Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 00 Detroit Lions 27

Coming off a scorelee three week run the tide continued in the first quarter on third and goal from the Lions' 4-yard line when Dilfer threw a pass to LeRoy Thompson that was intercepted by safety Bennie Blades and returned 98 yards for a touchdown. It was the third interception in four games that has been returned for a score. Dilfer's ill atempt to run Blades down at the Buccaneers' 28, failed as he was stiff-armed and couldn't prevent the touchdown. "I should've made the tackle, first of all," Dilfer said. "It was a bad throw. I'll take the blame for it."

Dilfer was referring to the interception, but he might as well have been talking about the game. Two plays later, tailback Reggie Brooks fumbled at his 12 and the Lions cashed in with a Jason Hanson field goal to make it 10-0. Ballgame. The tide dropped, the wind left the sails and the shutout was on.

The ship hit shallow waters and the BuccaneersFans and coach Tony Dungy with an 0-5 record to stew over during their bye week.

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GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Dick Hantak
• UMPIRE: Hendi Ancich
• LINE JUDGE: Walt Anderson
• SIDE JUDGE: Doug Toole
• HEAD LINESMAN: Dale Williams
• BACK JUDGE: Scott Steenson
• FIELD JUDGE: Don Carey
• REPLAY OFFICAL: not documented

SCORING

• LIONS: 01:18-1Q Blades 98 interception return (Hanson kick)
• LIONS: 14:39-2Q Hanson FG20
• LIONS: 07:02-2Q Morton 31 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)
• LIONS: 08:06-3Q Hanson FG29
• LIONS: 03:42-3Q Moore 3 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)

STARTERS OFFENSE

• WR: #80 A. Harper
• LT: #69 P. Pierson
• LG: #64 J. Diaz
• C: #61 T. Mayberry
• RG: #62 I. Beckles
• T: #79 D. Riesenberg
• TE: #83 D. Moore
• WR: #85 C. Hawkins
• QB: #12 T. Dilfer
• RB: #41 R. Brooks
• FB: #40 M. Alstott

STARTERS DEFENSE

• LE: #72 C. Ahanotu
• LT: #77 B. Culpepper
• UT: #99 W. Sapp
• RE: #73 R. Upshaw
• DB: #21 D. Abraham
• MLB: #56 H. Nickerson
• RLB: #55 D. Brooks
• LCB: #35 M. Mayhey
• RCB: #39 C. Dimry
• SS: #47 J. Lynch
• FS: #25 M. Johnson

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 5 Husted, 6 Barnhardt, 11 Weldon, 23 Bouie, 27 Austin, 28 Rusk, 29 Gant, 34 Thompson, 37 Ellison, 43 Johnson, 50 Gooch, 51 Marts, 70 Odom, 71 Adams, 78 Jones, 81 Harris, 82 Tate, , 84 Thomas, 86 Williams, 87 Silvan, 90 Maniecki, 91 Smith, 97 Jackson

DID NOT PLAY

• 68 Crisman

INACTIVE

• 13 Milanovich, 45 Legette, 54 Stephens, 60 Pyne, 74 Gruber, 75 Curry, 93 DuBose

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Brooks 14-37, Alstott 8-31, Dilfer 3-2, Thompson 1-0.
• LIONS: Sanders 15-73, Rivers 9-57, Mitchell 1-4, Majkowski 1-(-1), Morton 1-(-4).

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: Dilfer 26-14-119-2-0, Weldon 5-2-51-1-0.
• LIONS: Mitchell 32-21-230-0-2, Majkowski 1-1-8-0-0.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: Harper 4-41, Alstott 4-30, Moore 3-17, Thompson 2-21, Ellison 1-42, Hawkins 1-12, Harris 1-7.
• LIONS: Moore 9-104, Perriman 5-42, Morton 3-58, Sanders 2-17, Metzelaars 2-9, Matthews 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: none.
• LIONS: Blades 1-98, Malone 1-5, McNeil 1-1.

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Silvan 5-114.
• LIONS: Milburn 1-24.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Silvan 1-14.
• LIONS: Milburn 1-13.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: Marts 1-7, Sapp 1-6, Upshaw 1-4.
• LIONS: Bonham 1-9, Porcher 1-5.

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