Bryant's FG In OT Lifts Bucs Over Bears
Posted: 5:34 pm CDT September 21, 2008
Chicago, IL -- (Sports Network) - Matt Bryant's 21-yard field goal with 4:21 left in overtime sent Tampa Bay over Chicago, 27-24, in a Week 3 matchup at Soldier Field.Brian Griese completed 38 of a franchise-record 67 passes for 407 yards and two touchdowns for the Buccaneers (2-1), who rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to win. "I had no idea how many passes I threw until the end of the game," Griese admitted. "I know it's not a recipe for success in the long run." Antonio Bryant led all receivers with 10 catches for 138 yards, while Jerramy Stevens hauled in five balls for 61 yards and the tying score late in regulation. Ike Hillard added a TD catch. "This ranks up there. this is a huge win for our team," said Griese, the former Bears signal-caller. "I feel really proud of all the guys in the room and everyone who gave everything they had to make it a win today." Kyle Orton threw for 268 yards and a pair of scores on 22-of-34 passes for the Bears (1-2), who have dropped two in a row. Matt Forte rushed for 89 yards on 27 carries, adding seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Lloyd had six receptions for 124 yards and a score in defeat. The game-winning score occurred on Tampa Bay's second drive of overtime. The Bucs were camped at their own seven, and quickly moved down the field. An unnecessary roughness call on Chicago's Charles Tillman after a Stevens reception on 3rd-and-9 from the Tampa Bay eight provided a first down, then Griese found Michael Clayton for a 17-yard gain on another third down. Four plays later Griese hooked up with Bryant on a 38-yard pass to the Bears' six. After a three-yard rush by Earnest Graham, Bryant split the uprights to end the game. "Tough loss two weeks back-to-back," said Bears head coach Lovie Smith. "We had leads in the fourth quarter and weren't able to handle it. You have to give Tampa a lot of credit, they hung in there." Robbie Gould gave the Bears a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, hitting on field goals of 40 and 43 yards. After Gould's second make, Tampa Bay responded to take the lead on the following series, going 81 yards in eight plays and ending when Griese found Hilliard on a four-yard strike. The Bucs took a 14-6 advantage with 5:26 remaining in the half. Orton was pressured at midfield on a 2nd-and-19 and threw right into the hands of Gaines Adams, who took the ball down the left sideline 45 yards for a score. Replay upheld that his final dive brought the ball over the pylon. Late in the second quarter, Chicago faked a punt on a 4th-and-1 from its own 44, and gained 38 yards when Garrett Wolfe was handed the ball on a direct snap. When that drive stalled after three plays, Gould made a 28-yarder as time expired in the half for a 14-9 contest. Chicago's offense didn't get on track until late in the third quarter as Orton threw his first touchdown pass of the season, a six-yarder to Forte with 2:54 remaining. Lloyd caught the conversion pass and Chicago was ahead 17-14. Gould missed a 49-yard field goal wide right with under four minutes played in the fourth, but the Bucs' next drive was stunted as Griese was intercepted by Kevin Payne. That series ended in a touchdown, as Orton connected with Lloyd in the back of the end zone for a 19-yard score and a 24-14 Chicago lead with 6:38 to play. Bryant's 35-yard make with 3:11 remaining brought Tampa Bay within seven points, and after holding the Bears, got the ball back on its own 21 with 1:49 to go. Eleven plays later, Griese hit Stevens for the tying touchdown with seven ticks left. "It just feels great to have an impact on the game when you can get back in," said Stevens, who was suspended for the Bucs' first two games. Game Notes Chicago leads the all-time series 35-18, but had a two-game series win streak snapped...The Bears played without kick return specialist Devin Hester due to bruised ribs...Tampa Bay running back Warrick Dunn was held to 16 yards on two carries in regulation, while Graham carried nine times for three yards in the first 60 minutes...Two melees broke out, one in the first quarter and one midway through overtime...There was 859 yards of total offense in the contest, with Tampa Bay recording 454 to 405 for Chicago...The old Buccaneers mark for pass attempts in one game was 61, coming against Carolina on September 14, 2003.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.






