SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 11, 2013
Buccaneers 22, Dolphins 19: Bobby Rainey capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown with 10:19 to play as host Tampa Bay became the last team in the NFL to win a game.
Rookie Mike Glennon threw for 139 yards with a touchdown and an interception and the Buccaneers (1-8) held Miami (4-5) to a franchise record-low two yards rushing. Brian Leonard rushed for 57 yards in place of an injured Mike James as Tampa Bay regrouped after blowing a 15-0 lead.
Ryan Tannehill finished 27-of-42 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the Dolphins, who were playing for the first time since the bullying scandal involving linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin became public. Rishard Matthews had 11 catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns for Miami.
The Buccaneers scored the first 15 points, including Glennon's 1-yard pass to Donald Penn on a tackle-eligible play and a safety when Lavonte David buried running back Daniel Thomas in the end zone. Miami came to life just before the half when Tannehill capped a 90-yard driving with a 6-yard scoring pass to Matthews to cut it to 15-7 at the break.
The Dolphins carried the momentum into the third quarter, getting a pair of field goals from Caleb Sturgis wrapped around 19-yard scoring pass from Tannehill to Matthews to move ahead 19-15 entering the fourth. The Buccaneers answered with Rainey's 1-yard run that was set up by his 31-yard scamper before stopping Miami on its final two possessions to finally break into the win column.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Buccaneers rookie RB James, coming off a 158-yard effort last week, suffered a fracture ankle on the opening drive of the game. ... Matthews, who had 10 catches on the season coming into the game, became the first receiver in franchise history with 11 catches and two TDs in a game. ... Dolphins owner Stephen Ross addressed the bullying scandal involving Incognito and Martin prior to the game, saying he was "appalled" by the nature of the texts and voice mails. Ross also said he will meet with Martin on Wednesday and appointed an external committee to review the team's conduct policies.