Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 Minnesota Vikings 13
Sunday 11 September 2005 at the Metrodome
FOX COMMENTARY CREW Curt Menafee and JC Pearson
Two of the Bucs’ top draft picks had an immediate impact in
their first games as Cadillac Williams rushed for 148 yards
including a clinching 71-yard score inside the final two minutes
and TE Alex Smith caught a pair of touchdown passes from
Brian Griese. The defense did its part with two sacks and
three interceptions of Daunte Culpepper as Jon Gruden’s team
quickly shook off the memories of their 5-11 season in 2004.
GAME SCORING
MIN
2:44-1Q
Sharper 88 interception return (Edinger kick)
TB
14:55-2Q
Smith 23 pass from Griese (Bryant kick)
TB
4:38-2Q
Smith 2 pass from Griese (Bryant kick)
TB
0:17-2Q
Bryant FG40
MIN
3:52-3Q
Edinger FG53
MIN
6:13-4Q
Edinger FG22
TB
1:23-4Q
Williams 71 run (Bryant kick)
GAME REPORTS
How Roy Cummings saw the game
Martin Fennelly's award-winning column
Rick Stroud's morning-after review
The offensive line comes through young and proud
The Cadillac purrs into action on his debut
John Romano's hilarious "Gimme Five" column
Alex Smith becomes the second rookie to shine
Game notes and anecdotes from the Metrodome
How the Minnesota press reported the events
The game report
The gamebook and the play-by-play of the game
STARTERS
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
LT
69 Davis
DE
94 Spires
LG
72 Buenning
DT
95 Hovan
C
76 Wade
DT
92 McFarland
RG
79 Mahan
DE
97 Rice
RT
67 Walker
LLB
56 Nece
TE
88 Becht
MLB
53 Quarles
TE
81 Smith
RLB
55 Brooks
WR
84 Galloway
LCB
25 Kelly
RB
32 Pittman
RCB
20 Barber
RB
24 Williams
SS
23 Phillips
QB
8 Griese
FS
34 Jackson
PLAYED
3 Bryant, 9 Bidwell, 19 Hilliard, 21 Bolden, 26 Allen, 27 Cox, 33
Graham, 40 Alstott, 43 Cook, 46 Adams, 51 Ruud, 58 Cooper, 64
Bryant, 75 Steussie, 77 Terry, 80 Clayton, 83 Moore, 86 Shepherd,
89 Jones, 90 White, 96 Wyms
DID NOT PLAY
2 Simms, 85 Lawrie
INACTIVES
12 McCown, 28 Nicholson, 44 Razzano, 61 Colmer, 78 Stinchcomb,
82 Warren, 87 Russell, 91 Bradley
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
BUCS: Williams 27-148, Galloway 1-0, Alstott 1-0, Griese 2-(-2).
VIKINGS: Williams 6-15, Culpepper 3-19, Bennett 6-(-1).
PASSING
BUCS: Griese 29-18-213-2-2.
VIKINGS: Culpepper 33-22-233-3-0.
RECEIVING
BUCS: Galloway 5-97, Clayton 4-57, Smith 4-34, Cook 2-7, Alstott 1-7,
Becht 1-7, Hilliard 1-4.
VIKINGS: Kleinsasser 4-42, Wiggins 4-33, Burleson 3-45, Taylor 3-38,
Robinson 3-22, Bennett 3-21, Williams 2-32.
INTERCEPTIONS
BUCS: Kelly 2-16, Brooks 1-0.
VIKINGS: Sharper 1-88, Smoot 1-0.
KICK RETURNS
BUCS: Cox 4-83.
VIKINGS: Moore 3-66, Williamson 2-23.
PUNT RETURNS
BUCS: Jones 3-27.
VIKINGS: Howry 5-54.
SACKS
BUCS: McFarland 1-8, Team 1-7, Rice 1-3.
VIKINGS: Johnston 1-7, Williams 1-7.
