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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- For Tampa Bay's new offense, Friday night was
a start.
Shaun King was nearly perfect throwing the ball and rookie Joe
Hamilton tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Todd Yoder with 1:43
remaining to give the Buccaneers a 13-12 preseason victory over the
Washington Redskins.
|  | | Shaun King looked sharp Friday night, passing for 104 yards in a 10-for-11 performance that helped the Buccaneers edge the Redskins. |
King completed 10 of 11 passes for 104 yards in what was a
modest debut for the offense the Bucs are installing after failing
to score a touchdown in last season's NFC championship game.
"I think we can do better," said King, the second-year pro who
took over the starting quarterback job late in his rookie year.
"But we wanted to go out and move the ball and that's what we did,
so I can't complain."
Keyshawn Johnson had three receptions for 33 yards in his first
action for the Bucs, who acquired the two-time Pro Bowl receiver
from the New York Jets for two first-round draft picks this
spring.
Rookies LaVar Arrington and Chris Samuels, the second and third
picks in the draft, made their debut for Washington. Deion Sanders
made a brief appearance, too, as part of the defense the Redskins
revamped.
"Our starters were in the game about 13 plays," Washington
coach Norv Turner said of the defense, which -- like Tampa Bay's
offense -- is learning a new system.
"What I liked about that group, the first time they went on the
field -- Tampa had the ball right about midfield -- we made them
attempt a 48-yard field goal. We were fortunate they missed it. The
second time, Tampa got a couple of first downs and then we were
able to get pressure and cause a sack fumble. That's pretty good
for two appearances."
Brad Johnson and Jeff George led Washington's offense for a
quarter before rookie Todd Husak produced 10 second-half points
against Tampa Bay's reserves with help from Eddie Mason's 77-yard
interception return.
Chad Dukes scored on a 12-yard, fourth-quarter run and Peter
Elezovic kicked field goals of 22 and 24 yards for the Redskins,
who couldn't hold a 12-7 lead. Hamilton directed a nine-play,
50-yard drive for Tampa Bay's winning score.
The game was billed a rematch of last year's NFC divisional
playoff matchup. But with a number of key players sitting out or
playing sparingly, it quickly took on the look of a typical
preseason game.
King fumbled twice, losing one; George was intercepted twice by
Bucs safety Dexter Jackson, once in the end zone; and Tampa Bay's
usually reliable kicker Martin Gramatica missed two field-goal
attempts well within his range.
The Redskins said the final score will motivate them.
"I think it was really good that we came back here to play
Tampa, a place where we ended our season last year," Johnson said.
"It kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth and kind of keeps
you working."
King played a little more than a quarter, working three series
and directing a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on the last
possession. He completed his last seven passes, five that totaled
60 yards on the march that Rabih Abdullah finished with a 1-yard
touchdown run.
The Bucs didn't waste any time giving Johnson an opportunity to
get a sellout crowd behind the offense. He had a 6-yard reception
on Tampa Bay's first play from scrimmage, then drew a big ovation
when he leaped to make a catch over Sanders for 13 yards before
King's first drive stalled.
King set up Abdullah's TD with completions of 14 yards to
Johnson and 31 yards to Jacquez Green, who caught the ball slanting
across the middle and nearly scored on the only pass Tampa Bay's
starter threw downfield.
"We did a good job moving the ball," Johnson said. "Any time
you can do that after just getting familiar with a new offense,
that's a good start."
The Redskins only gained 157 yards and didn't score a touchdown
on offense in their playoff loss to the Bucs in January. And, they
didn't have any more success against Tampa Bay's first-team defense
this time.
Shawn Barber sacked King, forcing a fumble that Greg Jones
recovered at the Bucs 37 to set up Elezovic's 22-yard field goal in
the final minute of the opening quarter. Washington didn't threaten
again until just before halftime when Jackson intercepted George in
the end zone on first down from the Bucs 21.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 It was a good first outing for Tony Dungy's Buccaneers.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Norv Turner and the Redskins did not treat this as a preseason game.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Upset by the loss, Chris Samuels and the Redskins hope to change things.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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