TAMPA — Warrick Dunn rushed for 115 yards, and Drew Bledsoe was sacked three times by a ferocious Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense, as the Bucs stifled the New England Patriots, 20-3 in a preseason game Saturday night.
The Patriots managed only one first down on offense tonight, as the Buccaneers showed both speed and attitude on defense. The Buccaneer defense registered five total sacks in the game, and the patchwork offensive line of the Patriots was clearly overmatched the entire game.
Dunn’s big run was a 56-yard scamper in the second quarter that brought the Bucs to the Patriots six. But three plays later, Richard Seymour intercepted Brad Johnson at the five and returned it 12 yards, keeping the game scoreless at that point.
The Buccaneers finally broke through in the second quarter. A 28-yard punt return by Robert Kilow gave the Bucs the ball at the Patriot 22, and two plays later Johnson hit a streaking Aaron Stecker down the right sideline for 21 yards and a score.
The Patriots managed their only scoring drive late in the first half. Bledsoe drove the Patriots from the Tampa 42 to the Tampa 10, with David Patten catching a 20-yard pass for the team’s only first down conversion of the night. The drive ended with a 40-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.
In the third quarter, Johnson hit Jacquez Green for a 17-yard score to make it 13-3. Shawn King would later toss a 19-yard scoring pass to Karl Williams in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Bledsoe finished with a dismal 10-for-21 passing night and 81 yards. Troy Brown was his leading receiver with 4 catches for 35 yards. Marc Edwards led the Patriots with 22 yards rushing on four carries.
The Patriots fall to 2-1 in the preseason. They conclude the preseason Thursday night at Foxborough against Washington.
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Covering Boston Sports since 1997. Native of Worcester, Mass. Attended UMass and Univ of Michigan. Lives in California. Just recently retired after 40 years of public school teaching. Podcasts on YouTube at @thepic4139
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