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The Tampa Tribune, published 25 November 2002
POISON IVY
In a game filled with great plays, CB Corey Ivy's third-quarter play might get overlooked. But there can be an argument it was a turning point in the game. With the Bucs down 7-3 at the beginning of the third quarter, P Tom Tupa punted the ball 33 yards as Ivy tore down the field to catch it. Ivy caught the ball, pinning the Packers on the 6-yard line. After Green Bay went three- and-out, Tampa Bay got the ball back with good field position, leading to Martin Gramatica's 51-yard field goal. ``We practice that every Wednesday and Thursday and just transfer what we do on the practice field to the game field,'' Ivy said. ``Whenever the play comes to you, you just try to make it. It gave our defense good field position and they held them and that gave our offense field position. I guess you can call it the turning point in the game.''
INJURIES
Brad Johnson suffered a scratch to his right eye during the opening drive. He left the game and was replaced by backup Rob Johnson. He returned for the Bucs' second series of the second quarter. Fans cheering for third QB Shaun King were disappointed when he didn't enter the game, but as the emergency quarterback, if King had entered, Brad Johnson wouldn't have been able to return. After Rob Johnson finished his brief stint 3 of 5 for 33 yards, two sacks and one interception, Bucs coach Jon Gruden said he will continue to evaluate the backup position and determine if a change needs to be made. ``Rob Johnson was thrust into a very difficult situation today,'' Gruden said.
Starting MLB Shelton Quarles left in the third quarter with cramps and was replaced by Nate Webster. Quarles later returned. FB Jameel Cook sprained his left ankle midway through the fourth quarter. He limped off the field and did not return. RB Aaron Stecker strained his right hamstring and DL Ellis Wyms sprained his right ankle. WR Keyshawn Johnson, who suffered a rib contusion last week against Carolina, got an injection for the pain prior to the game. Keyshawn made a critical play at the end of the second quarter, hooking up with Brad Johnson for a 39-yard reception, which set up Gramatica's 38- yard field goal. It was Keyshawn's longest reception of the season.
Packers NT Gilbert Brown was injured early in the third quarter during a carry by Bucs RB Michael Pittman. He was helped off the field with a left ankle sprain and did not return. Green Bay starting LT Chad Clifton was carted off the field after injuring his right hip during Bucs CB Brian Kelly's third-quarter interception. Clifton was hit by DT Warren Sapp and taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.
For the third consecutive year, Head Coach Jon Gruden took his team into the season’s 11th game with an 8-2 record. After today’s win, Gruden is now 2-1 as a coach in that situation.
Martin Gramatica made two of two field goals on the day, including a 51-yarder in the third quarter. Gramatica is now an outstanding four of five in attempts from 50 yards or farther in 2002.
This game marked the 100th start of DE Simeon Rice’s NFL career (in 106 games).
With five straight wins over Green Bay in Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs are now 12-11-1 all-time against the Packers in Tampa.
Brett Favre’s four-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver in the first quarter was his 20th of the season, giving him nine consecutive years with at least 20 scoring tosses. He is only the second passer in NFL history to have nine consecutive seasons with 20 or more touchdown passes, joining Miami’s Dan Marino, who did it for a solid decade.
TE Rickey Dudley made his second consecutive start when the Bucs opened in a two-TE, one-back set. The same was true last Sunday against Carolina.
DT Chartric Darby’s second-quarter sack of Favre extended the Bucs’ streak of consecutive games with at least one sack to 55, the longest ongoing run in the NFL. In the third quarter, CB Brian Kelly’s interception continued another streak, as Tampa Bay’s string of consecutive games with at least one interception reached 15 games, tying a franchise record.
The Bucs tried a rare bit of special teams trickery in the second quarter. Punt returner Karl Williams fielded a punt, ran a few yards to his right then stopped and threw backwards and to the left to S Dexter Jackson. Unfortunately, the trick play failed, as Williams originally caught the kick at the 31 but Jackson was tackled at the 25.
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