated a 79-yard touchdown drive in the final 1:49, hitting Jerramy
Stevens with a 1-yard pass in the closing seconds of regulation. Several key
mistakes cost Chicago (1-2) in overtime...
Brian Griese passed to Ike Hilliard
to the left for 4 yard gain (Matt Bryant made PAT)
7 - 6
2nd Quarter
5:26
TB
TD
Gaines Adams intercepted Kyle Orton
for 45 yards (Matt Bryant made PAT)
14 - 6
0:00
CHI
FG
Robbie Gould kicked a 28-yard field
goal
14 - 9
3rd Quarter
2:54
CHI
TD
Kyle Orton passed to Matt Forte to
the left for 6 yard gain (2pt attempt converted,
Kyle Orton pass to Brandon Lloyd)
14 - 17
4th Quarter
6:38
CHI
TD
Kyle Orton passed to Brandon Lloyd
to the left for 19 yard gain (Robbie Gould made PAT)
14 - 24
3:11
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 35-yard field
goal
17 - 24
0:07
TB
TD
Brian Griese passed to Jerramy
Stevens to the left for 1 yard gain (Matt Bryant
made PAT)
24 - 24
OT
4:21
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 21-yard field
goal
27 - 24
Team Statistics
TB
CHI
First Downs
27
21
Passing
22
14
Rushing
4
7
Penalty
1
0
Third Down
Efficiency
6-16
4-15
Fourth Down
Efficiency
0-0
1-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
454
405
Total Plays
84
74
Average Gain Per
Play
5.4
5.5
NET YARDS
RUSHING
47
158
Rushes
17
37
Average Per Rush
2.8
4.3
NET YARDS
PASSING
407
247
Completions-Attempts
38-67
22-34
Yards Per Pass
Play
6.1
6.7
Times Sacked
0
3
Yards Lost to
Sacks
0
21
Had Intercepted
3
2
PUNTS
6
6
Average Punt
44.7
45.8
PENALTIES
6
8
Penalty Yards
61
64
FUMBLES
1
0
Fumbles Lost
1
0
TIME OF
POSSESSION
31:22
39:17
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
The Chicago Bears have
struggled to solidify
the quarterback position
for years. On Sunday,
Brian Griese can make
his case to the Bears
that they let their best
option to do so get
away.
Griese is expected to go
for his second straight
win as the starter for
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
when they face the Bears
on Sunday at Soldier
Field...more
Inside the Game Plans:
Notable:
BUCCANEERS: This
figures to be a defensive struggle, so much so, the best defense on
Sunday will probably win the game. Both teams are capable of scoring on
defense and creating turnovers and field position. Both have roots in
the Tampa Two. Bears coach Lovie Smith began his pro coaching career in
Tampa Bay under Tony Dungy. But the Bears defense has evolved. Bucs
coach Jon Gruden says they will walk 11 players to the line of scrimmage
and defy you to figure out which players are rushing and which ones are
dropping into coverage...
FULL STORY
BEARS: Besides
establishing the run and having QB Kyle Orton manage the game, the Bears
know they need to at least present the threat of the big play in the
passing game. Last week, in the 20-17 loss to the Panthers, they had
only one pass play of more than 15 yards. The Bears would also like to
get backup RB Kevin Jones more involved as a complement to rookie Matt
Forte, who has rushed for 215 yards in his first two games...
FULL STORY
Chicago has beaten Tampa Bay twice in a row (2005 and
2006) and five of the last seven times the two teams have met overall
Kyle Orton is now 13-7 as the Bears starting quarterback. Orton has won
eight straight home games and is 9-1 all-time at Soldier Field
Matt Forte's 215 rush yards are the most by any Bears player in his
first two NFL games since 1960
21.1
19.4