The Sports Xchange
Nov 12, 2017
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got three field goals from Patrick Murray and a touchdown reception from running back Charles Sims to defeat the New York Jets 15-10 on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bucs (3-6), who never trailed despite playing without injured quarterback Jameis Winston, broke a five-game losing streak.
The Jets (4-6), who reached Tampa Bay territory on only three of their 12 drives, were limited to 276 yards. Tampa Bay, which came into the game with an NFL-low eight sacks, had six on Sunday against the Jets.
New York closed the margin on Josh McCown's 38-yard pass to Robby Anderson with 28 seconds remaining, but the Bucs recovered the ensuing onside kick.
After a 3-3 tie at halftime, the Bucs opened the third quarter with a nine-play, 44-yard drive that resulted in Murray's 49-yard field goal and a 6-3 advantage. The key play was Ryan Fitzpatrick's 19-yard pass to receiver DeSean Jackson on third-and-10.
When Bucs linebacker Lavonte David recovered a fumble by Jets running back Bilal Powell after a pass reception, Tampa Bay drove for a 37-yard field goal by Murray, extending its lead to 9-3.
The Bucs got the clinching score with 6:05 left when Fitzpatrick hit Sims on a 6-yard pass on third-and-2. It capped a 15-play, 81-yard drive.
Fitzpatrick, a 13-year NFL veteran who played the previous two seasons with the Jets, was 17 of 34 for 187 yards. McCown, a 15-year veteran who started 11 games for Tampa Bay in 2014, was 23 of 39 for 263 yards.
NOTES: Winston had started the first 40 games of his NFL career before being sidelined Sunday. ... It was an active day in the Bucs' secondary. CB Brent Grimes (shoulder), who missed the previous two games, returned to the lineup, but CB Vernon Hargreaves (hamstring) was ruled out after suffering a third-quarter injury. CB Roberto McClain (hamstring) was inactive. ... The Bucs had the services of Ts Demar Dotson (hamstring) and Donovan Smith (knee), who didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday. ... The Bucs were also without DE Will Gholston (neck) and the team's leading receiver, WR Mike Evans (one-game suspension). ... The Jets played without inactive RB Matt Forte (knee). ... The Bucs improved to 2-10 against the Jets in the all-time series. Tampa Bay's only previous victory against the Jets occurred in 1984 in John McKay's final game as the Bucs' head coach. When New York won the initial meeting in 1976, it was Joe Namath's final victory as a Jets quarterback.