GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: TAMPA BAY (4-2) at DETROIT (3-2)

NFL: TAMPA BAY (4-2) at DETROIT (3-2)

<h3>Garcia leads surprising Buccaneers against Lions</h3>



Tampa Bay (4-2) at Detroit (3-2) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting exactlywhat they hoped for from Jeff Garcia.


Under the leadership of the veteran quarterback, the surprisingBuccaneers visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday.


Despite a spate of injuries, including ones that have sidelinedstarting running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and his backupMichael Pittman, Tampa Bay is 4-2 and tied with the CarolinaPanthers atop the NFC South.


One of the main reasons is Garcia, who was signed as a freeagent after stepping in for Donovan McNabb and leading thePhiladelphia Eagles to the NFC East title last season.

Garcia completed four straight passes to set up Matt Bryant's43-yard field goal with 11 seconds to play as Tampa Bay eked outa 13-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.

Overall, Garcia finished 20-of-31 for 274 yards and onetouchdown, a 69-yard pass to veteran wide receiver JoeyGalloway. For the season, Garcia has thrown five touchdownpasses and zero interceptions.


Tampa Bay made a move to fortify its running game Tuesday,acquiring Michael Bennett from the Kansas City Chiefs for draftpicks.


Last week's bye came at the right time for the Lions, whoabsorbed a 34-3 beating at the hands of the Washington Redskinson October 7. The loss denied Detroit its first 4-1 start in 16years.


Two weeks earlier, the Lions were humbled by another NFC Eastteam, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 56-21.


In between, Detroit set an NFL record by scoring 34 points inthe fourth quarter to overtake the Chicago Bears, 37-27.

Journeyman Jon Kitna played extremely well in the first fourgames, throwing eight touchdowns vs. four interceptions, but heand the high-powered offense came to a crashing halt in fallingto 0-21 all-time at Washington.


The Redskins had four sacks and two interceptions of Kitna, whofinished 16-of-29 for 106 yards. In the last three games, Kitnahas been sacked 20 times.


One plus for the Lions has been the slow return to health ofrunning back Kevin Jones, who missed the first two games whilerecovering from foot surgery.


Jones carried just three times in his first game but graduallyhas increased his workload, rushing 11 times for 48 yardsagainst the Redskins.

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 0 14:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 22 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 0 12:25 LEFT, 1ST QTR

DET BALL ON TAM 37 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL FG DET
JASON HANSON 34 YD

TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 3 9:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 3 9:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR

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

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 3 5:22 LEFT, 1ST QTR

DET BALL ON TAM 49 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL TD DET
KEVIN JONES 1 YD RUN
(JASON HANSON KICK)

TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 10 2:51 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 10 2:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR

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

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 10 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 0 0
DETROIT 10 10 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: DET - FG, JASON HANSON 34 YD, 5:07. Drive: 6
plays, 21 yards in 2:32. Key plays:
C Smith blocked punt at Tampa Bay
37. DETROIT 3-0
DET - TD, KEVIN JONES 1 YD RUN (JASON HANSON
KICK), 12:09. Drive: 5 plays, 49
yards in 2:01. Key plays: Rogers
recovery of Garcia fumble at Tampa
Bay 49; Kitna 19-yard pass to
Johnson to Tampa Bay 18; Jones
17-yard run to Tampa Bay 1. DETROIT
10-0</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 0
DETROIT 10 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL TD TAM
IKE HILLIARD 5 YD PASS FROM JEFF GARCIA
(MATT BRYANT KICK)

TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 10 12:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 10 12:42 LEFT, 2ND QTR

DET BALL ON DET 29 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 10 11:01 LEFT, 2ND QTR

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

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 10 2:33 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL

TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 10 2:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

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

TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 10

DET BALL ON DET 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL FG DET
JASON HANSON 42 YD

TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 13 0:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 7
DETROIT 13 0:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR

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

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 0 7 7
DETROIT 10 3 13 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: DET - FG, JASON HANSON 34 YD, 5:07. Drive: 6
plays, 21 yards in 2:32. Key plays:
C Smith blocked punt at Tampa Bay
37. DETROIT 3-0
DET - TD, KEVIN JONES 1 YD RUN (JASON HANSON
KICK), 12:09. Drive: 5 plays, 49
yards in 2:01. Key plays: Rogers
recovery of Garcia fumble at Tampa
Bay 49; Kitna 19-yard pass to
Johnson to Tampa Bay 18; Jones
17-yard run to Tampa Bay 1. DETROIT
10-0
2ND QUARTER: TAM - TD, IKE HILLIARD 5 YD PASS FROM JEFF
GARCIA (MATT BRYANT KICK), 2:12.
Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards in 5:03.
Key plays: Garcia 14-yard pass to
Graham to Tampa Bay 45; Garcia
38-yard pass to Hilliard to Detroit
17. DETROIT 10-7
DET - FG, JASON HANSON 42 YD, 14:55. DETROIT
13-7</div>