Bucs run out of ‘FitzMagic’
The Pittsburgh Steelers built a 20 point lead and held off a furious rally to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27 Monday night at Raymond James Stadium.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Most of his damage was done in the first half when the Steelers star quarterback threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
Vance McDonald scored on a 75-yard pass play and finished with four catches for 112 yards. Brown and Ryan Switzer also had first-half TD receptions for Pittsburgh, which had been winless through two games for the first time since 2013.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Buccaneers’ backup quarterback currently deputizing for the suspended Jameis Winston, threw three interceptions in the first half. However, Fitzpatrick turned his team’s fortunes around. He finished with 411 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
”We obviously dug ourselves a pretty big hole,” Fitzpatrick said. ”The great thing to me coming out of this game is again the belief in the huddle in the second half and guys not wavering and not blinking and having the feeling the whole time that we were going to come back and win the game.”
Newton’s Run Game Powers Panthers
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton had two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in the Panthers’ 31-21 win against the Cincinnati Bengals at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte.
Newton has 57 career rushing touchdowns – the most by a quarterback in NFL history – and has three career games with at least two touchdown passes and at least two rushing touchdowns, the second-most in league annals. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (four) has more such games in NFL history.
Running back Christian McCaffrey tallied 184 yards on 28 carries. It was his first career 100-yard game on the ground (eclipsing his previous high of 66) and he didn’t record his first target until late in the third quarter.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw four interceptions. Rookie cornerback Donte Jackson caught two of the four interceptions and added seven tackles Sunday afternoon.
In week four, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) will travel to face the Chicago Bears (2-1). Kickoff is 1:00 PM at Soldier Field. The New Orleans Saints will face the New York Giants (1-2). Carolina will have the week off.
