A final bit of glory for No. 40?

If this is his last season, Mike Alstott had another game to remember with his 22-carry performance Sunday.

By RICK STROUD
Published December 26, 2006

TAMPA - It was vintage Mike Alstott, lowering his head and raising the level of the Bucs' ground game.

Alstott had 22 carries for 56 yards in the Bucs' 22-7 win at Cleveland on Sunday, his most attempts since the Super Bowl season of 2002.

At one point, the A-Train carried on four straight plays. Though Alstott's rushing average was nothing to shout about, Bucs players felt the tough, inside yards set the tone for the game.

With Cadillac Williams out with a foot injury, veteran Michael Pittman led the Bucs with 86 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The Bucs pounded away at the Browns run defense, which ranks 29th in the league.

"I got a little winded, but I had to get into the flow of things, and it felt good," Alstott said. "It really did. It felt good contributing and making some things happen."

All season, fans have been clamoring for Alstott to get more rushing attempts. He entered Sunday's game with just 32.

Alstott is well aware of his popularity and the criticism of Jon Gruden for not giving him the ball more. There is even a Web site - www.givemiketheball.com - devoted to a petition for the six-time Pro Bowl player to get the ball early and often Sunday against Seattle, which could be his final game.

If not, Alstott already proved at Cleveland he can be productive when called upon.

"Yeah, it was a power attack Sunday, obviously," Alstott said. "Sometimes they know we're running downhill, and we've got to overcome that. They stopped us at times, but we kept on moving the ball in some critical situations, and it was effective.

"At the end of the day, we play for W's (wins). Stats don't matter. It's about going out there as a team and playing together."

Pittman also set a season high in rushing attempts. His 11-yard touchdown run gave the Bucs a double-digit lead.

"It was a toss-sweep, and (Maurice) Stovall got a good down block on the linebacker who was playing on the end," Pittman said. "Both of my guards and the tackle were wrapping around. Mike Alstott was lead-blocking. I saw a cutback lane up the middle. The defensive back (was) right there in the middle; I just tried to make him miss, and I got in the end zone."

It was the same formula the Bucs used to win the Super Bowl: Alstott pounding away on third down, Pittman using fresh legs to make some big runs. And winning.

"It felt like old times," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "You don't have to be special on offense. You just have to be efficient and not turn the ball over.

"I think everybody in the locker room begged for it."

[Last modified December 26, 2006, 00:25:04]