NFL Game Summary - San Diego at Tampa Bay
(Sunday, November 11th)
Final Score: Tampa Bay 34, San Diego 24
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Josh Freeman threw for 210 yards and two
touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the San Diego Chargers,
34-24, on Sunday.
Doug Martin rushed for 68 yards on 19 carries and also caught three passes for
51 yards for the Buccaneers (5-4), who have won three straight and four of
their last five. Tiquan Underwood and Dallas Clark each caught a touchdown
pass in the win.
"Today we played team football. We held each other up, and it is critical
against a good football team," Bucs coach Greg Schiano said. "We ran into
Philip Rivers, he's been as hot as a fire cracker the last two games. We did
just enough to find a win. It's a good feeling."
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers completed 29-of-37 passes for 337 yards
and three touchdowns, but also threw a pair of costly second-half
interceptions. Danario Alexander had five catches for 134 yards and a
touchdown and Malcom Floyd had six catches for 63 yards and a score for the
Chargers (4-5), losers in four of their last five.
"We were in the game, but we unfortunately had the conversation that if you
give up a punt return for a touchdown and an interception returned for a
touchdown you're not going to put yourself in jeopardy in terms of winning the
game," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "I thought we played hard in terms of
when we had adversity we fought back. We have a group of guys that are
mentally and physically tough."
The Chargers held a 21-17 lead at halftime, but the Bucs went on top for good
with 4:07 left in the third when Freeman found Underwood with a 15-yard TD
pass.
Rivers had the Chargers in scoring position on the ensuing series, but he was
picked off by Leonard Johnson. The cornerback returned the interception 83
yards for a touchdown and a 31-21 advantage with 13:22 remaining in the game.
The Chargers drew within a score on Nick Novak's 34-yard field goal with just
over seven minutes left, but it would be as close they would get.
Rivers was picked off again near midfield on San Diego's next possession with
just over three minutes to play, leading to Connor Barth's 45-yard field goal
with 1:12 remaining for the final margin.
San Diego scored on its first touch when Rivers found Alexander for an 80-yard
catch-and-run. On 3rd-and-long, Rivers tossed it to Alexander over the middle
and the receiver broke a tackle and used his hand to avoid falling to the
ground, then galloped all the way to the end zone.
Tampa Bay answered right back with a touchdown of its own as Freeman found
Clark all alone in the end zone to tie the game. After a 45-yard pass to
Martin got the Bucs inside the San Diego five, Freeman faked the handoff to
Martin and tossed it to Clark for a 3-yard touchdown.
The Chargers kept things going on their second possession as Rivers hooked up
with Antonio Gates for a 13-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-7. Earlier, Rivers
found Floyd down the left sideline with a 22-yard pass before turning to Gates
for a 33-yard gain to set up the score.
The teams traded punts before Barth's 40-yard field goal made it 14-10. A deep
54-yard pass to Mike Williams got the ball in San Diego territory, but the
Bucs were unable to get into the end zone and settled for the field goal.
Dekoda Watson blocked the Chargers' punt on the ensuing possession and Adam
Hayward scooped it up and ran it in from 29 yards away to put Tampa Bay ahead
17-14.
San Diego answered with a touchdown and went back in front when Rivers found
Floyd for a 3-yard score to cap a 14-play, 80-yard trek.
Game Notes
Tampa Bay linebacker Quincy Black left the game in the third quarter with a
head and neck injury and did not return. He suffered the injury on a helmet-
to-helmet collision with San Diego running back Ryan Mathews. He was carted
off the field but flashed a "thumbs up" to crowd from the cart ... Chargers
head coach Norv Turner is 5-5 all-time against the Bucs ... Gates recorded his
80th career touchdown.
11/11 20:06:14 ET

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