The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed some weird and lucky things to
happen Sunday for them to make history.
Matt Bryant missed a 38-yard field goal attempt on a third down play in
overtime, but tackle Jeremy Trueblood was called for a false start. So the Bucs
lined up for another third-down play and Jeff Garcia connected with Jameel Cook
for nine yards, giving Bryant a second chance from 33.
He nailed it, lifting the Bucs past Kansas City 30-27 in the biggest comeback in
team history.
“It’s a thrilling victory,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. “I told the guys
it’s a hard place to win.”
The Chiefs (1-7) led 24-3 with a little more than 2 minutes to go in the second
quarter and seemed headed for just their second victory in more than a calendar
year. But Garcia passed for 339 yards and Clifton Smith ran back a kickoff 97
yards for a score and the Bucs (6-3) go into their bye week just a half-game
behind Carolina in the NFC South...more
Vidcap: Video recap of all the big plays from the game
Scoring Summary
TB - KC
1st Quarter
8:19
KC
TD
Tyler Thigpen passed to Dwayne Bowe to the left for 7
yard gain (Connor Barth made PAT)
0 - 7
4:47
KC
TD
Kolby Smith rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain (Connor
Barth made PAT)
0 - 14
2nd Quarter
13:04
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 25-yard field goal
3 - 14
10:12
KC
TD
Mark Bradley passed to Tyler Thigpen to the right for 37
yard gain (Connor Barth made PAT)
3 - 21
2:13
KC
FG
Connor Barth kicked a 39-yard field goal
3 - 24
2:01
TB
TD
KC kicked off, Clifton Smith returned kickoff for 97
yards (Matt Bryant made PAT)
10 - 24
0:00
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 43-yard field goal
13 - 24
3rd Quarter
NONE
13 - 24
4th Quarter
13:36
TB
TD
Earnest Graham passed to Alex Smith to the right for 3
yard gain (2pt attempt failed, Jeff Garcia pass to Ike Hilliard)
19 - 24
7:38
KC
FG
Connor Barth kicked a 28-yard field goal
19 - 27
0:19
TB
TD
Jeff Garcia passed to Antonio Bryant to the left for 24
yard gain (2pt attempt converted, Jeff Garcia pass to Alex Smith)
27 - 27
OT
10:24
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 34-yard field goal
30 - 27
Team Statistics
TB
KC
First Downs
24
20
Passing
19
9
Rushing
4
9
Penalty
1
2
Third Down Efficiency
8-13
6-13
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
423
384
Total Plays
69
63
Average Gain Per Play
6.1
6.1
NET YARDS RUSHING
81
183
Rushes
25
36
Average Per Rush
3.2
5.1
NET YARDS PASSING
342
201
Completions-Attempts
32-44
15-26
Yards Per Pass Play
7.8
7.4
Times Sacked
0
1
Yards Lost to Sacks
0
0
Had Intercepted
1
0
PUNTS
3
5
Average Punt
46.0
44.6
PENALTIES
7
7
Penalty Yards
47
60
FUMBLES
3
1
Fumbles Lost
3
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
32:17
32:19
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
have gotten off to a strong
start to the season, but their
running game has been struggling
lately and they're not playing
well on the road. The Buccaneers
have a good chance to correct
both of those issues Sunday when
they visit the lowly Kansas City
Chiefs. Tampa Bay (5-3) dropped
to second place in the NFC South
after losing 13-9 to Dallas last
Sunday at Texas Stadium. The
Buccaneers' solid defense
limited the Cowboys to only 172
yards, but Tampa Bay gained a
season-low 262 yards and was
held without a touchdown for the
first time since the 2007
opener...more
Pick: Herm Edwards is a former longtime Bucs assistant who may be sending
out résumés soon if his Chiefs don't pick it up. That said and although the Bucs
are 1-3 on the road, the Chiefs always let down after every good effort. Bucs 21 - Chiefs 10
19.5
22.4