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Bryant's field goal lifts Buccaneers past Patriots

Aug 11, 2007 - 2:36 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Matt Bryant's 32-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 13-10 preseason victory over the New England Patriots.

New England quarterback Tom Brady played only the first two series, completing 5-for-7 for 34 yards and directing the Patriots to three first downs.

Newly acquired wide receiver Randy Moss and starting running back Laurence Maroney did not play. Moss has missed a few practices in camp while Maroney has been practicing with a red non-contact jersey.

The Patriots managed just 213 yards of total offense.

Three-time Pro Bowler Jeff Garcia was signed by the Bucs as a free agent in the offseason because of his familiarity with coach Jon Gruden's West Coast offense.

However, Garcia had a rather uneventful debut. He was 0-for-3 in two series for Tampa Bay as the Bucs went three-and-out on both possessions.

After Brady and Garcia were pulled, backup quarterbacks Luke McCown for Tampa Bay and Matt Cassel for New England accounted for 17-second quarter points.

Sammy Morris' 2-yard run early in the second gave New England a 7-0 lead before McCown led Tampa Bay on two scoring drives in the final six minutes of the half.

Matt Bryant hit a 36-yard field goal with 5:26 remaining, and McCown hit Parris Warren on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining. McCown finished 7-for-7 for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Helped by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Bucs started their winning drive from the Patriots' 43 with 5:58 left.

After second-year quarterback Bruce Gradkowski completed a nine-yard pass, rookie running back Kenneth Darby carried seven straight times for 31 yards to set up Bryant's winning kick.

Darby finished with 84 yards rushing on 15 carries. Running back Carnell Williams had one carry for four yards, while fullback Michael Pittman, who started for Mike Alstott, carried twice for 12 yards.

Alstott, who was placed on injured reserve Thursday and will miss the entire season, was introduced before the game after the Bucs' starting lineup took the field and received a standing ovation.

Bucs projected starting left tackle Luke Petitgout, who has missed most of camp with a bad back, did not play.