The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were again stopped just short of a touchdown late in the third quarter of this afternoon’s game against the St. Louis Rams, after a fortuitous face-masking call got them 20 yards downfield. With the Rams defense reeling, the Buccaneers took a shot at the end zone on third-and-three at the 20 yard-line, but Josh Freeman and Michael Spurlock couldn’t connect and the Buccaneers settled for their fourth field goal of the afternoon.
After the Rams got out to a 17-3 lead in the second quarter the Buccaneers have responded with nine unanswered points, thanks in part to Rams quarterback Sam Bradford’s continued struggles with accuracy; through three quarters he was just 8-for-20.
Through three quarters the Buccaneers’ offense has again been driven by Josh Freeman; just 12-for-24, he’s also scrambled four times for 32 important yards. LeGarrette Blount has emerged as their top rushing threat, taking nine carries for 63 yards after Cadillac Williams proved ineffectual once again.