GAME INFORMATION
LAST WEEK
JACKSONVILLE - Tampa Bay earned its first victory of the preseason and first under Head Coach Raheem Morris in a close contest at Jacksonville. The Buccaneers defense limited the Jaguars to just 61 rushing yards while allowing Jacksonville to convert just two-of-14 (14%) third downs on the night and recording five sacks. Offensively, the Buccaneers churned out 159 rushing yards on 38 carries (4.2 avg.). Jacksonville took a 7-0 lead on the first play from scrimmage as QB David Garrard connected with WR Troy Williamson on a 74-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay cut into the lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter as K Mike Nugent hit a 46- yard field goal. Following another long completion to Williamson early in the second quarter, the Jaguars increased their lead to 14-3 on a one-yard touchdown run by FB Greg Jones. Rookie WR Sammie Stroughter ran the ensuing kickoff back to the Jacksonville 20- yard line and two plays later, QB Luke McCown found TE Jerramy Stevens over the middle for a 17-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay’s defense forced a Jaguars’ three-and-out on their next possession, allowing the Buccaneers to take the lead just before halftime on a McCown to Stroughter nine-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay extended its lead to 24-14 on the first drive of the second half as rookie QB Josh Freeman culminated an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 28-yard touchdown run. Jacksonville tacked on a field goal late in the third quarter to bring the Jaguars within a touchdown. The fourth quarter would remain scoreless until Jacksonville QB Todd Bouman found TE Tyler Lorenzen for a 20-yard score with 40 seconds left in the game. Trailing 24-23, the Jaguars attempted a two-point conversion, but Bouman’s pass fell incomplete in the corner of the end zone. Tampa Bay recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt to preserve the victory.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tampa Bay hosts the Dolphins, marking the 16th time in the last 17 seasons that the two teams square off in the preseason. The Bucs and Dolphins are meeting for the 24th time in the preseason, the most meetings for either team in the preseason. Miami leads the series 14-9, but Tampa Bay has won five of the last seven meetings. The first preseason contest between the two teams was on August 21, 1976, a 28-21 Miami win in Tampa. The Bucs have claimed wins in 1984, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. During the regular season, the series is tied at four wins each with Tampa Bay winning the last three meetings. The Buccaneers won 27-13 in 2005 in Tampa, 16-13 in 2000 at Miami and 31-21 in 1997 in Tampa. The Buccaneers also won, 23-17, in 1982 in Tampa. The first meeting between the two clubs was in the Bucs’ first season in 1976, a 23-20 Miami win in Tampa. The Dolphins also captured wins in 1985 (41-38 in Miami), 1988 (17-14 in Tampa) and in 1991 (33-14 in Miami).
PRESEASON MEETINGS
Miami leads series 14-9
Year Score Site
1976 L, 28-21 Tampa
1977 L, 13-7 Tampa
1978 L, 24-20 Tampa
1979 L, 13-7 Tampa
1984 W, 14-13 Tampa
1986 L, 21-3 Miami
1991 L, 29-13 Tampa
1992 L, 22-7 Miami
1994 W, 29-14 Miami
1995 W, 24-17 Orlando
1996 L, 13-10 Miami
1996 L, 19-7 Tampa
1997 W, 24-10 Tampa
1998 L, 14-13 Tampa
2000 L, 15-13 Miami
2001 L, 17-14 Tampa
2002 W, 14-10 Tampa
2003 W, 20-19 Miami
2004 W, 17-10 Tampa
2005 L, 17-14 Miami
2006 L, 13-10 Tampa
2007 W, 31-28 Miami
2008 W, 17-6 Miami
LAST MEETING (PRESEASON)
Tampa Bay 17, Miami 6 (8/9/08) MIAMI – Facing the Miami Dolphins for the ninth consecutive time in the preseason, Tampa Bay opened its exhibition slate with a 17-6 victory in Miami. For the first time in team history, including regular season and postseason contests, the Buccaneers finished a game without committing a turnover or a penalty. Tampa Bay’s defense stifled the Dolphins, limiting Miami to 198 yards on just 47 offensive plays as the Buccaneers held nearly a 13- minute advantage in time of possession. Offensively, Tampa Bay quarterbacks completed passes to 14 different receivers while collectively finishing with a 90.0 rating. RB Michael Bennett led all players with 74 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. Trailing 3-0 late in the first half, Buccaneers QB Brian Griese hit WR Brian Clark on a three-yard scoring pass with no time remaining to cap a 19-play, 78-yard drive for a 7-3 lead. Dolphins K Dan Carpenter trimmed the lead to 7-6 late in the third quarter on a 49-yard field goal. Set up by his own 31-yard run, Bennett increased the Buccaneers lead to 14-6 on the ensuing possession on a one-yard touchdown run, closing out a 13-play drive. K Matt Bryant tacked on a 32-yard field goal for the Buccaneers with 2:57 remaining in the contest to put the game out of reach. LAST MEETING (REGULAR SEASON) Tampa Bay 27, Miami 13 (10/16/05) TAMPA – The Buccaneers offense churned out 180 rushing yards while the defense limited the Dolphins to 64 rushing yards and registered four sacks and one defensive touchdown. Bucs RB Michael Pittman rushed for a season-high 127 yards on 15 carries, including a 57- yard TD run, and WR Joey Galloway tied his career-high with nine receptions for 96 yards and one TD. Defensively for Tampa Bay, defensive ends Simeon Rice and Greg Spires each posted one sack and one forced fumble while S Will Allen returned the Spires forced fumble for a TD. Tampa Bay started the game fast, taking a 7-0 lead on a 10-play, 78-yard opening drive that culminated with a QB Brian Griese seven-yard TD pass to Galloway. Following a Miami FG on its opening drive, the Buccaneers pushed their lead back to seven on K Matt Bryant’s 36-yard FG late in the first quarter. Near the end of the first half, Griese was forced from the game with a knee injury, giving way to QB Chris Simms, who finished the game by completing six-of-10 pass attempts for 69 yards. Holding a 13-6 advantage in the third quarter, Pittman sprinted free for his long TD run to put the Buccaneers up by 14. On the ensuing drive, Spires forced a QB Gus Frerotte fumble that Allen returned 33 yards for a 27- 6 Bucs edge. Following a Tampa Bay fumble in its own territory, Miami cut the lead to 27-13 with 9:56 remaining in the contest on RB Ronnie Brown’s eight-yard TD run but would not get any closer as Tampa Bay’s defense forced another turnover on a fumble recovery by DT Anthony McFarland.
PRESEASON SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
Bob Griese throws three touchdown passes to lead Miami to 28-21 win (8/21/76)… The Dolphins use a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to hold on for 24-20 win (8/25/78)… Doug Williams passes for 216 yards in losing effort… The Tampa defense forces five turnovers in 14-13 victory (8/24/84)… Scot Brantley leads defense with eight tackles and a forced fumble… Dan Marino throws for 201 yards on 14-of-18 passing in Miami’s 21-3 victory (8/29/86)… Miami comes back from 13-7 halftime deficit for 29-13 victory (8/10/91)… Scott Mitchell and Fred Banks combine for fourth quarter scores of 30 and 5 yards as Banks totals eight catches for 92 yards and the two touchdowns… Errict Rhett rushes for 95 yards and the game-winning touchdown in Bucs’ 24-17 win in Orlando (8/25/95)… Miami rallies for 14-13 victory (8/13/98) with touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:13 left in the game… K Olindo Mare boots a 42-yarder, his fifth field goal of the game, with nine seconds remaining for a 15-13 victory at Miami (8/10/00)… Miami QB Mike Quinn hits WR Robert Baker on a 43-yard Hail Mary pass on the final play of the 3 game as the Dolphins rally for a 17-14 victory in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener (8/13/01)… Tampa Bay WR Frank Murphy returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to lead the Buccaneers to a 14-10 win in head coach Jon Gruden’s Bucs. James Stadium (8/12/02)… Murphy, who became the fifth player in team history to return a kickoff for a TD in preseason history, propelled the Buccaneers to 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest… LB Ryan Nece intercepts a fourth quarter pass and races 56 yards for a touchdown that broke a 10-10 tie in a 17-10 Bucs win (8/24/04)… Tampa Bay fell to Miami 17-14 at Dolphin Stadium (8/27/05) as the Dolphins rallied from a 14-7 fourth quarter deficit behind WR Danny Farmer’s 36-yard touchdown reception in the final quarter… RB Earnest Graham was the Buccaneers leading rusher, gaining 60 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown… LB Cato June intercepted a pass from QB Trent Green and returned it for a touchdown to start the scoring in the Buccaneers 31-28 win over Miami (8/25/07) at Dolphin Stadium… QB Bruce Gradkowski completed 10-of-16 pass attempts for 104 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns, including the game-winning one-yard strike to WR Paris Warren with 4:51 to play in the game… RB Michael Bennett finished with a game-high 74 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries in Bucs’ 17-6 win (8/27/08).
CONNECTIONS -
Tampa Bay Defensive Coordinator Jim Bates served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins from 2000-03, and begin the 2004 season as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator. He was named the Dolphins’ interim head coach for the final seven games that year, taking over for Dave Wannstedt. Miami finished the season with a 3-4 record under Bates,highlighted by a 29-28 win against eventual Super Bowl champion New England on December 20.
- Buccaneers TE Kellen Winslow starred at the University of Miami and caught 119 passes for 1,365 yards and nine touchdowns in 38 games for the Hurricanes.
- Buccaneers Tight Ends coach Alfredo Roberts played four seasons for the Miami Hurricanes and was a part of National Championship teams in 1983 and 1987. Roberts also served as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University (1999-2000, 2001-02). During his second stint, he also took part in the Dolphins’ minority internship program in 2001-02.
- Buccaneers RB Carnell Williams and Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown played together for three years at Auburn and were both selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft (Brown second overall, Williams fifth overall).
- Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant and CB Torrie Cox were born in Miami and both prepped at Miami Northwestern High School.
- Buccaneers G Davin Joseph hails from Hallandale where he attended Hallandale High School. - Buccaneers S Sabby Piscitelli was born and raised in Boca Raton, attending Boca Raton High School.
- Buccaneers Defensive Line coach Robert Nunn served as a defensive assistant for the Dolphins during the 2000 season and also as the assistant defensive line/quality control coach during 2001-02. Nunn also worked as a Special Assistant for the Dolphins in 2004.
- Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano coached alongside Tampa Bay Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Richard Mann during the 2001 season for the Washington Redskins, where Sparano served as the Tight Ends coach.
- Miami Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning served as the Assistant to the Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator in 1987 for the Washington Redskins, where current Bucs Director of Pro Personnel Doug Williams led the way to victory Super Bowl XXII.
- Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Paul Pasqualoni coached Buccaneers S Tanard Jackson at Syracuse University in 2004.