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Buccaneers topple New York Giants in sensational win
Tampa Bay, Nov 26: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold on for a 19-13 win over the visiting New York Giants.
Tampa Bay, Nov 26: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold on for a 19-13 win over the visiting New York Giants.
After Charles Lee made Tampa Bay forget about Keyshawn Johnson, the Buccaneers defense remembered how to play like world champions. Lee had a key 53-yard touchdown reception and the defense came up big in the final minutes as Tampa Bay kept its faint playoff hopes alive with a 19-13 triumph over the reeling New York Giants. Less than a week after the club banished their disenchanted wide receiver, Lee more than stepped in for Johnson. The fourth-year receiver had five catches for 91 yards, including his first touchdown of the year, a nifty catch-and-run down the right sideline with 3:37 left in the half. Lee had not caught a pass this season but he and Keenan McCardell - who had nine catches for 83 yards - helped offset the loss of the All-Pro receiver. Former Giant Joe Jurevicius added three catches in extended action for the defending Super Bowl champions.
After a field goal by Martin Gramatica late in the third quarter pushed the Tampa Bay lead to 17-6, Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson had an errant pass returned 56 yards for a score by rookie Frank Walker.
Tampa Bay attempted to run out the clock late in the game but when the Giants stopped Michael Pittman on a 4th-and-inches deep in New York territory, the Bucs defense had to step up. That defense that was so essential to Tampa Bay winning the world title, had failed in similar situations this season.
But this time, the unit was stellar as two incompletions, a sack and penalty left New York with a 4th-and-19 at its own 3. Coach Jim Fassel opted to take a safety and the Giants were unable to recover an onside kick.
The Giants have dropped three straight and six of eight. Johnson was 22-of-32 for 269 yards and a touchdown.
Standings after the National Football League game played on Monday: AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION W L T PF PA NEW ENGLAND 9 2 0 219 175 MIAMI 7 4 0 201 170 BUFFALO 4 7 0 173 187 NY JETS 4 7 0 210 221 WEST DIVISION KANSAS CITY 10 1 0 333 198 DENVER 6 5 0 257 198 OAKLAND 3 8 0 214 256 SAN DIEGO 2 9 0 209 314 NORTH DIVISION BALTIMORE 6 5 0 256 232 CINCINNATI 6 5 0 244 246 CLEVELAND 4 7 0 185 190 PITTSBURGH 4 7 0 203 253 SOUTH DIVISION INDIANAPOLIS 9 2 0 309 216 TENNESSEE 9 2 0 303 208 HOUSTON 4 7 0 194 277 JACKSONVILLE 2 9 0 185 254 NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION DALLAS 8 3 0 205 168 PHILADELPHIA 8 3 0 220 196 NY GIANTS 4 7 0 195 242 WASHINGTON 4 7 0 216 256 WEST DIVISION ST LOUIS 8 3 0 299 229 SEATTLE 7 4 0 289 232 SAN FRANCISCO 5 6 0 242 186 ARIZONA 3 8 0 163 309 NORTH DIVISION MINNESOTA 7 4 0 293 247 GREEN BAY 6 5 0 284 233 CHICAGO 4 7 0 191 244 DETROIT 3 8 0 180 266 SOUTH DIVISION CAROLINA 8 3 0 218 204 NEW ORLEANS 5 6 0 232 258 TAMPA BAY 5 6 0 220 174 ATLANTA 2 9 0 208 311
Bureau Report
After Charles Lee made Tampa Bay forget about Keyshawn Johnson, the Buccaneers defense remembered how to play like world champions. Lee had a key 53-yard touchdown reception and the defense came up big in the final minutes as Tampa Bay kept its faint playoff hopes alive with a 19-13 triumph over the reeling New York Giants. Less than a week after the club banished their disenchanted wide receiver, Lee more than stepped in for Johnson. The fourth-year receiver had five catches for 91 yards, including his first touchdown of the year, a nifty catch-and-run down the right sideline with 3:37 left in the half. Lee had not caught a pass this season but he and Keenan McCardell - who had nine catches for 83 yards - helped offset the loss of the All-Pro receiver. Former Giant Joe Jurevicius added three catches in extended action for the defending Super Bowl champions.
After a field goal by Martin Gramatica late in the third quarter pushed the Tampa Bay lead to 17-6, Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson had an errant pass returned 56 yards for a score by rookie Frank Walker.
Tampa Bay attempted to run out the clock late in the game but when the Giants stopped Michael Pittman on a 4th-and-inches deep in New York territory, the Bucs defense had to step up. That defense that was so essential to Tampa Bay winning the world title, had failed in similar situations this season.
But this time, the unit was stellar as two incompletions, a sack and penalty left New York with a 4th-and-19 at its own 3. Coach Jim Fassel opted to take a safety and the Giants were unable to recover an onside kick.
The Giants have dropped three straight and six of eight. Johnson was 22-of-32 for 269 yards and a touchdown.
Standings after the National Football League game played on Monday: AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION W L T PF PA NEW ENGLAND 9 2 0 219 175 MIAMI 7 4 0 201 170 BUFFALO 4 7 0 173 187 NY JETS 4 7 0 210 221 WEST DIVISION KANSAS CITY 10 1 0 333 198 DENVER 6 5 0 257 198 OAKLAND 3 8 0 214 256 SAN DIEGO 2 9 0 209 314 NORTH DIVISION BALTIMORE 6 5 0 256 232 CINCINNATI 6 5 0 244 246 CLEVELAND 4 7 0 185 190 PITTSBURGH 4 7 0 203 253 SOUTH DIVISION INDIANAPOLIS 9 2 0 309 216 TENNESSEE 9 2 0 303 208 HOUSTON 4 7 0 194 277 JACKSONVILLE 2 9 0 185 254 NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION DALLAS 8 3 0 205 168 PHILADELPHIA 8 3 0 220 196 NY GIANTS 4 7 0 195 242 WASHINGTON 4 7 0 216 256 WEST DIVISION ST LOUIS 8 3 0 299 229 SEATTLE 7 4 0 289 232 SAN FRANCISCO 5 6 0 242 186 ARIZONA 3 8 0 163 309 NORTH DIVISION MINNESOTA 7 4 0 293 247 GREEN BAY 6 5 0 284 233 CHICAGO 4 7 0 191 244 DETROIT 3 8 0 180 266 SOUTH DIVISION CAROLINA 8 3 0 218 204 NEW ORLEANS 5 6 0 232 258 TAMPA BAY 5 6 0 220 174 ATLANTA 2 9 0 208 311
Bureau Report