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Buccaneers riding high as they await Redskins

Nov 25, 2007 - 11:30 AM Washington (4-6) at Tampa Bay (6-4) 1:00 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - A modest winning streak has made a considerable impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' postseason hopes.

Seeking their third win in a row, the Buccaneers host the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Tampa Bay throttled the Atlanta Falcons, 31-7, last weekend, and in the process seized control of the NFC South after its three division rivals all lost.

Not only do the Buccaneers have a two-game lead in the division, their second straight win has put them in a tie for the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

"I don't think anybody expected us to be leading our division 10 weeks into it," Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said. "I'm sure there are enough people out there that don't expect us to hang on to it."

Such a scenario seemed improbable after Tampa Bay had dropped consecutive games to Detroit and Jacksonville to fall to 4-4.

The Bucs also had absorbed a slew of key injuries, watching 10 players wind up on injured reserve, including star tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.

Tampa Bay has managed to keep it together behind veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia and running back Earnest Graham, who has churned out back-to-back 100-yard efforts in the past two games.

Garcia, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a season-ending five-game winning streak in 2006, has not put up spectacular numbers but has the offense working efficiently.

The 37-year-old veteran has 11 touchdowns and three interceptions - all three picks came in one game - on the season. He threw a pair of scoring passes in the win over Atlanta and mainly was content to hand the ball off to Graham and Michael Pittman, who returned to the lineup after missing four games due to injury.

The Redskins are heading in the other direction, with two straight losses and three in their last four games after last weekend's 28-23 defeat in Dallas.

Washington allowed wide receiver Terrell Owens to scored four touchdowns, often running uncontested in its secondary.

Still, the Redskins were in position for the go-ahead score until quarterback Jason Campbell threw a killer interception inside the Cowboys' 20-yard line with under two minutes to play.

Campbell finished 33-of-54 for for a career-high 348 yard, a pair of TDs and the interception. And he finally got a productive day from wideout Santana Moss, who had his first 100-yard effort of the season despite playing with an injured heel.

Coach Joe Gibbs has struggled to find any offensive balance. Prior to the Redskins' loss to Dallas, running back Clinton Portis had a pair of 30-plus carry games and gained 196 and 137 yards, respectively, but he was held to 36 yards on 12 carries against the Cowboys.