Aug 17, 2008 - 10:59 PM
0 shoutsTAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Backup quarterbacks Brian Griese and Luke McCown both were impressive as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New England Patriots 27-10 Sunday in preseason action.
Griese and McCown both directed long touchdown drives as the Bucs easily handled the Patriots, who were playing without quarterback Tom Brady.
Griese finished 9-for-10 for 44 yards while McCown was 7-for-10 for 79 yards and a touchdown pass to Byron Storer. Both are battling to be the backup to starter Jeff Garcia, who didn't play.
Brady did not make the trip here. He remained in New England to rest a foot injury that sidelined him last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
Behind Griese, the Bucs opened the game with a 17-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in Earnest Graham's 1-yard
touchdown. In the second quarter, McCown directed an eight-play, 86-yard drive that ended with McCown's 1-yard pass to Storer for a 17-0 lead.
Michael Bennett finished with 57 yards rushing on eight carries for the Bucs, who also scored on Sabby Piscitelli's 24-yard fumble return.
New England strong safety Brandon Meriweather left in the second quarter with a leg injury. The extent of his injury was unknown.
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 53-yard field goal on the final play of the first half and Heath Evans added a 1-yard run to account for the Patriots' two scores.
From the Bleachers
-
NEW ENGLAND: 10
TAMPA BAY: 27
Final
Aug 17 10:45 PM -
NFL
TD NWE
HEATH EVANS 1 YD RUN
(STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI KICK)
NEW ENGLAND 10
TAMPA BAY 27 10:20 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Aug 17 10:20 PM -
NEW ENGLAND: 3
TAMPA BAY: 27
End of 3rd
Aug 17 10:11 PM -
NFL
FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 23 YD
NEW ENGLAND 3
TAMPA BAY 27 7:38 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Aug 17 9:56 PM -
NFL
TD TAM
SABBY PISCITELLI 24 YD FUMBLE RETURN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)
NEW ENGLAND 3
TAMPA BAY 24 14:44 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Aug 17 9:37 PM -
NEW ENGLAND: 3
TAMPA BAY: 17
Halftime
Aug 17 9:19 PM -
NFL
FG NWE
STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI 53 YD
NEW ENGLAND 3
TAMPA BAY 17 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 17 9:19 PM -
NFL
TD TAM
BYRON STORER 1 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)
NEW ENGLAND 0
TAMPA BAY 17 1:13 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 17 9:13 PM -
NFL
FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 34 YD
NEW ENGLAND 0
TAMPA BAY 10 7:24 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 17 8:58 PM -
NEW ENGLAND: 0
TAMPA BAY: 7
End of 1st
Aug 17 8:42 PM -
CORRECTION
NFL TD TAM
EARNEST GRAHAM 1 YD RUN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)
NEW ENGLAND 0
TAMPA BAY 7 5:22 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Aug 17 8:27 PM -
NFL
TD TAM
EARNEST GRAHAM 1 YD RUN
(MATT BRYANT PASS FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
NEW ENGLAND 0
TAMPA BAY 8 5:22 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Aug 17 8:23 PM
