In a game that featured three defensive touchdowns and a furious fourth-quarter rally from the host Arizona Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their fifth consecutive road game by a score of 38-35.
NFL Week 8 Scores And Results: Tampa Extends Road Winning Streak, Beats Cardinals 38-35
LeGarrette Blount had a break-out performance in Tampa’s victory, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. His first score, a 15-yard third-quarter jaunt, gave the Buccaneers a 31-14 lead in the third quarter. His second score, a two-yard plunge in the fourth quarter, provided the decisive points in the game, and the two scores provided bookends to a furious Cardinals rally.
A 30-yard LaRod Stephens-Howling touchdown run and a five-yard scoring strike from Derek Anderson to Larry Fitzgerald surrounded a 21-yard fumble recovery return from Geno Hayes, erasing Tampa’s 31-14 lead and giving the Cardinals a 35-31 lead late in the fourth quarter. Josh Freeman - he of blood containing sizable particles of ice - found rookie receiver Arrelious Benn on a 53-yard reception to set up Blount’s second touchdown to seal up the win.
Anderson had the Cardinals in position to tie the game late in the game, but he forced a pass to Fitzgerald that was intercepted by a trailing Aqib Talib. Despite giving up big plays, Tampa’s defense came up big, providing two touchdowns of their own in the first half and intercepting four passes in total.
With their latest thrilling victory, the Buccaneers are now 5-2 and remain a major factor in the NFC South. Arizona falls to 3-4, and is one of three teams within a game of each other in the NFC West.
For more on this game, visit Bucs Nation and Revenge Of The Birds.
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