SB Nation Tampa Bay - NFL Week 7: Josh Freeman Delivers 4th Quarter Magic, Bucs Win, 18-17!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2010-10-25T20:02:29-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15263802010-10-25T20:02:29-04:002010-10-25T20:02:29-04:00Settle Down Coach Morris, The Buccaneers Have Lots Left To Prove
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<p>Are the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> the most surprising team in the <span class="caps">NFL</span> this season? Yeah, probably. Do the Buccaneers have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs after most teams expected them to win no more than four or five games? Yes, it sure looks like it based on their 4-2 start. Have the Buccaneers done enough to warrant being labeled the best team in the tightly-packed <span class="caps">NFC</span>? No, I don’t think so. Perhaps in a few week’s time they could make that claim, but as for now, the Buccaneers have been blown out twice, while three of their wins have been by narrow margins and the result of some fortuitous breaks.</p>
<p>Buccaneers head coach <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/content/raheem-morris-were-best-team-nfc" target="new">Raheem Morris is convinced though that his young squad is the creme of the crop in the conference</a>. On Monday he said just that.</p>
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<p>“I like where we are,” Morris said. “We’re 4-2. We’re the best team in the <span class="caps">NFC</span>. Yeah, I said it. We’re excited.”</p>
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<p>Morris elaborated on his bold statement, and reminded anybody who was listening that he thought this group had a chance to surprise some folks.</p>
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<p>“I told you we’re going to be young and exciting,” Morris said. “That’s what we got today. We got two teams on the rise. We easily went out there and put together one of the worst first halves of my tenure. If you want to add the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> game, you could say six quarters. But this team plays 60 minutes. There’s no doubt about that. They have no give-up in them. They have nothing but fight.”</p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/25/1774310/nfl-week-seven-recap-buccaneers-defeat-rams-raheem-morris-says-bucs-best-team-in-nfcMichael Bean2010-10-25T19:53:24-04:002010-10-25T19:53:24-04:00LeGarrette Blount Doing, Saying All The Right Things
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<p>Over the course of the past several weeks, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> head coach Raheem Morris has hinted that rookie running back <span>LeGarrette Blount</span> would be phased into the gameplan more regularly. This past Sunday, Blount received 11 carries, which he made the most of, rushing for 72 yards. Both totals were career highs. Of course, the extra carries came at the expense of Cadillac Williams, who had failed to provide much productivity for the Buccaneers’ offense in the early stages of the 2010 season.</p>
<p>Still, the two seem to be rooting for one another and not letting their individual competition get in the way of the team’s goals. It was Williams who made the game-winning touchdown reception with just seconds remaining, and it was <a href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/10/25/sports-fbn-buccaneers-blount_8043186.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews" target="new">Blount who was most excited about Williams delivering the clutch play for the Bucs</a>.</p>
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<p>“It was awesome,” the former Oregon star said. “Everybody else had their helmets on, so I was afraid I was going to get hit in the head by somebody trying to celebrate with him.”</p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/25/1774294/nfl-week-seven-recap-buccaneers-late-win-legarrette-blount-doing-saying-all-the-right-thingsMichael Bean2010-10-24T17:17:53-04:002010-10-24T17:17:53-04:00Bucs Nip Rams With Williams' Late TD Reception
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<p><font size="2"> Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Josh Freeman hit Carnell Williams with a one-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came back to shock the St. Louis Rams, 18-17, at Raymond James Stadium.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Freeman completed 23-of-40 passes for 212 yards and the game-winning touchdown for Tampa Bay (4-2), which recovered after suffering a 31-6 loss to New Orleans last Sunday. The Buccaneers have won two of three since their bye week. Williams caught eight passes for 34 yards while Connor Barth kicked four field goals, including a 53-yarder.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Trailing 17-12 with just under five minutes to play, the Bucs began the winning march on their own 19-yard line. Freeman quickly moved the offense into Rams territory with a 16-yard pass to Mike Williams. Then facing a 4th- and-3 from the 30 and 1:12 left on the clock, the quarterback found Kellen Winslow for a nine-yard connection.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> A 20-yard pass to Mike Williams on 3rd-and-10 moved the ball to the one with 20 seconds remaining. Out of a time out, Freeman rolled right and spotted Carnell Williams in the end zone for the score. The two-point conversion failed.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Sam Bradford threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-26 efficiency for the Rams (3-4), who have dropped five straight on the road, with their last win coming on November 1, 2009 at Detroit.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Steven Jackson ran for 110 yards on 22 carries and passed Hall-of-Famer Eric Dickerson (7,235) as the top rusher on the Rams' all-time list.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Bradford's fumble deep in the Rams' own end near the midway point of the first quarter led to a 35-yard field goal by Barth and a 3-0 Bucs lead.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Josh Brown's 25-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter capped a lengthy drive to tie things.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Tampa Bay failed to pick up a first down on its ensuing possession and the Rams went 80 yards on 11 plays to take a 10-3 lead. Jackson picked up a first down on a three-yard run to midfield and in the process passed Dickerson for the franchise rushing record. Later in the drive, Jackson reeled off 12 more yards to move it to the six-yard line, then three plays later, Bradford spotted Danny Amendola in the flat for the touchdown with just under 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the half.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> A Bradford-to-Michael Hoomanawanui two-yard connection on St. Louis' next try put the visitors ahead by 14 three minutes to play. After a short Tampa Bay punt, the Rams picked up a first down, but the drive stalled and they appeared to have to settle for a Brown 32-yard field goal. However, the Bucs were guilty of an offsides penalty that allowed St. Louis to move the chains. Two plays later Bradford rolled out and found the big tight end at the one before banging in for the score.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Barth's 39-yard field goal with 25 seconds left made it 17-6 heading into the intermission. He then added his 53-yarder to finish off a 10-play, 60-yard set early in the third quarter, then tacked on a 38-yard effort with two ticks to play in the third for a 17-12 game.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Neither side was able to move the ball with an regularity until the Bucs' game-winning drive.</font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <b>Game Notes</b></font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Tampa Bay was without backup tight end Jerramy Stevens, who was arrested on felony drug charges on Saturday night. The St. Petersburg Times reported Stevens was arrested at 7 p.m. (et) and charged with felony possession of cannabis with intent to sell, felony possession of cannabis and a misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia, citing the Hillsborough County Sheriff's website. He posted a $4,500 bond a few hours later and was released...Despite the loss, the Rams have a 9-8 lead in their regular-season series with Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers have won six of the seven last non-playoff matchups between the teams.</font></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/24/1771655/bucs-nip-rams-with-williams-late-td-receptionGareth Rees2010-10-24T16:18:32-04:002010-10-24T16:18:32-04:00Josh Freeman Delivers 4th Quarter Magic, Bucs Win 18-17
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> played three quarters of ugly, sloppy, penalty filled football but <span>Josh Freeman</span> did it again, delivering some fourth quarter magic for the 3rd time this season propelling the Buccaneers to an 18-17 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>.</p>
<p>The Buccaneers controlled the ball the majority of the second half and held the Rams scoreless for the entire last 30 minutes. Josh Freeman would score the game winning touchdown with a pass to Cadillac Williams in the end zone with 10 seconds left on the clock after orchestrating a beautiful drive on which he had to overcome two penalties and a 4th down conversion.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/24/1771513/josh-freeman-delivers-4th-quarter-magic-bucs-win-18-17Gareth Rees2010-10-24T15:29:56-04:002010-10-24T15:29:56-04:00Bucs Add 2 Field Goals In Third Quarter, Trail 17-12
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<p><span>Connor Barth</span> is having himself a day, accounting for all of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> points with four field goals against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a>.</p>
<p>The Buccaneers received a much needed spark from some tough running by rookie <span>LeGarrette Blount</span> and were able to add two field goals in the third quarter while also keeping the Rams off the board in the frame.</p>
<p>The Bucs now trail 17-12.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/24/1771404/bucs-add-2-field-goals-in-third-quarter-trail-17-12Gareth Rees2010-10-24T14:42:46-04:002010-10-24T14:42:46-04:00Rams Dominate 2nd Quarter, Bucs Trail 17-6 At Half
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> got completely dominated in the second quarter as the offense failed to generate any threats and the defense was absolutely gashed by Steven Jackson and <span>Danny Amendola</span>.</p>
<p>Twice in the redzone, CB <span>Aqib Talib</span> had a would be interception bounce of his hands and in both instances the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> would score a touchdown on the very next play, putting the Rams ahead 10-3 and 17-3 respectively</p>
<p>Talib’s hands weren’t the only problem on the defensive side as the Bucs couldn’t tackle anybody and shot themselves in the foot numerous times with crucial penalties.</p>
<p>The offense was able to get close enough to add a second <span>Connor Barth</span> field goal before halftime to cut the deficit to 17-6.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/24/1771304/rams-dominate-2nd-quarter-bucs-trail-17-6-at-halfGareth Rees2010-10-24T13:50:53-04:002010-10-24T13:50:53-04:00Bucs, Rams Knotted At 3 After 1
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> started the first quarter with the ball but were unable to move the ball very well. Following a punt that pinned the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> deep the defense would force <span>Sam Bradford</span> into a fumble at the 6 yard line. What followed may of been the worst scoring drive in Buccaneer history.</p>
<p>Penalty, penalty, sack resulted in 2nd and Goal from the 35 yard line. A leaping catch on third down by Mike Williams salvaged points from the debacle as <span>Connor Barth</span> put the Bucs up 3-0.</p>
<p>The Rams would quickly answer with a nice drive, showcasing Steven Jackson. Jackson gashed the Bucs all the way down the field but the defense was able to hold the Rams to only a field goal.</p>
<p>The 2nd quarter is now underway with the Bucs and Rams tied at 3.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/24/1771196/bucs-rams-knotted-at-3-after-1Gareth Rees2010-10-24T11:17:13-04:002010-10-24T11:17:13-04:00Jerramy Stevens Arrested On Drug Charges
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<p>Embattled tight end Jerramy Stevens, whose mere arrival in Tampa Bay fueled endless sports talk debate due to his troubled past has fallen afoul of the law once again. According to Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune, Stevens was<a target="_blank" href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/24/241103/bucs-stevens-faces-drug-charges-wont-play-against-/"> arrested late Saturday night on three counts of drug charges</a>, including possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p>
<p>Possession and possession with intent to sell are both felony charges.</p>
<p>Stevens who has played in all five games this season, is listed as inactive for today's game in light of the arrest and has most likely played his last snap as a Buccaneer.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2010/10/24/1770908/jerramy-stevens-arrested-on-drug-chargesGareth Rees