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Buccaneers look to complete turnaround

Dec 9, 2007 - 12:35 PM Tampa Bay (8-4) at Houston (5-7) 1:00 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- "Worst-to-first" has become a familiar theme in the NFC South Division. Since 2003, the team that finished last won the division title the following season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to become the fifth straight team in the division to go from worst to first when they visit the Houston Texans on Sunday.

At the midpoint of the season, the Buccaneers were floundering and dropped to 4-4 following a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 28.

Since then, however, Tampa Bay has seized control of the division with a four-game winning streak. It has opened a three-game lead over Carolina and New Orleans with four games remaining and only needs to beat the Texans to clinch the division.

The Buccaneers have overcome season-ending injuries to running backs Michael Pittman and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. Winning the division would complete an impressive turnaround for the Buccaneers, who finished just 4-12 last season.

Earnest Graham, who became the feature back with the injuries to Pittman and Williams, has fueled the surge by rushing for 737 yards and seven touchdowns.

In last week's dramatic 27-23 win over New Orleans, Graham ran for 106 yards, his third 100-yard game in four weeks.

Backup quarterback Luke McCown, replacing an injured Jeff Garcia, passed for 313 yards, including a 4-yard TD pass to Jerramy Stevens with 14 seconds remaining.

Garcia, who was sidelined with a bruised back, will be back in as the starter against the Texans if he is healthy.

"He's a needed guy on our football team," Gruden said of Garcia. "We need to win another game. We're in the fight of our lives to win every Sunday and this weekend is not different. If Garcia is cleared to play, he'll play."

Gruden rejected an ESPN report which said Garcia had a fracture in his back, insisting there was nothing structurally wrong with the 37-year-old. However, both McCown and Bruce Gradkowski will be prepared to start this weekend.

The Texans are coming off consecutive losses to Cleveland and Tennessee that likely has dropped them out of playoff contention.

Houston, which has been hit hard by injuries this season, may have lost starting quarterback Matt Schaub. He dislocated his left shoulder during a sack in last week's 28-20 loss to Tennessee and will be sidelined indefinitely

"Whether we're talking about the next four weeks or not, I don't think we're at that stage," Texans coach Kubiak said. "I think it's very hopeful that he does come back and play some more this year."

Sage Rosenfels relieved Schaub against the Titans and will start if Schaub is unable to play.