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Week 3 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 24
What you need to know
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Brian Griese had a mixed day. He was not impressive until the end of the game. He threw two very bad interceptions under pass rush pressure. Up until the end he would look good but could not close the deal. Half way through the fourth quarter and in overtime he drove Tampa Bay to the win. Griese had 67 attempts and this should be considered when looking at all the passing game results.
Earnest Graham could not run anywhere. But, the Buccaneers only ran fourteen times in this game. He didn't get many opportunities and it might have been because every time he did he was stuffed. Still he did not put much effort forward and lacked vision for alternate running lanes.
Jerramy Stevens was involved in the game plan a lot. He wasn't used on any big plays but when Tampa Bay needed a first down or a good possession reception Stevens was targeted.
| Chicago Bears |
Matt Forte was a workhorse. He didn't wear down and was running hard and fast in overtime. His offensive line was not very good and he still made yards when there were no holes present. He showed a lot of patience and vision. He was also very effective as the checkdown option and did well catching the ball.
Kyle Orton started to look good in the second half. He hit Brandon Lloyd in the second half and then started to use his WRs. His interceptions were under intense pressure and great defensive plays. Orton actually showed some leadership towards the end of the game and seemed to take command.
Brandon Lloyd led Chicago WRs in targets and receptions for the third game in a row. After one play where he waited for the ball and it was like it woke him up. In the second half Lloyd was the main target and he fought, jumped, and worked to get the ball.
The Chicago offensive line was a disaster. Orton had people in his face all day. The one interception was more the offensive line's fault than Orton. Forte had holes once in a while and most of the time he had to make his own.
What you ought to know
| QB Brian Griese, Pass: 38 - 67 - 407 - 2 TD / 3 INT |
Brian Griese started out slow and timid. By the end of the game it was a great performance. Although his interceptions were very poor throws and he dumped a few throws for penalties he was able to recover. At times he did not look like a veteran. Then he would put together streaks of completions but Griese couldn't finish the deal. The end second half was a different story. The urgency helped Griese and Tampa Bay went no huddle at the end. Griese was able to wear down the Bears defense and pick them apart. Most of his points came in the fourth quarter and overtime. He looked like a different player at the end of the game and carried the Buccaneers to a win. There was a very bad call at the end of the game that changed everything. Griese pulled the offense together before the play was called and took them by the horns. The conversation must have been good because Tampa Bay drove another 80 yards and won the game.
| RB Earnest Graham, Rush: 12 - 16 - 0 |
Earnest Graham looked like he didn't know what to do with the ball. He was stuffed on many plays with what looked like little effort and lack of vision. There were times that other spots opened up along the line but Graham could not get there. Warrick Dunn seemed to have no problem shifting and getting a few yards when nothing was there. However, that was not the case for Graham.
| RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 5 - 31 - 0, Rec: 4 - 27 - 0 (5 targets) |
Warrick Dunn was used mainly in the passing game. However, he did run the ball a few times and he was able to get yards when Earnest Graham could not. He still has his agility and could slide over to a spot to get yards when nothing else was there. Dunn was not a huge part of the game plan.
| RB B.J. Askew, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (4 targets) |
There were a few passing plays designed for Askew as the primary receiver. He couldn't get the first down on either one like it was designed. The Bears defense swarmed all over him each time he caught the flare pass. He was not a part of the running game besides lead blocking.
| WR Antonio Bryant, Rec: 10 - 138 - 0 (17 targets) |
Antonio Bryant was the main target in the passing game. There were many times that he was targeted and the Bears made a big hit or defensive play. However, Bryant was not targeted on any TDs. He was able to get yards after the catch all day. When the Buccaneers made it into the red zone it was like a blanket fell over Bryant. He might have been able to score on a few plays that were broken up.
| WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 6 - 57 - 1 (7 targets) |
Ike Hilliard was a main focus in the first half. However, he wasn't very effective and did not accomplish much. With all the passes in the second half Hilliard was only targeted five times. There were 51 total targets in the second half. Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton were the primary targets of the second half. In fact, Jerramy Stevens was a bigger part of the passing attack in the second half. In the end Hilliard had a decent game but it did tail off towards the end.
| WR Michael Clayton, Rec: 5 - 54 - 0 (9 targets) |
Michael Clayton was not a part of the game plan in the whole first half. In the second half he became a huge target for Brian Griese and was a major part of Tampa Bay moving the ball. Clayton was working hard to get free and made some hard catches. Griese to Clayton was starting to create some chemistry. This was the same combination that Clayton had in his rookie season. He did very well for playing primarily in the second half only.
| WR Maurice Stovall, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (4 targets) |
Maurice Stovall had many drops in this game. He wasn't a factor and Griese targeted him only on check downs in the second half.
| TE Jerramy Stevens, Rec: 5 - 61 - 1 (10 targets) |
Jerramy Stevens was a part of the passing plan to attack Chicago. Jon Gruden was counting on his ability to cause miss matches against this defense. It worked well as Stevens was the second leading receiver of the day. He was also targeted in the endzone often and garnered one TD. It was a very impressive performance by the end of the day.
| TE Alex Smith, Rec: 3 - 33 - 0 (7 targets) |
Alex Smith was targeted downfield many times. He had a few nice receptions on the day but he wasn't a focus of the passing game.
| TE John Gilmore, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (2 targets) |
John Gilmore was the recipient of the occasional target and only on short plays. Those targets were mostly after Brian Griese experience intense pressure and needed to dump the ball.
| PK Matt Bryant 2 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points |
Matt Bryant did everything he had to do. His longest field goal was for 35 yards. The game winner was a chip shot from 21 yards.
| TB Rush Defense |
Tampa Bay was punishing against the run. The results the Bears attained can be attributed more to Matt Forte's ability and hard work. He just didn't give up and found holes when none were there. However, the Buccaneers did not give up any big plays and this could be a huge reason why they didn't lose the game.
| TB Pass Defense |
Kyle Orton started to pick on Ronde Barber. He was able to get the offense going by passing to Brandon Lloyd in one on one coverage against Barber. The Bears really started to exploit this pass defense in the second half. There was not as much pressure on Orton in the second half and with the time he could pick them apart. Most of Orton's stats were in the second half. Still, Tampa Bay made two great interceptions that were probably the difference in the game. Gaines Adams slipped Desmond Clark on a screen and scored a TD. Barrett Ruud made a huge takeaway from Matt Forte that would have been a Bears TD.
| QB Kyle Orton, Pass: 22 - 34 - 268 - 2 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 6 - 21 - 0 |
Kyle Orton started very slowly. Much of this was due to the pass rush. The Chicago offensive line was pretty much absent in the first half. Both interceptions were great defensive plays. Gaines Adams slipped around Desmond Clark on a middle screen and took that interception back for a score. The second was a very nice pass to Matt Forte only to have Barrett Ruud strip the ball out of his hands. That also took a TD away from Forte and Orton. Orton was able to connect with Brandon Lloyd part way through the third quarter and the offense started to roll. After that reception Orton gained confidence and took charge of the offense. He was able to pick the Buccaneer defense apart and he paid special attention to Ronde Barber. Maybe he wanted to pay him back for the blind side sack in the first half. Orton was able to practically pass at will the rest of the half. Orton led the Bears on three scoring drives and one missed field goal after the Lloyd reception. He made two great TD passes with one going to Forte and the other to Lloyd. The second half was pretty much mistake free for Orton.
| RB Matt Forte, Rush: 27 - 89 - 0, Rec: 7 - 66 - 1 (10 targets) |
The Bears blocking was absent for most of the game. Despite that Matt Forte did very well. The defense was all over him and he pushed them backwards to make yards when nothing was there. Forte found holes with his patience and vision. His targets were high because Orton didn't have time or anyone else to throw to during the first half. Forte made something out of nothing on many check down receptions. He had one long reception that would have been a TD if Barrett Ruud would not have made a great steal. He was also targeted again and scored. This guy was a workhorse and didn't wear down even in overtime. He has gained over 300 yards in his first three games.
| RB Kevin Jones, Rush: 3 - 10 - 0 |
Kevin Jones was only used to give Matt Forte rest. He did do well and rushed hard when given the chance.
| RB Jason McKie, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jason McKie was used mainly as a lead blocker. He did have a couple receptions on flare passes but didn't do much with them.
| RB Garrett Wolfe, Rush: 1 - 38 - 0 |
Garrett Wolfe was involved in one of the most exciting plays of the game. He received a direct snap on a fake punt and earned 38 yards and a first down. That was his only action of the game.
| WR Brandon Lloyd, Rec: 6 - 124 - 1 (10 targets) |
Brandon Lloyd is the most targeted receiver in all three Bears games. After a catch where he waited for the ball his whole attitude changed. Kyle Orton to Lloyd made the Bears comeback possible. Lloyd looked very good in the second half and all of his receptions and stats came in that half. His energy and yards after the catch seemed to ignite the Bears.
| WR Rashied Davis, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (4 targets) |
In the clutch and with the game on the line Rashied Davis alligator armed a pass across the middle. Davis ran out of bounds on another crucial drive and did not strive for more yards. He had three receptions that had no yards after the catch.
| WR Marty Booker (1 targets) |
Marty Booker was targeted once and was never heard from again.
| TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (4 targets) |
Desmond Clark was targeted on a few long throws but nothing deep. He only had two receptions to speak of but had some nice opportunities.
| TE Greg Olsen, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (3 targets) |
Greg Olsen didn't fumble the ball this week. He didn't get targeted for any long plays either. His only target of the second half was Kyle Orton avoiding a sack.
| PK Robbie Gould 3 - 4 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points |
Robbie Gould missed what would have been the game winning 49 yard field goal by three yards to the right. At the time no one knew how important that field goal to start the fourth quarter would be. But that was also how close he was to another huge field goal. Gould made three other field goals and an extra point.
| CHI Rush Defense |
It was good enough that Tampa Bay only rushed fourteen times. Earnest Graham looked like a log carrying the ball and the Bears can do that to people. Warrick Dunn was able to get a few runs off that went past the line of scrimmage. Overall it was a very stifling defense.
| CHI Pass Defense |
The Bears were picked apart in the fourth quarter and overtime. They were very visibly worn out by the Buccaneers 67 passing attempts. They might have outlasted Tampa Bay if it were not for very poor officiating management and Charles Tillman losing his head. After the whistle was blown a Buccaneer offensive lineman held a Bear down and punched him repeatedly. Two referees were in the area and just tried to talk the players off each other. Charles Tillman ran in and ear holed a Buccaneer and a fifteen yard penalty resulted. Brian Griese took the tired Bears defense on a ride to a loss after that play that would have ended their drive inside the ten yard line. Most of the passing stats came at the end of the game off second chances like this one and the Bears just were not conditioned enough to keep up.
