Buccaneers vs. Cleveland Browns

WON - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22 Cleveland Browns 07

Trying to end a four-game losing streak, the Buccaneers flew to Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Week 16 interconference fight with the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve.

In the first half, the Buccaneers got off to a decent start with kicker Matt Bryant nailing a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Tampa Bay increased its lead RB Michael Pittman's 11-yard TD run (following PAT was blocked).

During the fourth quarter, the Pewter Pirates' defense got a chance to score with OLB Derrick Brooks returning an interception 21 yards for a touchdown and delite of BuccaneersFans. Afterwards, the Browns would get their only score of the game as CB Daven Holly returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown. After that, the Bucs wrapped the game up with Bryant's 37-yard field goal.

With the win, the Buccaneers improved to 4–11.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights

GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Scott Green
• UMPIRE: Scott Dawson
• HEAD LINESMAN: Tony Veteri
• LINE JUDGE: Ron Marinucci
• SIDE JUDGE: Larry Rose
• FIELD JUDGE: Boris Cheek
• BACK JUDGE: Lee Dyer
• REPLAY OFFICIAL: Larry Hill
• VIDEO OPERATOR: Mike Wimmer

SCORING

• BUCCANEERS: 07:05-1Q Bryant FG23
• BUCCANEERS: 06:18-2Q Bryant FG24
• BUCCANEERS: 09:20-3Q Pittman 11 run (kick failed)
• BUCCANEERS: 14:12-4Q Brooks 21 interception return (Bryant kick)
• BROWNS: 11:33-4Q Holly 40 fumble return (Dawson kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 05:47-4Q Bryant FG37

STARTERS OFFENSE

• WR: #84 J. Galloway
• LT: #69 A. Davis
• LG: #79 S. Mahan
• C: #76 J. Wade
• RG: #75 D. Joseph
• RT: #65 J. Trueblood
• TE: #88 A. Becht
• WR: #85 M. Stovall
• QB: #13 T. Rattay
• FB: #40 M. Alstott
• RB: #32 M. Pittman

STARTERS DEFENSE

• LE: #94 G. Spires
• DT: #95 C. Hovan
• NT: #96 E. Wyms
• RE: #90 D. White
• SLB: #56 R. Nece
• MLB: #53 S. Quarles
• WLB: #55 D. Brooks
• RCB: #31 P. Buchanon
• LCB: #20 R. Barber
• SS: #23 J. Phillips
• FS: #26 W. Allen

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 3 Bryant, 9 Bidwell, 19 Hilliard, 21 Bolden, 27 Cox, 30 Nicholson, 33 Sowell, 34 Graham, 39 Pearson, 46 Adams, 50 Winborn, 51 Ruud, 52 Cash, 54 Mallard, 71 Haye, 74 Green, 77 Terry, 81 Smith, 82 Warren, 83 Moore, 89 Jones, 91 Jenkins

DID NOT PLAY

• 7 Gradkowski

INACTIVE

• 12 McCown, 24 Williams , 29 Zemaitis, 66 Mihlhauser, 70 Penn, 86 Jolley, 93 Bennett, 98 Bradley

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Pittman 16-86, Alstott 22-56, Graham 5-12, Rattay 1-(-1).
• BROWNS: Droughns 19-92, Anderson 1-(-1).

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: Rattay 26-16-212-1-0.
• BROWNS: Anderson 27-10-123-4-0, Dorsey 1-0-0-0-0.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: Hilliard 4-67, Smith 4-45, Pittman 4-21, Stovall 2-45, Galloway 2-34.
• BROWNS: Jurevicius 4-58, Northcutt 2-31, Winslow 2-27, Edwards 2-7.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: Phillips 2-45, Brooks 1-21, Buchanon 1-0.
• BROWNS: Holly 1-8.

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Cox 1-22, Sowell 1-11.
• BROWNS: Cribbs 4-77, Friedman 1-2.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: none.
• BROWNS: Northcutt 1-13.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: Spires 2-15, Hovan 1-12.
• BROWNS: Wimbley 2-6, Williams 1-4.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights