By Tom Krasniqi

 

Doug Martin was born in Oakland and he said during the week that more than 60 family members and friends would attend Sunday’s game in Oakland.  And he gave them a show they will never forget.  The only “Black Hole” Martin saw were the huge holes in the Raiders defense.  In a record setting day, Martin romped for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Bucs held off the Raiders 42-32.  Martin set club record with rushing yards and rushing scores in one game.

The Bucs put together a nice drive early but it ended badly.  Connor Barth’s 35-yd field goal was blocked by Oakland’s Lamar Houston, who returned it 34 yards to the Bucs’ 44-yard line.  The Raiders converted it to a Sebastian Janikowski 27-yd FG to give the Raiders an early 3-0 lead and that’s how the first quarter ended.

The 2nd quarter began in grand style as Josh Freeman hit Vincent Jackson on a 64-yard bomb into Raiders territory.  A couple of plays later, Freeman hit Jackson again on a 20-yd TD pass to put the Bucs up 7-3.  That capped a 6-play drive spanning 80-yards for Tampa Bay.  Penalties nullified big plays in the 2nd quarter.  Adam Heyward was flagged for roughing Shane Lechler on a punt.  Then, Carson Palmer’s TD pass to Derek Hagan was called back because of a holding penalty.  When Oakland was forced to punt again, they faked it when Lechler threw a pass to Taiwan Jones, who fumbled.  The ball was recovered by Ronde Barber.  Later in the second, Palmer found Rod Streater on a 25-yd TD pass to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead.  Streater beat E.J. Biggers on the play.  Connor Barth missed a 54-yd FG as the half expired.  Raiders led the Bucs 10-7 at halftime.

The second half belonged to Doug Martin and the Bucs.  Tampa Bay made good on their first possession of the second half.  Martin ripped off a 45-yd TD run to put the Bucs back up 14-10.  The Bucs defense stiffened and when Tampa Bay got the ball back, they again marched it down the field.  Mike Williams recorded a big 37-yard catch and run on the drive and Williams finished it off on a 5-yd TD reception from Freeman that made it 21-10 Tampa Bay.  Late in the 3rd quarter, Martin did it again when he ripped off a 64-yd TD run to make it 28-10 Tampa Bay after three quarters of play.  After Palmer and the Raiders cut it 28-17, Martin ripped off a 70-yd TD run to make it 35-17 Bucs early in the 4th quarter.  The Raiders made it interesting down the stretch and cut it to 35-22 with over 2-minutes left.  But the Bucs got interceptions by Ahmad Black and E.J. Biggers to seal it. 

 

News & Notes:

  • Josh Freeman was efficient and accurate on this day for the Bucs, completing 18 of 30 passes for 247 yards and 2 TDs, one to Vincent Jackson and the other to Mike Williams.
  • Carson Palmer had a big day for the fantasy geeks as he threw for 414 yards and 4 TDs but he was also picked off three times on the day.  Rookie CB Leonard Johnson had one of those interceptions and continues to impress for the Bucs.
  • The Bucs shuffled their offensive line after the season-ending injury to Carl Nicks.  Ted Larsen got the start at center and Jeremy Zuttah slid over to left guard.  The line did a phenomenal job in opening holes for Martin all day as the Bucs rushed for 278 yards and rolled up 515 yards of total offense.
  • Rookie LB LaVonte David also starred for the Bucs on Sunday as he recorded a team-high 14 tackles.
  • The Raiders’ backfield was decimated by the end of the day.  Darren McFadden left the game with a leg injury in the first half and his backup, Mike Goodson, left the game with an ankle injury.  McFadden was held to just 17 yards on 7 carries before leaving. 
  • The Bucs return home next Sunday afternoon to host the San Diego Chargers at Raymond James Stadium.  Our coverage begins at 9am on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.