The defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up where they left off last season, defeating the New York Jets 30-14 Saturday in the American Bowl at Tokyo Dome.
Rookie quarterback Chris Simms, who started the second half for Tampa Bay, led an effective drive that culminated with a four-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Barlow 45 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Buccaneers a 20-7 lead.
PHOTO: AFP PHOTO
"I'm pleased with the win," said Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden. "We've got a long way to go still.
It was the first NFL preseason game for both teams.
Tampa Bay widened the lead to 27-7 with 12:07 remaining when Tim Wansley knocked the ball loose with a hit on New York quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Wansley scooped up the fumble and ran for a 47-yard touchdown.
Tampa Bay kicker Ralf Kleinmann made it 30-7 on a 37-yard field goal with nine minutes remaining. Gruden said he was impressed with the play of Simms, son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.
"He definitely has ability and he proved it tonight," said Gruden. "We had solid execution and I like the attitude of our team."
Earlier, running back Thomas Jones had given the Buccaneers a 13-7 lead with 12 seconds left in the first half, scoring on a four-yard run.
Jets fans didn't have much to cheer about but the highlight for Japanese fans came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter when Bollinger completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Yoshinobu Imoto.
Bollinger then threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Reid just before the two-minute warning to cut the lead to 30-14.
The trip to Japan is part of an effort by the NFL to broaden the appeal of American football in foreign markets.
Saturday's game was the 12th American Bowl played in Japan. Last year the Washington Redskins defeated the San Francisco 49ers 38-7 at the Osaka Dome in western Japan. The Jets scored on their opening drive after running back Lamont Jordan ran the ball in from the one-yard line. Jets starting quarterback Chad Pennington completed a key 42-yard pass to Curtis Conway to set up the play.
Tampa Bay stars Warren Sapp and Keyshawn Johnson saw limited action.
"I had a blast here," said Sapp. "The best thing I liked about Japan was the sushi. It's always good to win and you don't want to get on that 13-hour flight after a loss."
The Buccaneers got on the scoreboard in the first quarter when Martin Gramatica kicked a 37-yard field goal.
Pennington came out of the game after the first quarter and was replaced by Bollinger. Tampa Bay quarterback Shaun King replaced Brad Johnson early in the second quarter.
Imoto was one of two Japanese players in the American Bowl. Linebacker Shinzo Yamada played in one series for Tampa Bay.
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