BUCCANEERS POSTGAME NOTES
- After trailing 24-14 in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers scored 13 unanswered points to win in overtime. With the win, it was the first time since December 12, 1999 against Detroit that the Buccaneers had come back from a deficit of 10 or more points to win. In the win over Detroit, Tampa Bay trailed 10-0 before rallying for a 23-16 victory.
- CB Ronde Barber recorded his first sack of the season and the 22nd sack of his career in the first quarter. With the sack, Barber also recorded his 974th career tackle and moves past S John Lynch (973 tackles from 1993-03) into sole possession of fourth place in team history.
- With his 164th career game played today, CB Ronde Barber is now tied with S John Lynch (164 games from 1993-03) for fourth place in career games played with the Buccaneers.
- QB Brian Griese finished the afternoon completing 38-of-67 pass attempts for a career-high 407 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. His 67 pass attempts set a single game team record for most pass attempts in a game. The previous mark of 61 pass attempts was recorded by Brad Johnson vs. Carolina (9/14/03). Griese’s 38 completions is the second-highest mark in team history, with Brad Johnson completing 40 pass attempts vs. Chicago (11/18/01). Griese’s 407 passing yards is the third-highest output in a single game in Buccaneers history. The top two marks in team history are 486 passing yards by Doug Williams at Minnesota (11/16/80) and 469 passing yards by Vinny Testaverde at Indianapolis (10/16/88).
- QB Brian Griese moved past Shaun King (368 completions from 1999-03) for seventh all-time in Tampa Bay history with 401 pass completions as a Buccaneer. He now trails Craig Erickson (473 completions from 1992-94) by 72 completions for sixth in Buccaneers history.
- QB Brian Griese now ranks seventh all-time in passing yards with 4,335 as a Buccaneer, moving past Shaun King (4,064 from 1999-03).
- Tampa Bay’s 22 passing first downs set a new team single-game mark, breaking the previous record of 21 passing first downs against Chicago (11/18/01).
- In Week 2 vs. Atlanta (9/14), QB Brian Griese made his first start at quarterback for the Buccaneers since 2005 when he started six games, leading the club to a 5-1 record to open the season. This season Griese is now 2-0 as a starter, helping the Buccaneers to a 24-9 win over Atlanta and a 27-24 win over Chicago in OT.
While with the Buccaneers, Griese has the second-best winning percentage by a starting quarterback in team history.
HIGHEST WINNING PCT. BY A STARTING QUARTERBACK IN TEAM HISTORY
(Regular Season)
Quarterback Record Percentage
Shaun King 14-8 .636
Brian Griese 11-7 .611
Jeff Garcia 8-6 .571
Brad Johnson 26-23 .531
Trent Dilfer 38-38 .500
Doug Williams 33-33-1 .500
- WR Antonio Bryant led the team with a career-high 10 receptions, for 138 yards. Eight of his 10 receptions went for first downs during the game. His career-high for receiving yards is 170 at Washington (12/29/02 while with Dallas). The game also marked his eighth career 100-yard receiving game.
- DE Greg White recorded a sack in the first quarter giving him a team leading 3.5 for the season. He has now recorded a sack in each of the first three games this season. He recorded 1.0 at New Orleans, 1.5 vs. Atlanta and 1.0 today at Chicago. White is the first player to have at least a half a sack in three-straight games since DE Gaines Adams in 2007(12/2 at New Orleans 1.0, 12/9 at Houston 0.5, 12/16 vs. Atlanta 1.0).
- DE Gaines Adams recorded his first career interception and first career touchdown in the second quarter with a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. The score marked the second time in the 2008 season the Buccaneers have scored a defensive touchdown (also Phillip Buchanon at New Orleans). The interception was also the fifth takeaway of the season. All five takeaways this season have come on interceptions.
- This season, the tight end has been a favorite target for Buccaneers’ quarterbacks. Through three games, tight ends Alex Smith, John Gilmore, and Jeremy Stevens have combined for 15 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns, with 11-of-15 of the receptions resulting in first downs.
In his first game back, Stevens paced the tight ends with five receptions for 61 yards and the game-tying touchdown today. Four of his five catches went for first downs.
- DE Kevin Carter celebrated his 35th birthday with a sack in the second quarter. He now has 1.5 sacks for the season. Carter is currently in second place among active players in sacks with 102 career sacks. TE John Gilmore also celebrated his birthday today, turning 29.
- LB Barrett Ruud made his first interception of the season and the third of his career in the second quarter.
- RB Warrick Dunn recorded a season long run of 18 yards in the first quarter.
- CB Marcus Hamilton a seventh round draft pick in 2007, played in his first career game.
- WR Ike Hilliard has been the go-to-guy when the Buccaneers are looking to move the chains since joining the team in 2005. Through 50 games as a Buccaneer, 63 percent of his catches (93 of 148), including 37 of 62 during the 2007 season and 13 of his 16 receptions in 2008, have resulted in first downs.
Today, Hilliard caught six passes for 57 yards and one touchdown. Of his six receptions, four went for first downs including his second touchdown reception of the season on a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Brian Griese in the first quarter. It was the first touchdown given up in the first half by the Chicago Bears this season. Previously the Bears had given up only three field goals in the first 30 minutes.
Hilliard started the 2008 season at New Orleans (9/7) tying for the team lead with six receptions, including his 500th career reception in the second quarter. Five of his six catches in the game went for first downs, including a two-yard touchdown score to put the Buccaneers up 20-17 in the fourth quarter. In Week 2 vs. Atlanta (9/14) Hilliard again led the team with four receptions for 41 yards, with all four of his receptions going for first downs.