Final
Buccaneers-Cardinals Preview
Oct 28, 2010 - 11:07 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS WriterJosh Freeman is not highly rated in terms of completion percentage, yards or touchdown passes. But when the game is on the line, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has been one of the best in the NFL.
Freeman could lead the surprising Buccaneers into a share of the NFC South lead Sunday when they visit an Arizona Cardinals team still unsure who will start under center.
The third quarterback taken in the 2009 draft behind Matthew Stafford (Detroit) and Mark Sanchez (New York Jets), Freeman has completed just 58.8 percent of his passes for 1,255 yards and seven TDs. He ranks 19th or worse among NFL starters in those categories.
The former Kansas State standout, though, is the league's second-highest rated quarterback (117.1) when the game is within seven points in the fourth quarter, and he is tied for second in the NFL with four fourth-quarter TD passes.
That's a big reason the Bucs (4-2), coming off a 3-13 season, can tie for the division lead with a victory this week while first-place Atlanta is on a bye.
Freeman found Cadillac Williams for a 1-yard score with 10 seconds left last Sunday as Tampa Bay rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat St. Louis 18-17.
"There's no other person I want out there when I'm coming from behind," coach Raheem Morris said of Freeman, who has led three fourth-quarter rallies in Tampa Bay's four wins. "... I have so much confidence in the young man."
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt feels the same about undrafted rookie Max Hall, but it is uncertain if the former BYU star will play this week after leaving last Sunday's 22-10 loss at Seattle with a concussion suffered on a blindside sack.
Hall practiced Wednesday and said he's "good to roll" for Sunday.
"We can't make too much of what happened," Whisenhunt said, referring to Hall completing just 4 of 16 passes for 36 yards and an interception.
"He's a rookie quarterback. We can't lose sight of that. You know that you're going to have some things that you have to go through the first time. This is his first start on the road in a tough environment and it didn't go very well. But what I've seen of Max he'll bounce back and he'll improve."
If he can't go, Derek Anderson will lead the league's worst offense (237.8 yards per game) in his first start since Week 4 at San Diego.
Whoever takes the snaps needs to improve as the Cardinals (3-3) have a league-low three TD passes and none since Sept. 26 versus Oakland. Arizona has been held to two offensive touchdowns in the last three weeks, with one coming on a 2-yard fumble return by offensive tackle Levi Brown in a 30-20 home win over New Orleans on Oct. 10.
Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is on pace to have his worst season since 2006 due greatly to Arizona's inconsistent quarterback play, but he could find more opportunities Sunday with No. 2 receiver Steve Breaston expected to return after missing four games with a knee injury.
Tampa Bay continues to get solid play from rookie wide receiver Mike Williams, who has a team-high three TDs and leads all first-year players with 60.8 yards per game.
Facing the Cardinals' second-worst run defense (157.7 yards per game), the Buccaneers could get a lift this week from undrafted rookie LeGarrette Blount, who ran 66 of his career-best 72 yards in the second half last Sunday. Morris would like to see Blount improve on pass protection, but the team sees him as a solid complement to Williams, who is averaging a career-worst 2.5 yards per carry.
"He's got tremendous strength and power, so we're excited," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said of Blount. "We think he'll get better as we go along."
Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells should continue getting most of the carries for Arizona. The tandem combined for 113 yards last week after averaging 42.0 in the previous two games.
Tampa Bay, which has won four straight on the road dating to last season, will try to win its first three games away from home for the first time since 2003. Arizona tries to open 3-0 at University of Phoenix Stadium for the second time in three years.
These franchises have split 16 all-time meetings, though the Bucs have lost their only two visits to Arizona since 1992.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 7 17 7 7 38
ARIZONA 7 7 14 7 35 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: ARI - TD, LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS
FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY
KICK), 8:35. ARIZONA 7-0
TAM - TD, GENO HAYES 41 YD INTERCEPTION
RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK),
10:45. TAMPABAY 7-7
2
Oct 31 7:47 PM - NFL
TAMPA BAY 38
ARIZONA 35 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 31 7:47 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 1 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 38, Cardinals 35 4th - 5:13Oct 31 7:22 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 1 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 38, Cardinals 35 4th - 5:13Oct 31 7:22 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 1 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 38, Cardinals 35 4th - 5:13Oct 31 7:22 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 1 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 38, Cardinals 35 4th - 5:13Oct 31 7:22 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 5 YD PASS FROM DEREK ANDERSON (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 35 4th - 9:41Oct 31 7:12 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 5 YD PASS FROM DEREK ANDERSON (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 35 4th - 9:41Oct 31 7:12 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 5 YD PASS FROM DEREK ANDERSON (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 35 4th - 9:41Oct 31 7:12 PM- NFL
TAMPA BAY 31
ARIZONA 28 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 31 6:56 PM
TD ARI GERALD HAYES 21 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 28 3rd - 0:33Oct 31 6:53 PM
TD ARI GERALD HAYES 21 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 28 3rd - 0:33Oct 31 6:53 PM
TD ARI GERALD HAYES 21 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 28 3rd - 0:33Oct 31 6:53 PM
TD ARI GERALD HAYES 21 YD FUMBLE RETURN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 28 3rd - 0:33Oct 31 6:53 PM
TD ARI LAROD STEPHENS-HOWLING 30 YD RUN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 21 3rd - 0:56Oct 31 6:44 PM
TD ARI LAROD STEPHENS-HOWLING 30 YD RUN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 21 3rd - 0:56Oct 31 6:44 PM
TD ARI LAROD STEPHENS-HOWLING 30 YD RUN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 21 3rd - 0:56Oct 31 6:44 PM
TD ARI LAROD STEPHENS-HOWLING 30 YD RUN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 21 3rd - 0:56Oct 31 6:44 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 15 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:35Oct 31 6:33 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 15 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:35Oct 31 6:33 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 15 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:35Oct 31 6:33 PM
TD TAM LEGARRETTE BLOUNT 15 YD RUN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 31, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:35Oct 31 6:33 PM- NFL
TAMPA BAY 24
ARIZONA 14 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 31 5:56 PM - NFL
FG TAM
CONNOR BARTH 21 YD
TAMPA BAY 24
ARIZONA 14 0:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Buccaneers 24, Cardinals 14 2nd - 0:05Oct 31 5:55 PM
TD TAM AQIB TALIB 45 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 21, Cardinals 14 2nd - 6:33Oct 31 5:28 PM
TD TAM AQIB TALIB 45 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 21, Cardinals 14 2nd - 6:33Oct 31 5:28 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 15, Cardinals 14 2nd - 6:33Oct 31 5:28 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 15, Cardinals 14 2nd - 6:33Oct 31 5:28 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 15, Cardinals 14 2nd - 6:33Oct 31 5:28 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 14, Cardinals 14 2nd - 8:59Oct 31 5:19 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 14, Cardinals 14 2nd - 8:59Oct 31 5:19 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 14, Cardinals 14 2nd - 8:59Oct 31 5:19 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 14, Cardinals 14 2nd - 8:59Oct 31 5:19 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 14, Cardinals 14 2nd - 8:59Oct 31 5:19 PM
TD TAM MIKE WILLIAMS 47 YD PASS FROM JOSH FREEMAN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 14, Cardinals 14 2nd - 8:59Oct 31 5:19 PM- NFL
TAMPA BAY 7
ARIZONA 7 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 31 5:00 PM
TD TAM GENO HAYES 41 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 7, Cardinals 7 1st - 4:15Oct 31 4:49 PM
TD TAM GENO HAYES 41 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 7, Cardinals 7 1st - 4:15Oct 31 4:49 PM
TD TAM GENO HAYES 41 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 7, Cardinals 7 1st - 4:15Oct 31 4:48 PM
TD TAM GENO HAYES 41 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (CONNOR BARTH KICK)
Buccaneers 7, Cardinals 7 1st - 4:15Oct 31 4:48 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 0, Cardinals 7 1st - 6:25Oct 31 4:38 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 0, Cardinals 7 1st - 6:25Oct 31 4:38 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 0, Cardinals 7 1st - 6:25Oct 31 4:38 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 0, Cardinals 7 1st - 6:25Oct 31 4:38 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 0, Cardinals 7 1st - 6:25Oct 31 4:38 PM
TD ARI LARRY FITZGERALD 3 YD PASS FROM MAX HALL (JAY FEELY KICK)
Buccaneers 0, Cardinals 7 1st - 6:25Oct 31 4:38 PM
Related News
- Lions Defeat Buccaneers, Advance to NFC Championship Game Jan 21
- Baker Mayfield Corrects Trash Talk from Lions Jan 18
- Baker Mayfield Moves on with Bucs as Browns Were Ousted Jan 16
- Baker Mayfield and Bucs Clinch NFC South Jan 7
- Ravens-49ers: How to watch, start time, TV channel, live stream and more Dec 25
- Eagles vs Giants: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming and more Dec 25
- Chiefs vs Raiders: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming and more Dec 25
- Highlighting the Cardinals’ positives on Christmas Day Dec 25
- Buccaneers Week 16 Top Performers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Dec 25
- Yarcho’s Pick Six: Buccaneers Fill Jaguars’ Stockings With Coal Dec 25
- Arizona Cardinals open as underdogs against Philadelphia Eagles Dec 25
- Arizona Cardinals comeback bid falls short in loss to Chicago Bears Dec 24