NFL
Buccaneers Lose Their Nerve Against Steelers
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Pittsburgh Steelers brought the aggression to a packed-out Raymond James Stadium Monday night, showing early on that a Bucs win wouldn’t come without a fight.
FIRST HALF
The first sign was a Steelers helmet-first tackle during the Bucs’ first scoring drive, which wasn’t called, then the more overt hand-to-the-helmet shove-off by tight end Vance McDonald on Peyton Barber as he ran to the end zone, which also wasn’t called. In almost spiteful irony, the Steelers missed the extra point. By then, the Bucs had already scored thier first touchdown with Ryan Fitzpatrick’s successful pass to Cameron Brate, making the score 7-6.
Before the first quarter was over, the Steelers had three flags, including defensive tackle Daniel McCulliers being flagged for illegal use of the hand to the face, though the penalty was declined.
For the Buccaneers’ part, Gerald McCoy was flagged for roughing the passer, resulting in a 15-yard penalty with less than a minute left in the first.
Early in the second quarter, Buccaneers safety Isaiah Johnson made a dangerous crash into the wall in an effort to catch a touchdown pass. He was down on the field for a minute, but was able to rise and walk off. At the same time, Chris Conte was ruled out of the game due to a knee injury.
The Steelers flipped the lead in their favor with a field goal in the first three minutes of the second quarter, bringing the score to 9-7.
The Bucs took a hit when Peyton Barber fumbled the ball after completing his pass. Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton recovered the ball. On their next play, Ben Roethlisberger completed the 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown. This time, the Steelers’ extra point attempt was good, bringing the score to 16-7.
In continuing physicality, Steelers’ Jon Bostic grabbed Shaun Wilson’s facemask on the return, resulting in a 15-yard penalty, Mike Hilton next got flagged for personal foul on Mike Evans after the completed pass which was another 15-yard penalty, and the Steelers were next hit for holding.
The Bucs lost their red zone opportunity when the Steelers deflected Fitzpatrick’s next pass, which led to an interception by Mike Hilton.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul hit with one of four roughing the passer penalties called by NFL officials during Monday Night Football at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
On the Steelers’ next scoring drive, Jason Pierre-Paul was flagged for roughing the passer, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.
On the Buccaneers’ next scoring drive, the Steelers got flagged for roughing the passer penalty.
Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds intercepted Fitzpatrick’s next pass, and Bucs’ McCoy and Curry got revenge by sacking Roethlisberger on the next play, while Jason Pierre-Paul sacked him on the third down.
Fitzpatrick then threw another interception recovered by Dupree, who ran it 10 yards for the Steelers’ next touchdown, making the score 23-7 with less than two minutes left in the first half.
While the Bucs managed a field goal, the Steelers widened the lead further by the end of the half with another touchdown on their next scoring drive, ending the half with a score of 30-10.
All in all, Fitzpatrick had a rough first half, with only 11 for 21 in pass completions, 1 for 4 in third down conversions, 1 for 3 in red zone efficiency, three interceptions and one sack. Roethlisberger, by contrast, was 21 for 25 in pass completions, threw three touchdown passes, was 1 for 3 in third down conversions, with one interception and two sacks.
SECOND HALF
The Buccaneers squeezed in another field goal in the third quarter, bringing the score to 30-13. In the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick put the Bucs back on the board with a four-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin, shrinking the Steelers lead to ten points, 30-20.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) punt return touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers was called back when safety Isaiah Johnson was called for a holding penalty. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
DeSean Jackson ran the punt return 90 yards for a touchdown, but a holding penalty completely nullified the effort.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Mike Evans (13 ) makes franchise history for the most touchdown passes received (35) Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
Mike Evans made the repeat effort worthwhile, completing the 24-yard touchdown pass on the third down, bringing the Bucs within a field goal of tying the game at 30-27 and making franchise history for the most touchdown passes received (35). Fitzpatrick, despite his rough game, also made franchise history for the most passing yards. Unfortunately, however, the Bucs couldn’t close the gap, and the Steelers ended up defeating them with the final 30-27 score.
The Buccaneers hit the road for two weeks to face the Chicago Bears then the Atlanta Falcons before returning home on October 21 to host the Cleveland Browns. The Pittsburgh Steelers return home for the next two weeks to host the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons.
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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) beat the Tennessee Titans (3-14) 41-7 at EverBank Stadium today. With today’s victory, Jacksonville won a 13th game for only the second time in franchise history. Head Coach Liam Coen also became the seventh first-year coach in NFL history to win at least 13 games.
The Titans were the first to score, as rookie QB Cam Ward ran 7 yards for a touchdown, followed by the extra point from K Joey Slye. Ward injured his right shoulder on that play and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and was replaced by QB Brandon Allen. The Jaguars responded on their next drive, with a 23 yard touchdown pass from QB Trevor Lawrence to WR Parker Washington, followed by the XP from K Cam Little, to tie the game at 7-7, which remained the score at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, WR Brian Thomas Jr. left the game after a defensive pass interference, and was evaluated for a concussion. Fortunately, Thomas cleared concussion protocol and returned later in the game. On the next play, Lawrence completed a 7 yard touchdown pass to TE Brenton Strange, with Little providing the XP. The Titans next drive ended as S Antonio Johnson intercepted a Brandon Allen pass intended for WR Elic Ayomanor, returning it 59 yards for a touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, extending the Jaguars lead to 21-7. Lawrence added another TD pass for 5 yards to TE Quinton Morris, followed by Little’s XP. Little also added a 67 yard field goal as the clock expired heading into halftime, to put the Jaguars ahead 31-7. With those three points, Cam Little also broke the franchise record for most points in a season, which had previously been held by K Mike Hollis with 134 points in 1997.
Late in the third quarter, Cam Little added another field goal, this one for 52 yards, extending the Jaguars lead to 34-7, the only points scored in the quarter.
Early in the 4th quarter, Trevor Lawrence reached more than 4,000 passing yards for the season with a 23 yard pass to Parker Washington. The Jaguars replaced Lawrence with QB Nick Mullens for the remainder of the game, to ensure Trevor would be healthy for the playoffs. Midway through the quarter, Travis Etienne Jr. also surpassed 1400 scrimmage yards for the third season in his career. RB Bhayshul Tuten later added a 5 yard touchdown run, and Little kicked the XP, to put the Jaguars ahead 41-7. After the two minute warning, the Titans attempted, but missed, a 52 yard field goal by Joey Slye. The Jags then ran down the clock to secure their victory.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 255 passing yards and 3 TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 32 yards. Parker Washington was the leading receiver with 87 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 66,015.
Trevor Lawrence breaks the franchise record for total touchdowns in a single season. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
Trevor Lawrence also set the Jaguars franchise record for the most single season touchdowns with 38, breaking the previous record of 37 set by Blake Bortles in 2015. Since the beginning of the Jaguars win streak in week 11, Lawrence has led the league with 24 total touchdowns. Lawrence also moved into second place in passing yards in franchise history, exceeding Blake Bortles’ mark of 17,646 yards. First place is held by Mark Brunell with 25,698 yards.
The Jaguars will advance to the AFC Playoffs, which begin next weekend. The schedule will be announced after the completion of week 18 games. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.comfor more.
