2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

]

Week 8: vs Jacksonville Jaguars

*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: 68 °F (Sunny, windy)
*Stadium: Raymond James Stadium - "Tampa, Florida"
*Referee: Jeff Triplette
*Television announcers (FOX): Matt Vasgersian (play-by-play), J.C. Pearson (color commentator), and Krista Voda (sideline reporter)
*Game attendance: 65,133The Buccaneers stayed home this week for a rematch against their division rivals the Atlanta Falcons. With the convincing victory, Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South division title, maintained a perfect 5-0 division record, and scored their first kickoff return touchdown in franchise history.

Tampa Bay's defense recorded the first points of the game, as Ronde Barber intercepted Chris Redman's pass on the third play of the game and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. Atlanta got on the board next with kicker Morten Andersen making a 33-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Micheal Spurlock made team history by becoming the first Buccaneer player to return a kickoff for a touchdown. It was the first kickoff return touchdown for Tampa Bay in 32 seasons, 498 games, and 1,865 attempts.cite news
url =http://www.buccaneers.com/news/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=6205
title =FINALLY!
publisher =Buccaneers.com
date = 2007-12-17
accessdate = 2007-12-17] cite news
url =http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-whitley1707dec17,0,1866039.column
title =Kickoff-return TD long time coming for Buccaneers
publisher =OrlandoSentinel.com
date = 2007-12-17
accessdate = 2007-12-17]

After the Buccaneer defense forced a Falcons punt, Jeff Garcia commandeered a long, clock-eating 10-minute drive ending in a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bryant to make the score 17-3. With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, Tampa bay recovered an Atlanta fumble, and Earnest Graham scored a 1-yard TD run. Graham became the first player in club history to score a touchdown in six consecutive games. With a 24-3 lead, Tampa Bay performed a pooch kickoff, and Atlanta muffed the return, while Kalvin Pearson recovered. Tampa Bay drove to the 24 yard line, but DeAngelo Hall intercepted a pass intended for Joey Galloway at the Atlanta 11-yard line. The Buccaneers would immediately regain possession as Greg White forced and recovered a fumble on the next play. Matt Bryant then easily converted a 28-yard field goal to take a 27-3 lead into halftime.

Tampa Bay would receive the second half's opening kickoff, but was forced to punt after a 7-minute drive. On Atlanta's third play, Jermaine Phillips intercepted a pass intended for Jerious Norwood which set Tampa Bay up at the Atlanta 23-yard line. Matt Bryant then scored the half's first points with a 34-yard field goal to make the score 30-3. In the fourth quarter, punter Josh Bidwell successfully pinned Atlanta at their own 6 yard line. The resulting poor field position eventually led to Tampa Bay taking over near midfield. Michael Bennett carried six times all the way to the Atlanta 1-yard line, from which Anthony Becht scored the game's final points off a 1-yard TD catch.

Statistically, Tampa Bay's defense dominated Atlanta. The Falcons managed only 133 yards of total offense, committed five turnovers, and were 0-for-9 on third down conversions. The Falcons crossed midfield only once, and Tampa Bay's time of possession was 43 minutes. On the following Wednesday, the kickoff return touchdown earned Spurlock the "NFC Special Teams Player of the Week" award.cite news
url =http://www.theledger.com/article/20071220/NEWS/712200557/1343/SPORTS
title =Spurlock Earns Special Teams Award
publisher =The Ledger
date = 2007-12-20
accessdate = 2007-12-20]

Postseason

NFC Wild Card playoff: New York Giants 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Giants
R1=0
R2=14
R3=3
R4=7
RT=24
Home=Buccaneers
H1=7
H2=0
H3=0
H4=7
HT=14"at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida"
*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: convert|70|°F|°C, sunny
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentator), Pam Oliver and Chris Myers (field reporters)
*Referee: Walt Anderson
*Game attendance: 65,621

Offseason

*On January 22, 2008, head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were re-signed to a three-year contract extension.cite news
url =http://www.buccaneers.com/news/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=6267
title =Leaders in Place: Allen, Gruden Sign Extensions
publisher =Buccaneers.com
date = 2008-01-22
accessdate = 2008-01-24]
*On January 24, 2008, Mike Alstott scheduled a press conference, and is expected to retire.cite news
url =http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/orl-bucs2408jan24,0,7483850.story
title =Tampa Bay RB Alstott expected to announce his retirement today
publisher =OrlandoSentinel.com
date = 2008-01-24
accessdate = 2008-01-24]

References