bucs Report

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Sunday, December 11, 2011

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The poll

How many of their final four games do the Bucs need to win for the coaches to hold onto their jobs?

One: 4 percent

Total: 671 votes

By the numbers

1-3 Bucs’ record against the Jaguars

30.7 Average points the Bucs have allowed during their six-game losing streak

254.7 Average yards by the Jaguars offense, worst in the NFL

12.7 Average points for the Jaguars, 31st in the NFL; they have scored more than 17 once this season, a 30-20 loss

88 Consecutive games in which Bucs tight end Kellen Winslow has a catch

What they’re saying

I give a lot of praise to head coach Raheem Morris for sending defensive tackle Brian Price home (last week) after what he called a foolish and selfish penalty. Coach Morris is a breath of fresh air in the NFL and is a great young coach. Even with the recent skid, I can’t believe his job security has come into question.

Brian Billick Fox Sports

There is one man on the planet who could solve everything that is wrong with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One man who, with the simple nod of his head, would sell out Raymond James Stadium instantly, stop the losing, put an end to just about all the trouble off the field and give the Bucs credibility and respectability with their fans and across the league. His name is Tony Dungy.

Pat Yasinksas ESPN.com

The state of Florida flag should be flying at half-mast over the capitol for this game. Tampa, loser of six straight, might be the NFL’s biggest 2011 disappointment after Philly. Jacksonville has lost three straight and fired its coach.

Greg Cote Miami Herald

If two Florida teams are getting together, people in Jax would rather see Florida-Florida State.

Gerry Dulac Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The picks

Josh Freeman returns (most likely) to face a secondary he should be able to shred. And he’d better because the Bucs defense is going to give up some points even to a team with terrible quarterback play. Bucs, 30-16.

Peter King Sports Illustrated

This is a dog game in the Sunshine State between two struggling teams. The Jaguars are decimated by injuries on defense, and they have trouble scoring on offense. The Bucs have had big problems on defense, and they haven’t exactly lit it up on offense. But Tampa Bay will find a way to make enough plays to win this ugly battle. Bucs, 20-17.

Pete Prisco CBSSports.com

Bucs at Jaguars

1 p.m., EverBank Field, Jacksonville

TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 103.5 FM

Line/over-under: Bucs by 3; 401/2

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Lions Lions 27, Bucs 20 (0-1)

at Vikings Bucs 24, Vikings 20 (1-1)

Falcons Bucs 16, Falcons 13 (2-1)

Colts Bucs 24, Colts 17 (3-1)

at 49ers 49ers 48, Bucs 3 (3-2)

Saints Bucs 26, Saints 20 (4-2)

Bears Bears 24, Bucs 18 (4-3)

at Saints Saints 27, Bucs 16 (4-4)

Texans Texans 37, Bucs 9 (4-5)

at Packers Packers 35, Bucs 26 (4-6)

at Titans Titans 23, Bucs 17 (4-7)

Panthers Panthers 38, Bucs 19 (4-8)

at Jaguars 1 p.m. today, Ch. 13

Cowboys 8:20 p.m. Dec. 17, NFL, Ch. 38

at Panthers 1 p.m. Dec. 24, Ch. 13

at Falcons 1 p.m. Jan. 1, Ch. 13

Four: 34 percent

None: 22 percent

Two: 21 percent

Three: 19 percent

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Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 114 yards and a
touchdown, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 17-3 victory over the still-
winless Indianapolis Colts.

Blaine Gabbert threw for 118 yards with a score for the Jaguars (3-6), who won
on the road for the first time in five games this season.

The Colts (0-10), meanwhile, have been unable to win anywhere. The are 0-5 at
home and 0-5 on the road heading into their bye week. Indianapolis is winless
after 10 games for the first time since the 1997 team also lost its first 10
on the way to a 3-13 record.

That was pre-Peyton Manning. With the four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion
sidelined by a neck injury, the Colts hardly resemble an NFL team.

Curtis Painter was lifted in the fourth quarter after throwing his second
interception of the game and Dan Orlovsky turned the ball over on his second
throw, leading to Jacksonville’s game-sealing touchdown.

“Obviously, the turnovers were the big factor today. We can’t have those,”
Painter said.

The Colts totaled just 212 yards of offense. Painter completed 13-of-19 passes
for 94 yards and Orlovsky finished 7-of-10 for 67.

Jacksonville snapped a 3-3 tie and reached the end zone first with an 86-yard
march that ate up more than 9 1/2 minutes of the third quarter. A 17-yard pass
from Gabbert to Deji Karim converted 3rd-and-9 early in the series and a
penalty against Indianapolis’ Tyler Brayton negated a third-down sack that
would have forced a punt.

Instead, the Jaguars were given a fresh set of downs and Gabbert took
advantage by hitting Jarrett Dillard with an 11-yard pass for the score to
make it 10-3 with just 1:49 left in the third.

The Jaguars appeared to come up with a turnover on the next series when
William Middleton picked off Painter. However, during the timeout on the
change of possession, the Colts challenged that Jacksonville had 12 men on the
field and the correct reversal allowed Indianapolis to keep the ball. But not
for long, as Painter was intercepted three plays later by Paul Posluszny at
the Jacksonville 21.

Indianapolis got the ball back at its own 13 with just under six minutes
remaining and Orlovsky under center in place of Painter. It didn’t help.

Orlovsky’s arm was hit on his second pass attempt and the ball fluttered into
the waiting arms of Jacksonville lineman Tyson Alualu. The play was ruled a
fumble, setting up Jones-Drew’s three-yard touchdown run to seal the contest.

Jones-Drew carried 25 times and added three catches for 23 yards. Gabbert
completed 14-of-21 passes with an interception and hit nine different
receivers.

“It’s nice to get a win in the division on the road to start the second half
of the season,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said.

The game’s first two possessions ended in interceptions. Painter was picked
off by Drew Coleman, giving the Jaguars a first down at the Indianapolis 18,
but Jerraud Powers returned the favor with an interception of Gabbert inside
the 10.

After a series of punts, Josh Scobee connected from 44 yards away to put the
Jaguars on the board late in the first quarter. The Colts responded in the
first minute of the second period with a 42-yard kick from Adam Vinatieri on
the ensuing series.

The Jaguars had a chance to move in front just before the intermission, as a
19-yard pass from Gabbert to Dillard set up Scobee for a 45-yard try, but he
missed wide right and the teams went to the break knotted at 3-3.

Game Notes

Donald Brown led the Colts with 53 yards on 14 carries and caught four passes
for 12 yards…The Jaguars managed only 251 yards of offense…Jacksonville
cornerback Rashean Mathis left the contest in the second quarter with an
apparent knee injury…The Jaguars improved to 8-9 after a bye.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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