Tampa Bay wins on 62-yard field goal
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Chris O'Meara, Associated PressTampa Bay kicker Matt Bryant, middle, is mobbed by teammates John Bidwell, right, and Anthony Becht after kicking a 62-yard field goal to beat the Eagles.
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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 against Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday.
The kick ruined a gallant comeback engineered by McNabb after the Buccaneers built a 17-0 lead, mostly 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 Buccaneers, 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 touchdown pass from midfield on the final play.
Tom Dempsey and Jason Elam share the league record for the longest field goal -- 63 yards.
First Published October 23, 2006 12:00 am
