Bucs' Dandy Day Still Had Some Serious Undertones Mick Elliott, The Tampa Tribune, published 25 October 2004 The best 1-5 team in professional football won its second game of the season Sunday, meaning the Buccaneers now have even one less thing to distinguish themselves from garden- variety ordinary. In the immediate minutes following a 19-7 victory against the Chicago Bears, the Bucs took great satisfaction in a feel-good victory that they needed worse than Ben needs Jerry. And in the abbreviated world of postgame highlight clips, they got it by looking better than free cable. Michael Pittman ran for 109 yards. Brian Griese, making his first start at Raymond James Stadium, was workmanlike on the way to completing 15 of 23 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown. Rookie Michael Clayton caught six passes for 62 yards, including a 6- yard score. The offense put together back-to-back 93-yard first-half scoring drives. Meanwhile, when things began getting a little tense down the stretch, ol' reliable, Ronde Barber, intercepted a pass at the Chicago 34 and returned it 23 yards to set up the game's final score, a 3-yard TD run by Pittman. ``I think we played well in just about every aspect,`` Barber said. ``The special teams have been outstanding. The offense moved the ball, and controlled the clock. And the defense did what we always do.`` So why should such a dandy day leave behind pretty much the same feeling of superiority as being named the world's tallest midget? Because it's scary to realize it now takes every bit of Tampa Bay's best game of the year just to beat the Bears. Da Bears may not be da worst team in the NFL, but from where they sit it's a local call. Quarterback Jonathan Quinn, who replaced the injured Rex Grossman and last week had a rating of 33.5, only made it to halftime before being replaced by rookie Craig Krenzel. Chicago managed 76 yards rushing and 91 passing. The Bears had a 77-yard touchdown called back on the game's first play because of offensive pass interference. The Bears gave Tampa Bay a first down with a third-down personal foul when they had the Bucs backed up at their 7. Glory be, the Bucs finally found a team with a greater penchant for self-inflicted wounds than themselves. But just barely. At this point, obviously, it's only important to win no matter how it looks. The NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons were blitzed Sunday by Kansas City, leaving the Bucs trailing by three games with two contests remaining against all of their division rivals except New Orleans, who they have already beaten. Next week's open date will bring needed time for injuries to heal. After that, they are home again for Kansas City. `I see the light,`` Jon Gruden said. ``I'm going to be criticized for being too optimistic but this football team is in position to win a lot of games this year. And they are going to stay in position to win if we keep working the way we are working.`` Except the Bucs remain plagued by mistakes that were not costly Sunday simply because the Bears, are, well, the Bears. The Bucs set up Chicago's only touchdown when Pittman fumbled at his 31. The Bucs twice took possession inside their own 10 when, first, 50-year veteran Tim Brown let a punt bounce to a stop at the 7, and second, when Brown did decide to make a fair catch at the 7. The fact both possessions ended with scores is nothing but good. Still, the first drive produced a 22- yard field goal despite the Bucs having second-and-1 at the Chicago 2. There was also the standard collection of untimely penalties. ``It's a lot of negatives and positives, but the big thing is we won,`` tackle Kenyatta Walker said. ``You can always say this and say that, but a `W' this year has been hard to come by and I appreciate every one we can get.`` It's easy to agree, but this is a season that will not even allow wins to be celebrated. Talk about a buzz-kill. The Bucs win the game but most likely lose Mike Alstott, who was taken off the field with a knee injury. ``It was a blitz,`` Walker said. ``I know they blitzed my side pretty heavily on the run and he tried to cut it back and ran into the blitz. It's tough.`` It's what this season has become.