The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took their long week to prepare for a battle in one of the most formidable stadiums in the NFL, facing the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The crowd noise was on, as were the Buccaneers in the first half, turning a lot of heads as the week's biggest underdog. With a 4 PM ET kickoff, Buccaneers mascot Captain Fear got things started early to rally the Buccaneer faithful:
Halfway through the warm-up games before the Main Event! Cannons at the ready! Go #Bucs. Who's ready? #itsabucslife — Captain Fear (@THECaptainFear) November 3, 2013
All other NFC South teams met in the 1 PM time slot, ending as the Buccaneers kicked off to the Seahawks.
Cam Newton throws for 249 Yds with 2 Total TD as Panthers win 4th straight. Matt Ryan has 7 INT over last 2 games for struggling Falcons. — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 3, 2013
Jets take down the Saints. Just like everyone predicted. #NOvsNYJ — NFL (@nfl) November 3, 2013
Buccaneer fans were out on the road in support of their team. Whether catching the game live from Seattle, to watching at their homes across the country, to cheering on the team with Bucs fans in the Bay, using the Bucs hashtag, #itsabucslife, they sent in their pictures of Buccaneer pride:
#TBvsSEA #itsabucslife pic.twitter.com/tG0yszsvZn — Cody Brunk (@CB220) November 3, 2013
My tie for work in the Seattle area #TBvsSEA #itsabucslife pic.twitter.com/y9M0nha1tl — Charles Bond (@mesosonyccb) November 3, 2013
At the game! #itsabucslife #TBvsSEA pic.twitter.com/ueRAXkWRgR — Easy Nic (@IamIjams) November 3, 2013
@TBBuccaneers ready for this bucs game! #itsabucslife #TBvsSEA pic.twitter.com/PQdWDFOeS4 — Shea (@SheaWhiteToney) November 3, 2013
Yes, we took a mirror selfie for @MB24. @TBBuccaneers #ItsABucsLife w/@buckybolen pic.twitter.com/bhS2SWsD2B — Kelly K (@KellyKrammes) November 3, 2013
The Seahawks drove early, with RB Marshawn Lynch taking four carries for 43 yards. Seattle forced their way to the red zone before the Buccaneers first highlight of the night.
INTERCEPTION! Mark Barron has four tackles and a pick in the game already! — Sander Philipse (@Bucs_Nation) November 3, 2013
The teams would trade punts, and the Buccaneers offense would take the field for the second time, sustaining a drive through to the second quarter. Scott Smith, senior writer for Buccaneers.com calls the drive:
Third-Down Tim Wright strikes again. Glennon hits him for 14 - through a lot of traffic - on third-and-eight. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) November 3, 2013
Mike James really had no interest in being stopped on that play - a career-long 21-yarder out to the Bucs' 42. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) November 3, 2013
Two guys with great 1st quarters - S Mark Barron, 5 tackles and an INT; RB Mike James 6 carries for 37 yards. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) November 3, 2013
Bucs score 1st! TE Tim Wright (rapidly becoming a Glennon fav) stops in his route at the back of the EZ to make a fabulous 12-yard catch. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) November 3, 2013
As underdogs on the road, the Bucs opted to pull out all the stops, going for an onside kick following the score. The ball bounced passed the 10-yard buffer and was recovered by Mike Adams. However, the play was negated by an offside penalty on the Bucs. That didn't keep Twitter from sounding off in approval on the bold decision:
Love the call. #Bucs — Charley Belcher FOX (@CharleyBelcher) November 3, 2013
I liked the onsides kick call. Play to win. #bucs — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) November 3, 2013
Wow! Gutsy call by Bucs to go for an onside kick. Almost worked. Like the aggression and nothing to lose attitude. — Pewter Report (@PewterReport) November 3, 2013
I still like the call for the onsides kick. You're 0-7, you might as well take some chances. — Pat Yasinskas (@PatYazESPN) November 3, 2013
The Buccaneers would step up and force a punt with big plays by the much-touted secondary unit. BucsNation and PewterReport sound off on the play of Darrelle Revis and Mark Barron:
Revis appears to be following Golden Tate and Wilson refuses to look his way. — Sander Philipse (@Bucs_Nation) November 3, 2013
Excellent play by Mark Barron to break up the pass. 6 tackles, an INT and PBU so far. — Pewter Report (@PewterReport) November 3, 2013
Even Buccaneer great Derrick Brooks would chime in on the effort so far:
@TBBuccaneers needs to capitalize on the miscues and inconsistency of Seattle, this is how upsets happen, catch them slipping — Derrick Brooks (@DBrooks55) November 3, 2013
Just like that, the Buccaneers would drive again, this one ending in a 20 yard touchdown pass from Mike Glennon to WR Tiquan Underwood. With the Bucs on top 14-0, national media writers started paying attention to Tampa Bay's second quarter firepower in hostile territory:
Obviously, rookie QB Mike Glennon and the #Bucs take a 14-0 lead over the #Seahawks in Seattle #waitwhat — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2013
Holy Mike Glennon Batman... — Aaron Nagler (@Aaron_Nagler) November 3, 2013
A visiting team is up 14-0 in the 1st half in Seattle. That team is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Can't make this stuff up... — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 3, 2013
WOW. The 7-1 Seahawks have fallen behind 14-0 to the 0-7 Bucs. At home. — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLONFOX) November 3, 2013
Before they could all state their shock, the Buccaneers struck once more, from Anthony Becht:
Perfect STORM right now for #Bucs!!! #Seahawks fumble the Kickoff!!!! — Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) November 3, 2013
Two plays later, @TBBuccaneers, Official Twitter of the Bucs makes the call. Followed by more national and surprised analysis:
FIRE THE CANNONS! 2ND QTR: TB 21, SEA 0 MIKE JAMES hits Crabtree on the jump-pass for the TD! DRIVE: 2 plays, 31 yds, 0:30. #TBvsSEA — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) November 3, 2013
Halfback jumping-pass from Mike James to Tom Crabtree and the Bucs have a 21-0 lead. Seattle's largest deficit of the season. Yep, the Bucs. — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLONFOX) November 3, 2013
Um, the Bucs are up 21-0 on the Seahawks in Seattle. #TBvsSEA — NFL: AroundTheLeague (@NFL_ATL) November 3, 2013
I guess that's how you score on Seattle from the 2 yard line. Wow. — Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 3, 2013
The Bucs are skunking the Seahawks 21-0. This is a real tweet. — SportsNation (@SportsNation) November 3, 2013
On the ensuing drive, the Seahawks would find a bit of momentum, putting their first points on the board with a pass from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse.
Seahawks close the gap 21-7 with 1:40 left in the half. #TBvsSEA — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 3, 2013
And with the score at 24-7, the teams would go into halftime. Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud notes the Bucs young QB's stats:
#Bucs QB Mike Glennon 8-of-8 for 102 yards and 2 TDs in second quarter. — Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) November 3, 2013
Just three minutes into the first half, rookie RB Mike James would find a milestone. TBO.com writer Ira Kaufman makes his notes of the offense's performance:
Bucs rookie RB Mike James reaches the 100-yard mark already — Ira Kaufman (@IKaufmanTBO) November 3, 2013
Middle of Bucs offensive line should get a collective game ball at this point. They have dominated Seattle's interior D-line so far — Ira Kaufman (@IKaufmanTBO) November 3, 2013
Roy Cummings of TBO.com calls the next score, as the Buccaneers put three on the board:
Bucs pad their lead with a 33-yard Rian Lindell field goal. Now 24-7 Tampa Bay with 9:48 left in third quarter — Roy Cummings (@RCummingsTBO) November 3, 2013
The Seahawks offense was not finished, sustaining another drive, capped by a strong run from their quarterback Russell Wilson.
Here come the #Seahawks. Great play by WIlson to find Baldwin, then Wilson on the QB keeper. TD #Seahawks. 24-14 #Bucs — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 3, 2013
With a Tim Wright TD reception, Glennon hitting 11 of 13 for 137 yards and two TDs, fellow rookie Mike James added to the rookie stats from the day:
The Rookie Show continues here for the Bucs. That run gets Mike James to 140 yards on the day. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) November 3, 2013
The Bucs offense would stall, but the defense would answer, forcing a punt. Returner Golden Tate took the ball from his own five-yard line, evading tacklers to again spark the loud audience.
They don't call him Showtime for nothing. @ShowtimeTate returns the punt 71 yards from the 5 yard line. Seahawks get the ball at the 25. — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 3, 2013
The Buccaneers Official Twitter page gives the stats of the game through three quarters:
END OF 3RD QTR: TB 24, SEA 14 RB M. James: 24 carries, 140 yds, TD Pass QB M. Glennon: 12/16, 145 yds, 2 TD #TBvsSEA pic.twitter.com/Z4vsVreWIL — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) November 3, 2013
The third quarter ended with a Seahawk catch being challenged by Greg Schiano. Controversial, it was upheld, but the Buccaneers put good pressure on Wilson, forcing and incompletion on third down. Lakeland Ledger's Rick Brown updates the score:
FG Seahawks. #Bucs 24, Seahawks 17, early fourth quarter. — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) November 3, 2013
Again in the second half, the Bucs would be unable to put together a long drive, giving the ball back to Seattle. But the Buccaneers defense wasn't done yet. Tom Krasniqi of 620 WDAE calls the drive, Jenna Laine calls the red zone stand:
Wilson to Baldwin for a 1st down to the #Bucs 34 — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 3, 2013
Foles to Kearse for 27 yards inside the #Bucs 5. 1st and goal for the #Seahawks — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 3, 2013
Backup safety Keith Tandy, who started for All-Pro Dashon Goldson, with the first pick of his NFL career. Game-saver right there. — JennaLaineBucs (@JennaLaineBucs) November 3, 2013
The Bucs would punt again, up seven with 6:13 left on the clock and the ball at the 41-yard line. The Seahawks would drive, running down the clock:
Lynch run to the TB 11. 2 minute warning. 3rd and 4 coming for Seattle. Biggest play of the game coming up #Bucs #Seahawks — WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM (@620wdae) November 3, 2013
Out of the two minute warning, the would tie the game.
Touchdown Seattle. Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin. Tie game. — Sander Philipse (@Bucs_Nation) November 3, 2013
Injured Buccaneer RB Doug Martin, a Pro Bowler from a season ago, offered his encouragement to Twitter fans:
C'mon Bucs! Let's Finish!!!!! — Doug Martin (@DougMartin22) November 3, 2013
But the clock would wind down, and the game would go into overtime. Derrick Brooks again sounds off as the Bucs win the toss and take possession:
Overtime, @TBBuccaneers gets a chance to win again, Score a TD on this 1st and game is over. @Redskins did it earlier today — Derrick Brooks (@DBrooks55) November 4, 2013
The Buccaneers would punt, giving the Seahawks a chance to seal it. Again, Tom Krasniqi from 620 WDAE, calls the overtime struggle:
#Bucs punt to Tate, who returns it to his own 40. A Seattle FG wins it now — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 4, 2013
Lynch with a 10-yd run to midfield. McCoy is down for the #Bucs — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 4, 2013
Wilson to Baldwin for a 1st down to the #Bucs 37 — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 4, 2013
Lynch busts a big run inside the #Bucs 20. The end is near... — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) November 4, 2013
Wilson took a knee to center the ball for a FG attempt. Here comes Hauschka — WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM (@620wdae) November 4, 2013
And that is how it would end.
Bucs ALMOST shock Seattle but Seahawks come back from 21-0 down and match their longest home win streak in franchise history, 12 STRAIGHT. — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLONFOX) November 4, 2013
