By Jay Rosquites
EBC Florida Bureau
TAMPA, FL (Eagle News) – A week after a forced bye-week , due to Hurricane Irma, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began their first official home game of the 2017-2018 NFL season with renewed strength.
The Bucs wasted no time in the first half with solid defensive tackling , a forced fumble, and two interceptions. They lead 26-0 at half time, the first time that Tampa Bay has kept an opponent scoreless in the first half since their 2009 season, when they beat the 49ers.
In the second half, offensive production didn’t go quite well, as the Bucs ended up only scoring one field goal in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was 18 for 30, with 204 Passing Yards and 1 Passing Touchdown. The Bucs controlled the clock well, and it wasn’t until the fourth quarter, when Backup QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick filled in for Winston for garbage time. With a stout defense, the Bucs only gave up 7 points with 1:43 left in the game, walking away with a convincing 29-7 victory over the troubled Chicago Bears.
After the emphatic win, Lavonte David, Linebacker of the Bucs, credited their entire defensive unit with a confident forecast.
“[We got] great things coming,” David said. “We can keep it up. Keep paying attention to detail. Everybody’s reading their keys and doing their assignments. We can be great as a run-stopping defense”.
David led the team in tackles, with nine, and a recovered fumble.
Now with the Vikings in their site for next week, the Bucs look to continue defensive dominance against a 1-1 team that boasts of a solid wide receiving core in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
“A Win is always good for the organization; for the guys that are playing. But we’re on for Minnesota next week and they got a great team; a great defense, great offense. So we gotta come into the game, with a mindset of ‘onto the next”, said Defensive Tackle, Clinton McDonald, who also had a solid game with 2 tackles and constant pressure on Chicago QB, Mike Glennon.
McDonald also stated that the team was motivated to win from the hurricane relief efforts of the organization.
“We’re all thankful to be in the position we’re in now; to be professional athletes and use our platform in a positive manner, to get back in Hurricane Irma relief”, says McDonald.
Indeed, it was a win that was needed for the Tampa Bay area, which was in the path of Hurricane Irma last week and still with many neighborhoods recuperating. The Bucs organization and fans hope to continue their home-field dominance.
(Eagle News Service)