Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 03 Pittsburgh Steelers 20

Bruce Gradkowski's homecoming was also his worst game of the season.

In the first quarter, Ben Roethlisberger threw his only interception early in the game to linebacker Derrick Brooks. Later in the quarter, Gradkowski tossed his first interception to Steeler linebacker Larry Foote. In the final seconds of the first quarter, Roethlisberger threw a short touchdown pass to tight end Jerame Tuman. Later in the first half, Gradkowski tossed another interception in the red zone to Bryant McFadden. Steeler kicker Jeff Reed, kicked a fifty-yard field goal to end the first half.

After another interception of Gradkowski in the second half, Roethlisberger completed a touchdown pass in the early fourth quarter. By the two-minute warning, the score was 20–0, in the favor of the Steelers.

Tampa Bay kicker Matt Bryant, made sure the Bucs did not get shut out with a 27-yard field goal in the last seconds of regulation.

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GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Terry McAulay
• UMPIRE: Bruce Stritesky
• HEAD LINESMAN: Kent Payne
• LINE JUDGE: Mark Steinkerchner
• SIDE JUDGE: Michael Banks
• FIELD JUDGE: Greg Gautreaux
• BACK JUDGE: Steve Freeman
• REPLAY OFFICAL: Bobby Skelton
• VIDEO OPERATOR: not documented

SCORING

• STEELERS: 00:29-1Q Tuman 2 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick)
• STEELERS: 01:56-2Q Reed FG50
• STEELERS: 14:52-4Q Miller 16 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick)
• STEELERS: 01:56-4Q Reed FG39
• BUCCANEERS: 00:00-4Q Bryant FG27

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: #80 M. Clayton
• QB: #07 B. Gradkowski
• RB: #24 C. Williams
• FB: #32 M. Pittman

STARTERS DEFENSE

• DE: #94 G. Spires
• DT: #95 C. Hovan
• DT: #96 E. Wyms
• DE: #90 D. White
• OLB: #56 R. Nece
• MLB: #53 S. Quarles
• OLB: #55 D. Brooks
• LCB: #21 J. Bolden
• RCB: #20 R. Barber
• SS: #23 J. Phillips
• FS: #26 W. Allen

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 3 Bryant, 9 Bidwell, 19 Hilliard, 31 Buchanon, 33 Sowell, 34 Graham, 39 Pearson, 40 Alstott , 46 Adams, 50 Winborn, 51 Ruud, 52 Cash, 54 Mallard, 56 Nece, 71 Haye, 74 Green, 77 Terry, 81 Smith, 83 Moore, 85 Stovall, 91 Jenkins

DID NOT PLAY

• 13 Rattay, 86 Jolley

INACTIVE

• 12 McCown, 29 Zemaitis, 30 Nicholson, 66 Mihlhauser, 70 Penn, 82 Warren, 93 Bennett, 98 Bradley

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Graham 4-35, Williams 11-27, Gradkowski 6-26, Alstott 6-13, Galloway 1-7, Clayton 1-3, Pittman 1-(-1).
• STEELERS: Parker 22-61, Davenport 6-8, Kreider 1-5, Roethlisberger 2-2.

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: Gradkowski 34-20-175-3-0.
• STEELERS: Roethlisberger 25-12-198-1-2.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: Clayton 4-57, Williams 4-30, Galloway 3-37, Hilliard 2-13, Becht 2-10, Smith 2-4, Stovall 1-11, Pittman 1-7, Alstott 1-6.
• STEELERS: Washington 3-78, Miller 2-27, Wilson 2-26, Davenport 2-22, Parker 1-25, Holmes 1-18, Tuman 1-2.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: Brooks 1-9.
• STEELERS: Kriewaldt 1-12, Foote 1-11, McFadden 1-0.

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Cox 4-78, Pittman 1-12.
• STEELERS: Davenport 1-21.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Buchanon 2-5, Hilliard 2-4.
• STEELERS: Holmes 2-12.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: Quarles 1-7.
• STEELERS: Porter 2-16, Townsend 1-8, Keisel 1-6, Smith 1-1.

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