Patriots vs. Buccaneers: Reserve Struggle, But Pats Finish with 31-14 Win

Note: This is the official Pats Pulpit game thread

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31               FINAL              14

New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Preseason Week 2

Bucs Coverage: Bucsnation.com

Notes from the fourth quarter of the Patriots vs. Buccaneers preseason game:

• The Bucs started their next drive by converting a third and one, but on first down of the next series, Tracy White got in a nice hit on Josh Johnson with a sack finished off by recent pickup Niko Koutouvides. Nonetheless, Josh Johnson helped continue the Bucs drive with a few nice throws and nice runs.  The touchdown drive was capped with a two yard Allen Bradford run to cut the Patriots lead to 31-14.
• Stevan Ridley kept running strong on the next Patriots game.  Ridley carried the ball four times for 36 yards.  Unfortunately, Ryan Mallett continued his struggles with a pair of incompletions, and the Patriots drive stalled yet again.
• On the punt, Danny Woodhead, in coverage attempting to make the tackle, was blindsided by a Bucs' defender.  The hit was clearly cheap - helmet-to-helmet.  Woodhead needed assistance to get off the field.  The Patriots defense did step up and force a 3-and-out following the Woodhead injury.
• The Patriots reserves failed to move the ball on offense, with the next drive resulting in another three and out.  The Bucs took back over on offense and began to drive down the field led by Rudy Carpenter.  Carpenter took off for a nice run and delivered a deep pass down the right sideline to Maurice Price for 34 yards (Butler in coverage).  Eventually, the drive stalled and the Patriots took back over to take the final kneel downs and secure the 31-14 victory.