TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Mike Alstott scored on three short touchdown runs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers set a franchise record for points in an exhibition game with a 45-14 pasting of the New England Patriots.

Alstott played only the first half, rushing for 46 yards on 11 carries. He opened the scoring with a one-yard run with 5:06 left in the first quarter and had TD runs of one and four yards in the second period, giving Tampa Bay a 21-7 lead.

Trent Dilfer completed 11-of-20 passes for 184 yards, throwing to eight different receivers. He connected with running back Rabih Abdullah on a 30-yard TD pass to give the Buccaneers (3-0) a 28-7 lead with 1:51 left in the first half.

Tailback Warrick Dunn, who has been hampered by tendinitis in his knee and a sore hamstring, saw his first action of the exhibition season. He had eight yards on five carries and also caught one pass for 15 yards.

The Buccaneers went to their second string in the second half but continued to pour it on. After Drew Bledsoe threw a 40-yard TD pass to Tony Simmons, NFL Europe alumnus Yo Murphy returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and a 35-14 lead with 3:44 left in the third quarter.

Martin Gramatica kicked a 24-yard field goal and rookie Autry Denson ran for a score in the final period for the Buccaneers, who surpassed their previous exhibition mark set August 18, 1990 in a 44-10 win over New England.

Tampa Bay has outscored foes 92-24 in the exhibition season.

Bledsoe was 14-of-19 for 178 yards and two touchdowns. However, New England (1-2) could get nothing going on the ground. Rookie Kevin Faulk had 40 yards on seven carries. Terry Allen, signed to a two-year contract earlier this week, did not play.

Tampa Bay offensive linemen Paul Gruber and Tony Mayberry left in the first quarter with minor injuries and did not return. Gruber, a left tackle, strained his right knee. Mayberry, a center, suffered a sprained right wrist.