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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 19, 2001
TAMPA -- The Bucs' offensive problems were twofold against the Bears. They barely had a running game, gaining just 19 yards on 15 plays. And even the passing game mostly failed once they got inside Chicago's 20-yard line.
"We threw the ball well enough," coach Tony Dungy said. "We moved it. But you've got to take advantage (when near the goal line)."
The Bucs scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a comeback attempt, on 1-yard runs by Mike Alstott and Brad Johnson. But three times in the first half they had to settle for Martin Gramatica field goals. The reason, receiver Reidel Anthony said, is that playing in the red zone shortens the field.
"It's easy for a defense to put eight on the goal line. I want to see you try to score," he said. "I don't think you're going to get in. They have a good red zone defense, and we couldn't capitalize."
With less than a minute remaining in the first half and the Bucs trailing 7-6, Anthony made a one-handed 35-yard catch that gave the Bucs a first down at the Chicago 17.
Johnson completed a pass to Frank Murphy for 9 yards to set up second and 1 from the Chicago 8, but two incompletions killed the touchdown threat. On the third-down play, Johnson threw the ball out of the back of the end zone after a Bears defender grabbed his face mask, but no penalty was called. Gramatica made the 26-yard kick for a 9-7 lead, but Chicago scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to help put the game away.
How bad was the Bucs' running game? Dunn finished with 12 yards on 8 carries (1.5-yard average), while Alstott had 2 yards on four carries (0.5). Particularly disappointing was the first-half effort, when the Bucs managed 21 rushing yards while the passing attack had 234 yards.
To compound the problem, Dunn and Alstott lost a fumble Sunday -- Dunn in the first quarter, on Tampa Bay's opening drive after a Ronde Barber interception, and Alstott in the third quarter with the Bucs trailing 21-9. Alstott's turnover helped set up a Chicago field goal. BIG START, BAD FINISH: Wide receiver Karl Williams got his second start in place of Jacquez Green, who missed his fourth straight game with a strained abdominal muscle. Williams was on his way to what looked like another big game, but sustained a hip pointer to his right side late in the first half. His status is uncertain.
Williams, who returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown against Detroit, had three catches for 34 yards in the first two quarters. But with 2:41 left in the half, he muffed a punt return and was pummeled by Chicago defensive tackle Carl Powell. Williams remained on the ground for several minutes before being carted off the field. He left the stadium on crutches.
In getting the start, Williams leapfrogged Anthony on the depth chart; Anthony had dropped a pass in the end zone against Detroit and this week had missed two practices because of what he called "family business."
Anthony replaced Williams as the punt returner in the second half and finished with two returns for seven yards.
INJURY REPORT: In addition to Williams, two Bucs sustained injuries: Starting linebacker Jamie Duncan (right knee sprain) and running back Rabih Abdullah (concussion). Both will be evaluated today.
BIG-PLAY BARBER: Barber, named NFC Player of the Week for his play against Detroit, added to his interception total. Barber, who had two picks against the Lions, intercepted Chicago quarterback Jim Miller on the opening play. Barber has six interceptions, which equals the number he had over the previous four seasons. The team record for a season is nine (Cedric Brown, 1981). Barber also had nine tackles and two passes defended.
NICE RICE: Defensive end Simeon Rice, a Chicago native who played for Illinois, had a solid game against his hometown team. In the first quarter, he sacked Miller on third down and forced a fumble (although the Bears recovered). Rice also broke up a Miller pass on third and 9 in the second quarter. Rice finished with five tackles and two passes defended.
HAPPY RETURNS: In his first stint as the Bucs' main kick returner, Murphy had one of the strongest efforts of the season. He returned four kickoffs for 115 yards (28.8 average), with a long of 39. Murphy previously had one kickoff return for 34 yards.
SQUIBS: The Bears got their first touchdown against Tampa Bay in 19 quarters in the first half, but the Bucs made them work for it. Duncan and safety John Lynch sandwiched Chicago receiver Marty Booker with a vicious hit a yard from the end zone, but Booker hung onto the ball as the trio landed in the end zone for a 28-yard score. ... The U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves, looking to recruit a few good mates, parked one of its boats in the south end zone during the game. ... A moment of silence was observed in the press box in memory of Christian radio host and Bucs locker room regular Carl Metcalf. Metcalf, 56, the morning show host at WKES-FM 91.1, was killed after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle to work Nov. 5.