News
Amid Boston Overdose Crisis, a Pair of Harvard Students Are Bringing Narcan to the Red Line
News
At First Cambridge City Council Election Forum, Candidates Clash Over Building Emissions
News
Harvard’s Updated Sustainability Plan Garners Optimistic Responses from Student Climate Activists
News
‘Sunroof’ Singer Nicky Youre Lights Up Harvard Yard at Crimson Jam
News
‘The Architect of the Whole Plan’: Harvard Law Graduate Ken Chesebro’s Path to Jan. 6
FOXBORO, Mass.--Jason Staurovsky kicked a 27-yard field goal 3:08 into overtime as the New England Patriots, sparked by the return of quarterback Tony Eason, improved their playoff chances with a 10-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday.
New England (9-6) can get a wild-card berth if it wins its last game next Saturday at Denver and Cleveland loses tonight at Miami or next Sunday against Houston. Tampa Bay is 4-11.
The Bucs, trailing 7-0 on Robert Perryman's 6-yard touchdown run with 7:24 gone in the third quarter, had tied the game on Vinny Testaverde's 15-yard pass to Mark Carrier and John Carney's extra point with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs won the overtime coin toss and choose to kick off with a stiff wind at their backs on the frigid day. Sammy Martin's 34-yard return gave the Patriots the ball at their 35-yard line.
Eason, who started and played yesterday for the first time in 23 games, then completed passes of 21 yards to Irving Fryar and 4 yards to Russ Francis.
After an incompletion, Eason found Fryar for 26 yards and a first down at the Bucs' 14. John Stephens then ran 2 and 3 yards to set up the winning kick by Staurovsky, who missed a 27-yarder on the last play of a 24-21 loss to Indianapolis Nov. 27.
It was the first victory in 11 overtime games for the Patriots, the only NFL team which hadn't won an overtime game. Tampa Bay is 4-7-1 in overtime contests.
Eason started in place of Doug Flutie, who was healthy. But Tampa Bay had the NFL's fifth-best run defense and Flutie had thrown poorly and infrequently even though the Patriots were 6-3 in the last nine games with him at quarterback.
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.