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NFL Sunday Recap: Tampa Bay Takes Hold of NFC South
Jeff Garcia has the Buccaneers sitting pretty in the NFC South. (AI Wire)
The defense got it done.
Spurred on by Ronde Barber's 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stomped divisional rivals Atlanta 31-7 Sunday to retain sole position of first place in the NFC South.
Bucs QB Jeff Garcia got the scoring started with a bang, hooking up with favorite target Joey Galloway on a 44-yard pass-and-catch TD in the first quarter. That was essentially all the scoring Tampa needed, as the futile Falcons couldn't get anything going on offense with Byron Leftwich at QB. Leftwich was 15-of-26 passing with no touchdowns and an interception before being replaced by Joey Harrington.
In other NFL Action:
- Cleveland inched one step closer to the playoffs with a wacky divisional overtime win over Baltimore 33-30. The game featured two interception returns for touchdowns - a 35-yarder from Ray Lewis and a 100-yarder from Brodney Pool - and some inspired late play from Kyle Boller. While Boller completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw two back-breaking interceptions, he did rally the team late for game-tying drives. Matt Stover booted a controversial tying field goal as time expired, one that bounced out but actually cleared the uprights. He booted a game-winner in overtime.
- Philadelphia kept Miami winless on the year with a 17-7 victory at the Linc. A huge afternoon from Brian Westbrook - the former Villanova standout ran for 148 yards - got the Eagles back to .500 and back into the thick of the NFC Playoff chase. The loss ruined the professional debut of John Beck, the former BYU QB who the Dolphins drafted in the second round of the 2007 Draft.