SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 10, 2010
Connor Barth kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal with one second left as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied for a 24-21 victory over the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Earnest Graham had a touchdown run for the Buccaneers (3-1), who intercepted Carson Palmer twice in the fourth quarter. The second, by Sabby Piscitelli, led to the game-winning field goal.
Piscitelli intercepted Palmer and returned it 37 yards. Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman then hit Mike Williams for 14 yards to the Cincinnati 14-yard line. The sideline catch was reviewed and upheld.
The Bengals tried to ice Barth, who promptly split the uprights with for the victory.
Palmer's 1-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham and the ensuing two-point conversion gave the Bengals a 21-14 lead with 12:19 left.
But the Bengals couldn't put away Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers' rally began when Aqib Talib intercepted Palmer at the Cincinnati 38-yard line. Five plays later, Freeman hit Williams for a 20-yard touchdown and Barth’s extra point tied it at 21 with 1:21 left.
Cedric Benson ran for a season-high 144 yards on 23 carries and Terrell Owens had seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals (2-3), who couldn’t overcome three interceptions from Palmer.
Palmer finished 21 of 36 for 209 yards.