Wounded Lions post game effort Curt Sylvester, The Detroit Free Press , published 16 December 2002 They didn't mail it in. They didn't lose their composure. Defying all logic, the Lions stood there and went toe-to-toe with one of the NFL's best -- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not with Joey Harrington and James Stewart and Stockar McDougle; with Mike McMahon and Rafael Cooper, Aveion Cason and Eric Beverly, who had never played left guard in his life. But it was a game they had no right winning. And they didn't. Martin Gramatica kicked a 38-yard field goal with 3:04 to play, moving the Bucs a step closer to the NFC South title and homefield advantage in the playoffs with a 23-20 victory over the Lions at Ford Field. The win lifted the Bucs to 11-3; the Lions' sixth consecutive loss dropped them to 3-11 this season and 5-25 in two years under president Matt Millen and coach Marty Mornhinweg. Although there was no consolation to be taken, the Lions couldn't be faulted for their effort in a game most thought they had no chance of winning. Stewart, their leading rusher, and McDougle, their starting right tackle, didn't dress. They were inactive because of injuries. Harrington, the prize rookie quarterback, played the first series and shortly thereafter was taken to Henry Ford Hospital with an irregular heartbeat. That left the offense in the hands of: McMahon, the second-year quarterback who hadn't taken a snap -- except for a couple of gimmick plays -- since the second game of the season. Cooper, a refugee from the NFL Europe and the practice squad, who had two carries all season. Cason, a speedy but not always sure-handed or healthy backup, who was averaging 1.8 yards on 14 carries this season. And Beverly, the former center who was forced to play left guard -- much of the afternoon across from Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp -- because Matt Joyce had to play right tackle because McDougle was out with a toe injury. All things considered, the Lions probably did better than anyone had a right to expect -- rallying from a 10-0 deficit to tie the game on McMahon's 18-yard touchdown pass to Bill Schroeder and Jason Hanson's 37-yard field goal, to tie it again on Hanson's 25-yard field goal, and to tie it a third time on McMahon's two-yard touchdown run, set up by rookie Eddie Drummond's 91-yard kickoff return. But the NFL doesn't pay off for valiant efforts or nice tries. "There's no consolation in losing a football game, period," Mornhinweg said. "We had our chances, we had multiple chances to come up with a play to win that football game in all three aspects -- offense, defense as well as special teams. Now the fellows in there (the locker room) -- the players -- are devastated, much like the coaches. And we should be, because the effort was so high. We did just about everything we planned on doing in that football game." But the Bucs are still the Bucs. And when they needed a play they got it. They took the lead early on Gramatica's 20-yard field goal and fullback Mike Alstott's one-yard run; they regained the lead, 13-10, on Gramatica's 28-yard field goal; regained it again on running back Michael Pittman's four-yard touchdown run shortly after linebacker Shelton Quarles' interception early in the fourth quarter; and finally won it on Gramatica's third field goal. The Lions had one final chance when they drove from their 33 to the Bucs' 39. On third down, however, a miscommunication between McMahon and wide receiver Germane Crowell cost them a chance at a first down. And Mornhinweg decided to take his chances on Hanson's leg and a 57-yard field goal attempt rather than try to convert on fourth-and-six. Hanson's kick was short, and the Bucs ran out the clock. "We did not play our best game," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "Hand it to the Lions -- they played extremely hard and made some big plays. We know McMahon from playing him in the past. This is a real mobile guy who can generate some offense with his legs. Obviously the bootleg that they emphasized today we didn't expect, but I tip my hat to Mike. He played really well." McMahon completed 10 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown with one interception; Cason had 10 carries for 62 yards and Cooper (Detroit Chadsey) had eight carries for 50; and the patchwork offensive line couldn't have done too badly because Sapp was credited with just two tackles and the Bucs had only one sack. Harrington remained at Ford Hospital under observation, although team physical Dr. Keith Burch indicated his heartbeat had stabilized. Harrington's status for the remaining games -- at Atlanta and at home against Minnesota -- is uncertain.