GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: ST LOUIS (0-2) at TAMPA BAY (1-1)

NFL: ST LOUIS (0-2) at TAMPA BAY (1-1)

<h3>Rams seek first win against Buccaneers</h3>



St. Louis (0-2) at Tampa Bay (1-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- If the St. Louis Rams are to contendfor a playoff berth this season as they expect, they most avoidsecond-half meltdowns.


The Rams again try for their first win of the season on Sundaywhen they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are coming off animpressive victory over the New Orleans Saints.


St. Louis enjoyed halftime leads against the Carolina Panthersin Week One and the San Francisco 49ers last week but havenothing to slow for it.


The Rams outgained the 49ers by more than a two-to-one advantageas Marc Bulger passed for 368 yards. But Bulger only threw onetouchdown pass and the 49ers escaped with a 17-16 win on JoeNedney's 40-yard field goal with 3:28 remaining.


St. Louis is hoping to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2002,when the Rams opened 0-5 following their Super Bowl loss to theNew England Patriots.


"We didn't finish two weeks in a row," coach Scott Linehansaid. "We have got to find ways when you have got a lead, leadat halftime, lead in the third quarter, to sustain it and finishout games."


The Buccaneers turned in an unexpected performance last week,routing the Saints, 31-14, behind Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway,who hooked up for a pair of touchdownsm passes


After being held to two field goals in a 20-6 loss at Seattlethe week before, the Buccaneers erupted for their most points inthe previous 25 games under coach Jon Gruden.


Garcia recorded his first win with the Buccaneers, completing10-of-16 passes for 243 yards. Tampa Bay did a better job ofpass protection as Garcia was not sacked after being droppedthree times against the Seahawks.


The Buccaneers could have momentum following their dismantlingof the Saints, but they must contend with the Rams' potentreceiving duo of Tory Holt (13 receptions for 147 yards and twoTDs) and Issac Bruce (11-165).

 

NFL: ST LOUIS (0-2) at TAMPA BAY (1-1)

<h3>Rams seek first win against Buccaneers</h3>



St. Louis (0-2) at Tampa Bay (1-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- If the St. Louis Rams are to contendfor a playoff berth this season as they expect, they most avoidsecond-half meltdowns.


The Rams again try for their first win of the season on Sundaywhen they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are coming off animpressive victory over the New Orleans Saints.


St. Louis enjoyed halftime leads against the Carolina Panthersin Week One and the San Francisco 49ers last week but havenothing to slow for it.


The Rams outgained the 49ers by more than a two-to-one advantageas Marc Bulger passed for 368 yards. But Bulger only threw onetouchdown pass and the 49ers escaped with a 17-16 win on JoeNedney's 40-yard field goal with 3:28 remaining.


St. Louis is hoping to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2002,when the Rams opened 0-5 following their Super Bowl loss to theNew England Patriots.


"We didn't finish two weeks in a row," coach Scott Linehansaid. "We have got to find ways when you have got a lead, leadat halftime, lead in the third quarter, to sustain it and finishout games."


The Buccaneers turned in an unexpected performance last week,routing the Saints, 31-14, behind Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway,who hooked up for a pair of touchdownsm passes


After being held to two field goals in a 20-6 loss at Seattlethe week before, the Buccaneers erupted for their most points inthe previous 25 games under coach Jon Gruden.


Garcia recorded his first win with the Buccaneers, completing10-of-16 passes for 243 yards. Tampa Bay did a better job ofpass protection as Garcia was not sacked after being droppedthree times against the Seahawks.


The Buccaneers could have momentum following their dismantlingof the Saints, but they must contend with the Rams' potentreceiving duo of Tory Holt (13 receptions for 147 yards and twoTDs) and Issac Bruce (11-165).

 

NFL: ST LOUIS (0-2) at TAMPA BAY (1-1)

<h3>Rams seek first win against Buccaneers</h3>



St. Louis (0-2) at Tampa Bay (1-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- If the St. Louis Rams are to contendfor a playoff berth this season as they expect, they most avoidsecond-half meltdowns.


The Rams again try for their first win of the season on Sundaywhen they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are coming off animpressive victory over the New Orleans Saints.


St. Louis enjoyed halftime leads against the Carolina Panthersin Week One and the San Francisco 49ers last week but havenothing to slow for it.


The Rams outgained the 49ers by more than a two-to-one advantageas Marc Bulger passed for 368 yards. But Bulger only threw onetouchdown pass and the 49ers escaped with a 17-16 win on JoeNedney's 40-yard field goal with 3:28 remaining.


St. Louis is hoping to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2002,when the Rams opened 0-5 following their Super Bowl loss to theNew England Patriots.


"We didn't finish two weeks in a row," coach Scott Linehansaid. "We have got to find ways when you have got a lead, leadat halftime, lead in the third quarter, to sustain it and finishout games."


The Buccaneers turned in an unexpected performance last week,routing the Saints, 31-14, behind Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway,who hooked up for a pair of touchdownsm passes


After being held to two field goals in a 20-6 loss at Seattlethe week before, the Buccaneers erupted for their most points inthe previous 25 games under coach Jon Gruden.


Garcia recorded his first win with the Buccaneers, completing10-of-16 passes for 243 yards. Tampa Bay did a better job ofpass protection as Garcia was not sacked after being droppedthree times against the Seahawks.


The Buccaneers could have momentum following their dismantlingof the Saints, but they must contend with the Rams' potentreceiving duo of Tory Holt (13 receptions for 147 yards and twoTDs) and Issac Bruce (11-165).

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

STL BALL ON STL 19 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 10:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 5:36 LEFT, 1ST QTR

STL BALL ON STL 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 54 YD ATTEMPT SHORT

ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 5:36 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 2:32 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 1 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR

STL BALL ON STL 46 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ST LOUIS 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: NONE</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 14:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 13:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 34 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 10:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR

STL BALL ON STL 11 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG STL
JEFF WILKINS 42 YD ATTEMPT WIDE LEFT

ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 2:04 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF

ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 0

TAM BALL ON TAM 24 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 27 YD

ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 3 0:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ST LOUIS 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 3 3 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: NONE
2ND QUARTER: TAM - FG, MATT BRYANT 27 YD, 14:57. TAMPA BAY
3-0</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ST LOUIS 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 3 3 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

NONE

2ND QUARTER:

14:57 TAM - FG, M Bryant 27 Yd.
Drive: 12 plays, 59 yards in 1:57.
Key plays: Pittman 11-yard run to Tampa Bay 43; Garcia 15-yard pass
to Hilliard on 3rd-and-10 to St Louis 42; Garcia 12-yard pass to Clayton
on 3rd-and-10 to St Louis 30; Garcia 11-yard pass to A Smith to St Louis
17. Tampa Bay 3-0.

St Louis - Tampa Bay End 2nd Qtr Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS St Louis Tampa Bay

FIRST DOWNS 9 8
Rushing 5 2
Passing 4 6
Penalty 0 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 2-7-29% 2-5-40%
TOTAL NET YARDS 137 131
Total offensive plays 33 27
Average gain per play 4.2 4.9
NET YARDS RUSHING 84 38
Rushing attempts 22 9
Average gain per rush 3.8 4.2
NET YARDS PASSING 53 93
Times sacked: Number-Yards 0-0 0-0
Gross passing yards 53 93
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 11-7-1 18-10-0
Avg gain per pass play 4.8 5.2
PUNTS: Number and Average 2-47.0 2-45.5
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 1-5 3-15
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 1-0 1-0
TOUCHDOWNS 0 0
Rushing 0 0
Passing 0 0
Interceptions 0 0
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Kicking: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 0-1 1-2
SAFETIES 0 0
TIME OF POSSESSION 18:08 11:52


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

St Louis Tampa Bay

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
S JACKSON 18 63 3.5 13 0 M PITTMAN 3 31 10.3 12 0
B LEONARD 4 21 5.3 9 0 C WILLIAMS 4 6 1.5 3 0
J GARCIA 1 4 4.0 4 0
M CLAYTON 1 -3 -3.0 0 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M BULGER 7-11- 53 1 0 15 J GARCIA 10-18- 93 0 0 15

Sacked-Yards Lost: None Sacked-Yards Lost: None

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
T HOLT 3 29 9.7 15 0 J GALLOWAY 3 32 10.7 14 0
I BRUCE 2 14 7.0 11 0 A SMITH 3 27 9.0 15 0
B LEONARD 1 6 6.0 6 0 I HILLIARD 1 15 15.0 15 0
S JACKSON 1 4 4.0 4 0 M CLAYTON 1 12 12.0 12 0
M PITTMAN 1 4 4.0 4 0
C WILLIAMS 1 3 3.0 3 0

KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
J WILKINS 0/0 0/1 M BRYANT 0/0 1/2
Dist.: (42) Dist.: (54) 27</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 3 14:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NFL: ST LOUIS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
ST LOUIS 0
TAMPA BAY 3 14:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 42 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>