Rice Bounces Back In A Big Way The Tampa Tribune, published 14 November 2005 Simeon Rice predicted a three-sack performance against Washington. He fell one short. The two-time Pro Bowler collected two sacks, forced two fumbles and collected an interception. After going two games without recording a statistic -- one because he was deactivated for missing a team meeting -- Rice seemed to be making up for lost time. "A little adversity," Rice said of his lack of production in recent games. "That's life. It's a beautiful thing. I'm still on deck, I'm still on deck." Rice picked up his first sack near the end of the first quarter, forcing Washington QB Mark Brunell to fumble, which the Redskins recovered. Rice got his second sack midway through the second quarter, forcing a fumble that DE Dewayne White recovered to set up a touchdown. With the Redskins driving at the beginning of the second quarter, Rice picked off Brunell on second-and-15 from the Bucs' 30. "It's a good thing," Rice said. "I'm looking forward. We exorcised the early demons." Upon further review The Bucs had just gone ahead 14-3 when Washington's Ladell Betts sucked the life out of the Raymond James Stadium crowd. Betts raced down the left sideline 94 yards on a kickoff return for a touchdown. Replays on the video scoreboard showed Betts apparently stepping out of bounds along the way. The Bucs challenged the play and even the Redskins thought it would be overturned because their offense was on the field around the 40-yard line, where it appeared Betts stepped out. But officials upheld the ruling on the field that it was a touchdown. "We did not have, as they say obviously, indisputable evidence," referee Bill Vinovich said. "[Betts'] heel appeared to be up on every angle, on every shot they had. The heel never came down on the line. We had no shot showing the foot touching the line at all." Turnovers came early Starting fast has been a major sticking point for the Bucs all season. The defense certainly did when it opened the game with a three-and-out. On the following defensive series, CB Juran Bolden intercepted Brunell's pass intended for WR David Patten. It was Tampa Bay's first defensive turnover in two games and set up the Bucs' first touchdown and a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Tampa Bay's defense forced turnovers on the Redskins' first two possessions of the second quarter. "We talk about turnovers all year and that's what got us today; turning it over," Brunell said. "Two picks, a couple of fumbles, you aren't going to win football games like that against a good football team." Clayton sidelined Michael Clayton's consecutive-game streak ended Sunday at 24 when he was listed as inactive with a knee injury. Clayton did not practice all week after bruising his right knee in the Bucs' 34-14 loss to Carolina. Ike Hilliard started in Clayton's place and finished with three receptions for 37 yards. Edell Shepherd also got more playing time and scored the game's final touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Simms. Shepherd, who finished with three catches for 87 yards, also converted a critical third down late in the third quarter with a 46-yard reception. Hilliard scored on a 4-yard pass from Simms two plays later to tie the game at 28. It was Hilliard's first touchdown catch as a Buccaneer and the first time Simms has thrown TDs on back-to-back series in his three-year career. Other injuries S Will Allen suffered a left knee injury in the third quarter. He was replaced by S Kalvin Pearson. DE Greg Spires injured his left shoulder early in the fourth quarter and was replaced by White.