62-yard FG sinks Eagles, 23-21
Associated Press
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TAMPA, Fla. — Nothing in Matt Bryant's career suggested he was capable of making the kick of his life.
He was surprised he even got a chance.
Bryant nailed a 62-yard field goal — the third-longest in NFL history — to give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers an improbable, 23-21, last-second victory over Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday.
The kick ruined a gallant comeback engineered by McNabb after the Bucs built a 17-0 lead on the strength of two interceptions that Ronde Barber returned for touchdowns. It was the longest of Bryant's career by 12 yards, and came on just his third attempt of 50 or more yards in five seasons with the Bucs, Giants, Colts and Dolphins.
"To tell you the truth, I wasn't expecting even to be given a shot at 62," said Bryant, who was 0 for 3 from beyond 40 yards until coach Jon Gruden decided his chances of making the longest kick of his career was better than throwing a TD pass from midfield on the final play.
Tom Dempsey and Jason Elam share the league record for the longest field goal — 63 yards. The only other kickers who have been successful from beyond 59 yards are Steve Cox and Morten Andersen, who both booted 60-yarders.
Bryant said holder Josh Bidwell had just the right thing to say.
"You know what was funny was," Bryant said, "as I was lining up to kick it, Bidwell turns around and says, 'Man, just have fun.' And that's what I did."
Barber, whose 92-yard runback clinched Tampa Bay's victory over Philadelphia in the NFC championship game four seasons ago, scored on a 37-yard return early in the second quarter and put the Bucs up 17-0 with a 66-yard TD with just over five minutes remaining in the third.
McNabb rallied the Eagles, throwing one of his three late TD passes after Philadelphia was forced to take a timeout when the quarterback became ill and started throwing up between plays.
With the Bucs defense missing four tackles, Brian Westbrook scored on a 52-yard reception to put Philadelphia ahead 21-20 with 33 seconds remaining.
But Tampa Bay wasn't finished.
Rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski drove the Bucs in position for Bryant. The ball cleared the crossbar with plenty of room to spare, setting off a wild celebration.
"I'm thinking, it's over, man," Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "Give him credit for making a big kick when the team needed it."
The Eagles (4-3) lost for the second straight week on a field goal as time expired. New Orleans' John Carney kicked a 31-yarder for a 27-24 victory, spoiling a Philadelphia comeback on the road.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay (2-4) won in dramatic fashion for the second straight week in a game ending with a 62-yard field goal attempt. Cincinnati's Shayne Graham missed from that distance in the closing seconds of the Bucs' 14-13 victory over the Bengals.
VIKINGS 31, SEAHAWKS 13
SEATTLE — Seattle's notoriously raucous home stadium was so quiet, you could hear another Seahawks star fall.
Chester Taylor ran for a career-high 169 yards on 26 carries — including a 95-yard touchdown, the longest run in Minnesota history — as the Vikings stunned the battered Seahawks to end Seattle's team-record 12-game home winning streak.
Already without league MVP Shaun Alexander, Seattle lost Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a right knee strain early in the second half when Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson rolled into Hasselbeck's right leg.
The Vikings (4-2) won their second straight thanks to a 15-yard halfback option pass from Mewelde Moore to tight end Jermaine Wiggins that broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter. That was followed by Taylor's record romp.
Seattle (4-2) lost at home for the first time since Dec. 6, 2004, against Dallas.
LONGEST FIELD GOALS
The longest field goals in National Football League history:
63 — Jason Elam, Denver vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 25, 1998
63 — Tom Dempsey, New Orleans vs. Detroit, Nov. 8, 1970
62 — Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 22, 2006
60 — Morten Andersen, New Orleans vs. Chicago, Oct. 27, 1991
60 — Steve Cox, Cleveland vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 21, 1984
59 — Pete Stoyanovich, Miami at N.Y. Jets, Nov. 12, 1989
59 — Tony Franklin, Philadelphia vs. Dallas, Nov. 12, 1979
59 — Steve Christie, Buffalo vs. Miami, Sept. 26, 1993
59 — Morten Andersen, Atlanta vs. San Francisco, Dec. 24, 1995