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| Other Week 2 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at JAX | BAL at SD | CAR at ATL | CIN at GB | CLE at DEN | HOU at TEN | IND at MIA | MIN at DET |
| NE at NYJ | NO at PHI | NYG at DAL | OAK at KC | PIT at CHI | SEA at SF | STL at WAS | TB at BUF |
Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Buffalo Bills 33
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| QB Byron Leftwich, Pass: 26 - 50 - 296 - 3 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Leftwich was his normal "battling to the very end" self, but his numbers were mostly compiled in a desperation efforts to catch up as the Bucs fell behind big early, then tightened the game, only to have the Bills pull away in the second half. Leftwich threw a gift pick six early that happened because Kyle Williams hit him low as he was throwing to Cadillac Williams. He also had multiple throws that should have been interceptions. Leftwich threw downfield without hesitation, and actually threw a nice strike to Kellen Winslow on his TD. He displayed nice touch on throws to Cadillac and Derrick Ward out of the backfield, and he hung tough in the face of many blitzes from the Bills. He's playing well enough to keep the Bucs offense viable, but he's not going to hold off Josh Freeman for long at this rate.
| QB Josh Johnson |
Johnson lined up as a wide receiver for one play.
| RB Cadillac Williams, Rush: 7 - 9 - 0, Rec: 7 - 56 - 1 (9 targets) |
Caddy rarely had the holes to build up speed and anger to make the same kinds of physical runs he had in his triumphant week 1 return. He made up for it by being very active in the passing game, getting a good amount of targets on swing passes, and converting a TD as a checkdown option when found a soft spot in the zone near the goal line. He had a good gain on a reception called back by penalty, and he also left some yards on the field when he lost feet through a cut in the open field.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 9 - 32 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (2 targets) |
Ward had better success than Cadillac Williams on his runs, but it was mainly because his runs were better blocked than Caddy's. He demonstrated good patience and a very good initial burst, and nifty footwork through the hole. Ward also fought very hard against defenders to get yards after contact. He was stopped on a 4th and short carry, but only because it was poorly blocked. Ward still looks as good as he did in New York last year, it's the offense around him that is suffering.
| RB Earnest Graham, Rush: 2 - 16 - 0, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Graham got one series, and while he ran with great determination, he lacked an initial burst or quickness to make him a threat to do more than gain whatever yards were opened up by the offensive line's blocking. He is clearly the third best back on the roster.
| WR Maurice Stovall, Rec: 3 - 80 - 0 (6 targets) |
Stovall was getting open downfield, and he made the best catch of the game on a fourth down play that saw his hang in the air to make a deep catch inside the 10. Stovall earned more of Leftwich's trust than Clayton did, and he looked better doing it.
| WR Michael Clayton, Rec: 2 - 27 - 0 (4 targets) |
Clayton couldn't take advantage of Antonio Bryant's absence. He let one high pass bounce off his hands, and it almost got intercepted. He had a good catch and run early in the second quarter, but after that, Leftwich barely looked his way until the final stages of the game. Clayton did get a jumpball in the end zone thrown his way, but he was called for pushing off, even though he didn't make the catch.
| WR Sammie Stroughter, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (3 targets) |
Stroughter had a chance to make an impression with Bryant out, but he only affected the game with a penalty that negated a nice gain from Cadillac Williams, and a bobbled ball that ended up being an interception for Bryan Scott. Hitting the ground caused another incompletion. Stroughter looked like a rookie and did not seize the moment vs. the Bills.
| WR Brian Clark (4 targets) |
Clark had a nice sideline catch, but couldn't get both feet down inbounds, otherwise, he was very quiet.
| WR Antonio Bryant |
Bryant didn't travel with the team because of a setback with his surgically repaired knee.
| TE Kellen Winslow, Rec: 7 - 90 - 1 (10 targets) |
Winslow looked like a wide receiver, getting open downfield on his long TD, displaying soft hands to tip the Leftwich bullet to himself for the score. He seems to have no problem with the velocity of Leftwich's passes, and he demonstrated WR-like skills on another leaping catch later in the game. Winslow is the most dangerous weapon the Bucs have on offense with Bryant out, and Leftwich should continue to look his way as long as he keeps playing this way.
| TE Jerramy Stevens, Rec: 3 - 24 - 1 (9 targets) |
Leftwich was throwing early and often, and Stevens was the recipient of many targets, but few of them were quality throws. He did make a nice tip to himself on the short TD catch, but Stevens didn't do anything to demand a larger role in this game.
Buffalo Bills
| QB Trent Edwards, Pass: 21 - 31 - 230 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 24 - 0 |
Edwards shrugged off the "Captain Checkdown" label, taking multiple shots downfield to his talented starting receivers. Two of them were converted into long TDs, and another perfectly thrown ball was dropped by Terrell Owens. In the meantime, Edwards just took what was there, relying a lot on Fred Jackson, Derek Schouman, and Josh Reed to nickel and dime the Bucs defense, wearing them down for Fred Jackson to take advantage later in the game. Edwards held the ball too long a few times, but he also showed good speed as a runner outside of the pocket, and generally ran the offense well and made good decisions. His inexperienced line blocked very well and gave him time to survey the field all day, and he also benefited from some bonehead facemask penalties by the Bucs. You wouldn't know the Bills made a last-second offensive coordinator change from the way the offense is functioning.
| RB Fred Jackson, Rush: 28 - 163 - 0, Rec: 6 - 25 - 0 (8 targets) |
Nothing Jackson does wows you, but at the end of the game, the numbers are there. For an average sized back, Jackson ran with great power, often getting yards after contact and making subtle moves to let hits deflect off of him instead of stop him. His elusiveness was also based on those subtle moves, harnessing the defenders overaggressiveness, as opposed to the kind of breathtaking suddenness that makes other backs elusive. His conditioning let him really take advantage of a tired Bucs D in the fourth quarter, which included his longest run of the day. His footwork, leg drive, and burst from a standstill all helped him get additional yards all day, and he even showed a spin move. This offense is perfect for an efficient, savvy back like Jackson.
| RB Xavier Omon, Rush: 2 - 9 - 0 (1 targets) |
Omon ran with good power on his few carries to spell Jackson, but he is just an emergency backup at this point.
| WR Josh Reed, Rec: 4 - 46 - 0 (4 targets) |
Reed did his job, finding some soft spots in the zone and moving the chains for the Buffalo offense. He is definitely willing to take hits to make catches in the middle of the field, and he is a crafty runner after the catch. He's not going to put up great numbers, but he's still an important part of this offense.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rush: 1 - 13 - 0, Rec: 3 - 52 - 1 (5 targets) |
Owens should have had a bigger day, as he let a pass that could have been at 40+ yard gain, if not an 82-yard TD, go right through his hands. He did get the call on an early reverse and broke multiple tackles to make a good gain out of it, and when he got a second chance on a later deep ball, he reeled it in for a TD. Still, it's clear that TO will not be the centerpiece of the passing attack, as he has been in the past. He hasn't lost any physical ability, but this just isn't an offense or QB that will force the ball to him 10+ times a game with regularity.
| WR Roscoe Parrish, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0 |
Parrish didn't do much on offense, but he saved a TD with his tackle on a Sabby Piscitelli fumble return (that he might have helped cause with a missed block).
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 1 - 32 - 1 (5 targets) |
Evans got three deep targets. The first one resulted in a TD even though it was covered pretty well. The second one was even better covered, and Evans still almost came down with it. The third was well overthrown by Edwards. While it's encouraging that Evans speed and ball tracking skills were taken advantage in this game, it is still troubling that the Bills don't seem to be making an effort to get him in the ball in the open field, or otherwise feature the talented wideout in the passing attack.
| TE Derek Schouman, Rec: 6 - 62 - 0 (7 targets) |
Schouman was Edwards favorite target on the day, but his only good gain in the passing game was on the last play of the first half when the Bucs were in the prevent. He's not particularly talented receiving the ball, or running after the catch, but he'll continue to catch a good amount of balls as long as Trent Edwards is inclined to play it safe, as long as his knee injury suffered late in the game isn't serious.
| TE Shawn Nelson, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (1 targets) |
Nelson got a catch similar to crossing pattern that he scored on last week, but it ended in a shoulder injury, although it shouldn't keep him out for week three according to early reports.