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Raiders KO Buccaneers' hopes

Dec 29, 2008 - 2:25 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Michael Bush rushed for a career-high 177 yards and two touchdowns as the Oakland Raiders upset Tampa Bay, 31-24, on Sunday, eliminating the Buccaneers from playoff contention.

The Bucs (9-7) ended the season with four consecutive losses to miss the playoffs in the final game for defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who will join his son - former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin - at the University of Tennessee next season.

It was the third time in their last four games the Bucs allowed at least 31 points.

"We lost to some pretty good teams," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "We gave up 900 yards rushing in the last four games. No matter who writes the story, that's not a recipe to winning football games.

"I'm sick for our players and fans. All I can do to sum it up that way: We did not play our best football in the month of December."

Trailing 24-21, Bush's 67-yard touchdown gave the Raiders (5-11) the lead for good. The run came one play after Bucs coach Jon Gruden decided not to attempt a 50-yard field goal and failed on fourth-and-4 from the 33.

"It has been a long year for me, so the offensive line did a good job," Bush said. "We wanted to come out of this with a win."

Sebastian Janikowski's 25-yard field goal spotted the Raiders a 31-24 lead with 1:09 remaining, giving Tampa Bay a final chance to tie. The Bucs drove from their 20 to Oakland's 45 before Jeff Garcia was sacked on the game's final play.

Tampa Bay's Cadillac Williams rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns before leaving with 9:17 remaining in the fourth quarter after injuring his left knee on a 28-yard run.

"We fear it's serious," Gruden said. "That's the most sickening feeling I've ever had as a coach."

JaMarcus Russell was 14-of-21 for 148 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He had a 3-yard touchdown to Chaz Schilens and a 12-yard touchdown to Johnnie Lee Higgins.

"We knew that when you go out there you have to leave everything on the field in our last one," Russell said. "In the course of the last few weeks, we needed to do it right, and as the game progressed, I think the guys did. We pulled together. We kept fighting."

Garcia was 17-of-33 for 257 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown to Michael Clayton.

"I can't even explain the disappointment of how we played the last month," said Garcia, who is a free agent and may have played his final game with the Bucs. "If this is my last game, I want to thank my teammates and fans for the support they've given me. It's been awesome."

Tampa Bay's Antonio Bryant had three catches for 77 yards, ending his streak of three consecutive 100-yard receiving games.

Bush's 4-yard run in the second quarter gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead. Oakland led, 14-7, at the half.

"Exciting, down to the wire," Higgins said. "We just kept going back and forth, back and forth. We both wanted it. They wanted to go to the playoffs and we wanted to end our season on track with a good ending."

The Bucs took a 24-14 lead after Williams' 8-yard run with 11:27 remaining, but the Raiders closed the game with 17 consecutive points.

"That was our best effort from top to bottom," Raiders coach Tom Cable said. "We went after the game the whole way. Our goal was to match the intensity of a team trying to make the playoffs in the first 10 minutes. We were able to do that."

Cable said he wants to remain coach of the Raiders next season.

"It's (today's win) the best I can do," Cable said. "I want to be the head coach of the Raiders, but it's not in my hands. I know I put this team together and got it going in the right direction and today proved that."