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The Bucs players were excited to take the field in the first game of the season against the Browns. Too bad the game ended in a loss for the Bucs. The Bucs played a great game, though.
The Browns got to an early 14 to 0 lead after the first quarter. The first score was led by a long drive that was capped off with a 1 yard touchdown run by Jerome Harrison. On the ensuing possession, Clifton Smith fumbled the ball at their own 26 yard line. Jake Delhomme took advantage of the turnover, as he was able to find Mohamed Massaquoi on the first play of the drive for a 26 yard touchdown grab. Massaquoi outjumped Bucs CB Aqib Talib on the play to come down with the touchdown.
The Bucs got the ball after the touchdown and were able to make the most of it. They led a 14 play drive, which continued into the early parts of the 2nd quarter. Cadillac Williams finished the drive off with a nice 5 yard touchdown run, where he broke 3 tackles.
Jerome Harrison added a 45 yard touchdown run on the next Browns possession, as he broke 5 tackles on the play. Josh Freeman responded to the touchdown by hitting Reggie Brown for a 22 yard touchdown pass with 2:23 left in the first half.
Unfortunately, the Bucs defense could not do anything to stop the Browns aerial assault. Jake Delhomme ended up hitting Josh Cribbs for a 5 yard touchdown pass, which forced the Bucs to be going into halftime on a bad note.
For the most part, the 3rd quarter was relatively unexciting. The only exciting moment came with about 2 minutes left in the quarter. Browns Punter Dave Zastudil punted the ball to the Bucs 32 yard line. At first, it looked like Punt Returner Clifton Smith was going to get hit hard by Browns Safety Abram Elam, but Smith was able to spin out of the tackle. He had good blocking upfield and took advantage of it, as he juked defenders and spun out of more tackles to scamper in for a 68 yard punt return TD. The Bucs went into the 4th quarter only down a touchdown.
The Browns and the Bucs flip-flopped field goals to start off the 4th quarter. Then, things got more exciting. Josh Freeman led a long drive, which was capped off by a 3 yard touchdown pass to Reggie Brown with 1:57 left. All the Bucs had to do now was to force the Browns to punt the ball. It was definitely a tough task, as the Browns offense lit up the Bucs defense all day.
The Bucs failed this. The Browns drove up the field and eventually Montario Hardesty came into the game for Jerome Harrison and ended the game with a 22 yard touchdown run. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Bucs, which will be felt throughout practice next week.
"My heart sank to the ground when Montario [Hardesty] scored that touchdown. I honestly thought our defense was gonna step up, but they didn't. F*** this.", said an angry Josh Freeman after the game.
The Browns got to an early 14 to 0 lead after the first quarter. The first score was led by a long drive that was capped off with a 1 yard touchdown run by Jerome Harrison. On the ensuing possession, Clifton Smith fumbled the ball at their own 26 yard line. Jake Delhomme took advantage of the turnover, as he was able to find Mohamed Massaquoi on the first play of the drive for a 26 yard touchdown grab. Massaquoi outjumped Bucs CB Aqib Talib on the play to come down with the touchdown.
The Bucs got the ball after the touchdown and were able to make the most of it. They led a 14 play drive, which continued into the early parts of the 2nd quarter. Cadillac Williams finished the drive off with a nice 5 yard touchdown run, where he broke 3 tackles.
Jerome Harrison added a 45 yard touchdown run on the next Browns possession, as he broke 5 tackles on the play. Josh Freeman responded to the touchdown by hitting Reggie Brown for a 22 yard touchdown pass with 2:23 left in the first half.
Unfortunately, the Bucs defense could not do anything to stop the Browns aerial assault. Jake Delhomme ended up hitting Josh Cribbs for a 5 yard touchdown pass, which forced the Bucs to be going into halftime on a bad note.
For the most part, the 3rd quarter was relatively unexciting. The only exciting moment came with about 2 minutes left in the quarter. Browns Punter Dave Zastudil punted the ball to the Bucs 32 yard line. At first, it looked like Punt Returner Clifton Smith was going to get hit hard by Browns Safety Abram Elam, but Smith was able to spin out of the tackle. He had good blocking upfield and took advantage of it, as he juked defenders and spun out of more tackles to scamper in for a 68 yard punt return TD. The Bucs went into the 4th quarter only down a touchdown.
The Browns and the Bucs flip-flopped field goals to start off the 4th quarter. Then, things got more exciting. Josh Freeman led a long drive, which was capped off by a 3 yard touchdown pass to Reggie Brown with 1:57 left. All the Bucs had to do now was to force the Browns to punt the ball. It was definitely a tough task, as the Browns offense lit up the Bucs defense all day.
The Bucs failed this. The Browns drove up the field and eventually Montario Hardesty came into the game for Jerome Harrison and ended the game with a 22 yard touchdown run. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Bucs, which will be felt throughout practice next week.
"My heart sank to the ground when Montario [Hardesty] scored that touchdown. I honestly thought our defense was gonna step up, but they didn't. F*** this.", said an angry Josh Freeman after the game.
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