Tampa Bay Buccaneers Take Over Division by Smashing Colts
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 24-17 on Monday night.
The Colts were still without injured quarterback Peyton Manning and were forced to start Curtis Painter, a third year quarterback. Although Painter managed to make 13 of 30 passes for 281 yards and throw two touchdown passes, he could not stop the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay running back LeGarrette Blount secured the win for the Buccaneers with a 35-yard touchdown run and close to three minutes left in the game.
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Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay coach, said the win bolstered his team’s confidence.
"It's always exciting to win," Morris said, according to USA Today. "You know, national stage, it helps my guys and my organization. It's good for us to get back on a national stage and get a big-time win, to go out there and play the way we need to play."
Adrian Clayborn, rookie defensive end for the Buccaneers who had a sack, two QB hurries and a tackle, said he did not believe the team played their best, but he was happy with the win.
“Things were very ugly,’’ Clayborn said, according to ESPN. “We battled through it. It was sloppy. But it’s about whoever comes out with a win, and we did.’’
Gerald McCoy, second-year Buccaneers defensive tackle who contributed a team high six tackles, one sack, three tackles and two QB hurries, spoke about the team setting their sights on a division championship.
“We’ve got a goal,” McCoy said. “We want to win our division.”
Tampa’s performance on Monday helped them secure a tie for first place in their NFC South division with the New Orleans Saints. Blount said the team’s performance has been making a statement for those who doubted them, according to USA Today.
"I think we turned a lot of heads and showed the team from last year was not a joke," Blount said.
