Bidwell, Bryant Make It Look Easy The Tampa Tribune, published 19 September 2005 Downing the ball at the 1-yard line looks harder than it seems, Bucs P Josh Bidwell says. Bidwell, with the help of CB Juran Bolden, made it appear easy Sunday. With 10:33 remaining in the second quarter in a scoreless game, Bidwell kicked a 37-yard punt high in the air, giving Bolden enough time to get downfield and catch the ball at the 1. That play helped set up a safety, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run by FB Mike Alstott, which gave the Bucs a 9-0 lead late in the second quarter. "To get it on the 1, that's getting greedy, but it sure turned the game around, I thought," said Bidwell, who averaged 46.2 yards on six punts. "It worked out well. It was great Juran got it because if that ball goes into the end zone, we're not even talking about that punt." Tampa Bay also got help from its kicking game. PK Matt Bryant cushioned the Bucs' lead in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal -- his second 40-plus-yarder of the season. The fourth-year veteran nailed a 41-yard field goal in the 24-13 victory against Minnesota. "Of course you want to kick 20 extra points a game, but if it comes down to it, you just have to step up and do your job," Bryant said. "It feels good to build up your confidence and to know that the majority of my kicks have been over 40, I take that momentum and confidence into the next game." Homecoming For the first time in the Jon Gruden era, the Bucs won their home opener. Since winning the Super Bowl in 2003, the Bucs have been 7-9 at Raymond James Stadium. "It was important for us to come out and get a win in front of our home fans," DT Anthony McFarland said. "We disappointed them and ourselves so much over the last couple of years at home. It was just big to get a win at home to give them something to get started. Home field is no advantage if you don't give them something to cheer for." The closer A week after dropping two passes, Alstott got his hands on the ball more Sunday. Alstott carried the ball six times for 19 yards and one touchdown, his 50th career rushing touchdown. He also caught two passes for 9 yards. Alstott carried the ball five consecutive times midway through the fourth quarter to help Tampa Bay eat up some time. "When you're running the ball effectively and you have a balanced attack and the team's leading the game, everybody's going to get involved and do their part," Alstott said. Not funny - Pewter Report screw up (again) Gruden took issue with a comment made by a reporter from the Pewter Report. When Gruden walked into the postgame news conference dressed in a suit, Leo Haggerty of the Pewter Report asked if he had "a court date." "I have some thick skin, but that was a low blow," Gruden responded. Gruden dealt with several off-the-field issues last week, including two DUI arrests -- one by CB Torrie Cox, who was benched Sunday, and another by his brother Jay Gruden, a Bucs assistant coach. Jay Gruden attended Sunday's game and performed his normal duties from the coaches' booth. The Pewter Report posted a statement on its Web site Sunday night apologizing for the comment and saying that Haggerty had been fired.