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DOLPHINS VS. BUCCANEERS
GAME FACTS
Date: Sunday, Nov. 15
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Site: Land Shark Stadium, Miami, Fla.
TV: FOX
THE SERIES
SERIES RECORD: Series is tied 4-4
AT MIAMI: Dolphins lead 2-1
AT TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers lead 3-2
LAST MEETING: 2005 at Tampa Bay; Buccaneers 27, Dolphins 13
SERIES HIGHLIGHT: When the Dolphins and Bucs met in Week 7 in 1985, Miami got all it could handle from a Tampa Bay team that came into the game with an 0-6 record. The Dolphins led by 17 points three different times, but the Bucs rallied to tie the game at 38 behind future Miami quarterback Steve DeBerg, who threw four touchdown passes. The Dolphins were able to escape with a 41-38 victory thanks to Fuad Reveiz's 43-yard field goal.
SERIES LOWLIGHT: The Dolphins had a 10-3 record and were in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs in 2000 when they played host to Tampa Bay on Dec. 10. But the Buccaneers took advantage of five Miami turnovers, including three in the fourth quarter, to pull out a 16-13 victory. The Dolphins had a chance to tie - or even win the game - in the final minute, but Jay Fiedler was intercepted by safety Damien Robinson on a second-and-21 play from the Tampa Bay 30-yard line.
SCOUTING REPORT
TAMPA BAY'S RECORD: 1-7
LAST GAME: Beat Green Bay, 38-28
OVERVIEW: It has been a tough season for the Bucs and first-year head coach Raheem Morris, but there's finally reason for optimism. The Buccaneers got their first victory of the season Sunday against the Green Bay Packers as rookie quarterback Josh Freeman threw three touchdown passes in his first career start. Still, the previous seven games showed the Buccaneers are in full rebuilding mode and it might take some time before they're back to contender status.
THE TAMPA BAY OFFENSE: Freeman, a first-round pick last April and the third quarterback drafted, was given the reins of the offense after both veteran Byron Leftwich and 2008 fifth-round pick Josh Johnson failed to deliver at quarterback. Freeman is raw - he did complete less than 50 percent of his passes in his first start - but he's got a big-time arm as well as some mobility. The Bucs actually have some good weapons on offense, starting with running back Cadillac Williams and continuing with tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receiver Antonio Bryant (although Bryant has battled a knee problem all year). In addition to Williams, the Bucs' running game also includes former Giants backup Derrick Ward, signed as a free agent in the offseason. Tampa Bay would like to run the ball but has played from behind too often this season. The offensive line is anchored by guard Davin Joseph, a former first-round pick and native of Hallandale, Fla.
THE TAMPA BAY DEFENSE:Despite what the final score might suggest, the Buccaneers defense played a major role last Sunday, as Elbert Mack set up a touchdown with an interception and Tanard Jackson clinched the victory by returning a pick for a score. The Bucs had a third interception in the game and also got to quarterback Aaron Rodgers for six sacks. Before that, though, the Bucs had struggled mightily on defense, partly because of young players underachieving, partly because of injuries. Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson is the team's best pass rusher, with 5.5 sacks in the first eight games. Aqib Talib, the Bucs' first-round pick in 2008, leads the team with five interceptions and fellow cornerback Ronde Barber has 11 defensive touchdowns in his career. The Bucs rank 30th in the league against the run and dead last when it comes to yards per passing play.
THE TAMPA BAY SPECIAL TEAMS: For all their problems this season, the Bucs have been tremendous on kickoff returns. Tampa Bay is first in the league in both kickoff return average and kickoff return average allowed. The Bucs have not one but two dangerous kickoff returners in Clifton Smith, who had an 83-yard return last Sunday against Green Bay, and rookie Sammie Stroughter, who had a 97-yard touchdown earlier against Carolina. One special teams area that's been a nightmare is placekicking, with the Bucs making only three of nine field goal attempts - including an 0-for-5 showing from 40 yards or beyond. Tampa Bay already is on its third kicker this season, and that's Connor Barth, who spent some time in the Dolphins training camp this summer.
LOOKING AHEAD
NOV. 19 - MIAMI AT CAROLINA
The Dolphins' third prime-time game of the season looks a lot more challenging now than it did a few weeks now that the Panthers are starting to play better. Carolina scored a big victory at Arizona a couple of weeks ago and gave New Orleans a major scare at the Superdome last Sunday. This game will be a major test for the Dolphins' run defense, which will have to slow down the explosive DeAngelo Williams as well as Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers have had their problems in the passing game, but Steve Smith remains a dangerous receiver. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Julius Peppers has come on lately after a slow start.
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