START: Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris quickly put his stamp on the game, stopping running back Michael Pittman for a 2-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage. The rookie from Oklahoma wasn't quite through though. On the very next play, he sacked quarterback Brian Griese for an 8-yard loss. Two plays later, the Bucs punted. Unfortunately for the Bears, Harris shows up in "The Worst" column as well for postplay antics later in the quarter.
GAME PLAN: The Bears started the game ranked 29th against the run. The Bucs' offensive strategy was to exploit that, and Pittman took full advantage right off the bat. He accumulated 76 total yards in the first quarter, including runs of 10 and 12 yards, as well as a 9- and a 46-yard reception. Pittman finished with 164 total yards and a touchdown.
TURNAWAY: Fullback Mike Alstott's fumble was bad enough, seeing as though he was injured on the play. But it also shifted momentum to the Bears, who were trailing 13-7 and had to go only 39 yards for the potential go-ahead score with 2:45 left in the third quarter. But the Bucs defense turned them away, forcing a three-and-out that included a sack by linebacker Shelton Quarles.
THE WORST
DECISION: With 3:10 left in the first, the Bears had the Bucs inside their 10-yard line. It looked like a drive headed nowhere. But Harris couldn't resist pushing Griese to the ground after an offsides call stopped a play. He was tagged with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, which gave the Bucs a first down. Griese proceeded to mount a 10-play, 93-yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard field goal from Martin Gramatica.
TRANSFER: Pittman's lone hiccup came with 7:12 left in the third quarter when he ran around left end, carrying the ball with his left hand and away from his body. When he turned to hit the hole, he transferred the ball to his right hand, a dangerous strategy. Moments later, it came back to haunt him as linebacker Brian Urlacher forced a fumble that safety Todd Johnson recovered.
BY THE NUMBERS
11: Yards short on Ronde Barber's interception return of the cornerback scoring his third TD of the season.
77: Yards -- not to mention a TD -- lost on Thomas Jones' first play from scrimmage due to an offensive pass interference penalty. He finished with 65 total yards.
