Game Preview
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
sunday, november 23, 2008 - 1:00 pm
*Buccaneers attempt to keep Lions winless*
TAMPA BAY (7-3) AT DETROIT (0-10), 1:00 pm EST
DETROIT (Ticker) -- A classic second-half performance by their defense and the right foot of Matt Bryant allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to keep pace with the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers despite an injury to their starting running back.
The Buccaneers look to make up for the loss in the backfield and avoid a letdown prior to three division matchups when they visit the winless Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Tampa Bay's running game may be a bit shorthanded, as Earnest Graham is likely out for the season after suffering an ankle injury in his first carry of the 19-13 win over Minnesota.
"Earnest Graham's ankle looks to be a serious injury, and his status for the rest of the season is very much in question," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "I don't know the medical terms, but right now it doesn't look like he will play anytime soon."
The back that Graham replaced last season, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, may work with veteran Warrick Dunn to fill the void.
The fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft, Williams was the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns.
Williams, who has not played since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee on September 30, 2007, was activated from the physically unable to perform list last week but was inactive for last Sunday's game.
Tampa Bay trailed Minnesota last week, 13-6, at halftime, but Gruden's defense turned up the heat in the second half, registering three of its five sacks on Gus Frerotte and forcing Chester Taylor to fumble with 1:14 left to seal the victory.
"Our defense was great down the stretch," Gruden said. "I also liked how our offense moved the ball to open the third quarter. We beat a hot Minnesota Viking team, and we needed this win."
B.J. Askew scored his first career touchdown to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive to open the second half and tie the game. Bryant kicked two of his four field goals in the fourth quarter for the final margin of 19-13.
The veteran Buccaneers must avoid looking past the winless Lions with division matchups on the horizon.
Carolina holds a slim one-game lead over Tampa Bay, which has a road game against the Panthers sandwiched between a home tilt with New Orleans and a visit to Atlanta.
Detroit jumped out to a 10-0 lead against the Panters last Sunday before falling, 31-22, to remain winless.
After pulling within 24-22, Daunte Culpepper's two-point conversion attempt was stopped short. Culpepper was intercepted on the Lions' next possession.
With its remaining six opponents owning a combined record of 38-22, Detroit's bid to avoid a winless season appears to be a daunting one.
No NFL team has endured a winless campaign since the 1976 Buccaneers, who went 0-14.