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Last week, NFL Fever on Monday Night saw its five-game winning streak come to an end as the Tennessee Titans stomped the New England Patriots 24-7. However, Fever still boasts an amazingly successful prediction rate of 83 percent for the past 12 Monday night games. The simulation's all-time record now stands at an astounding 28-11.
This week, NFL Fever on Monday Night features the AFC's North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers pitted against the NFC's South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NFL Fever on Monday Night: Steelers vs. Buccaneers
Game Summary
The first quarter was a nightmare for the Patriots. They fell behind 7-0 when Steve McNair hit Derrick Mason on a 39-yard TD strike and then they lost star running Antowain Smith to a season ending injury.
With Smith out, the Pats turned to Kevin Faulk. Early in the second quarter Faulk responded by taking a Tom Brady screen pass for a 66-yard tying score. At the half, the score was knotted at 7.
In the third, defense took over the game. "The Freak" Jevon Kearse chipped in with 2 sacks in his first action since a Week One foot injury. The Titans defense was able to intercept a Tom Brady pass which set up the quarter's only score, an 18-yard Joe Nedney field goal.
But in the end, Titan's coach Jeff Fischer's decision to kick a chip shot field goal rather than attempt a fourth-and less-than-a-yard play from the one would loom large in this game's outcome. With only 50 seconds to play in the game, Tom Brady hit super-sub Kevin Faulk again for an 8-yard TD pass to give the Pats there first lead of the game, 14-10.
After a Ted Johnson sack, a clock-stopping spike, and an incomplete pass, the game was over.
Season 2-Week 16
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final Score
Pittsburgh Steelers 3 15 7 0 26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 2 7 7 19
Player of the Game
Tommy Maddox, Pittsburgh Steelers
11 of 13 for 237 yards and 2 TD's passing
Game Stat Breakdown
1st Quarter:
Bucs Martin Gramatica 21-yard field goal; 3-0 Bucs
Steelers Jeff Reed 30-yard field goal; 3-3 Tie
2nd Quarter:
Bucs Derrick Brooks tackles Jerome Bettis in the end zone for a safety; 5-3 Bucs
Steelers Bettis 5-yard TD run (Dan Kreider 2pt. Conv.); 11-5 Steelers
Steelers A.Randle El 56-yard TD pass from Tommy Maddox (Reed kick); 18-5 Steelers
3rd Quarter
Bucs
Michael Pittman 3-yard TD catch from Brad Johnson (Gramatica kick); 18-12
Steelers
Jerame Tuman 13-yard TD catch from Maddox (Reed kick); 26-12 STEELERS
4th Quarter
Bucs
Joe Jurevicius 9-yard TD catch from Brad Johnson (Gramatica kick); 26-19 Steelers
Game Stats Steelers Bucs
First Downs 11 13
Total Offense 320 254
Rushing Offense 87 136
Passing Offense 233 118
Turnovers 1 1
This week, NFL Fever on Monday Night features the AFC's North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers pitted against the NFC's South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NFL Fever on Monday Night: Steelers vs. Buccaneers
Game Summary
The first quarter was a nightmare for the Patriots. They fell behind 7-0 when Steve McNair hit Derrick Mason on a 39-yard TD strike and then they lost star running Antowain Smith to a season ending injury.
With Smith out, the Pats turned to Kevin Faulk. Early in the second quarter Faulk responded by taking a Tom Brady screen pass for a 66-yard tying score. At the half, the score was knotted at 7.
In the third, defense took over the game. "The Freak" Jevon Kearse chipped in with 2 sacks in his first action since a Week One foot injury. The Titans defense was able to intercept a Tom Brady pass which set up the quarter's only score, an 18-yard Joe Nedney field goal.
But in the end, Titan's coach Jeff Fischer's decision to kick a chip shot field goal rather than attempt a fourth-and less-than-a-yard play from the one would loom large in this game's outcome. With only 50 seconds to play in the game, Tom Brady hit super-sub Kevin Faulk again for an 8-yard TD pass to give the Pats there first lead of the game, 14-10.
After a Ted Johnson sack, a clock-stopping spike, and an incomplete pass, the game was over.
Season 2-Week 16
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final Score
Pittsburgh Steelers 3 15 7 0 26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 2 7 7 19
Player of the Game
Tommy Maddox, Pittsburgh Steelers
11 of 13 for 237 yards and 2 TD's passing
Game Stat Breakdown
1st Quarter:
Bucs Martin Gramatica 21-yard field goal; 3-0 Bucs
Steelers Jeff Reed 30-yard field goal; 3-3 Tie
2nd Quarter:
Bucs Derrick Brooks tackles Jerome Bettis in the end zone for a safety; 5-3 Bucs
Steelers Bettis 5-yard TD run (Dan Kreider 2pt. Conv.); 11-5 Steelers
Steelers A.Randle El 56-yard TD pass from Tommy Maddox (Reed kick); 18-5 Steelers
3rd Quarter
Bucs
Michael Pittman 3-yard TD catch from Brad Johnson (Gramatica kick); 18-12
Steelers
Jerame Tuman 13-yard TD catch from Maddox (Reed kick); 26-12 STEELERS
4th Quarter
Bucs
Joe Jurevicius 9-yard TD catch from Brad Johnson (Gramatica kick); 26-19 Steelers
Game Stats Steelers Bucs
First Downs 11 13
Total Offense 320 254
Rushing Offense 87 136
Passing Offense 233 118
Turnovers 1 1