The Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-24 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in the 2008 NFL Regular Season finale for both teams. QB JaMarcus Russell completed 14 of 21 pass attempts for 148 yards and 2 TDs, RB Michael Bush carried the ball 27 times for 178 yards and 2 TDs.
Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Justin Miller returned the opening Matt Bryant kickoff 41 yards to the Oakland 49, where the Raiders offense took the field with JaMarcus Russell at quarterback. The Bucs forced a three-and-out and Pro Bowl P Shane Lechler came on to punt. Lechler’s punt was downed at the Tampa Bay 10.
Jeff Garcia started at quarterback for the home team. The Raiders held the Bucs to a three-and-out and Josh Bidwell came on to punt. Bidwell’s punt bounced out of bounds at the Oakland 36. Two incomplete passes and a short Fargas run brought on the punt unit. Clifton Smith called for and made a fair catch at the Tampa 20.
The Raiders forced another three-and-out and Bidwell came on to punt. WR/PR johnnie Lee Higgins returned the 38-yard punt 6 yards to the Oakland 39. The Raiders moved to the Tampa 45 before having to punt. Ike Hilliard called for and made a fair catch at the Bucs 10.
After allowing one first down, the Raiders defense forced a punt. Higgins returned Bidwell’s punt 36 yards to the Tampa 40. RB Michael Bush finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run bulling his way over the right side. K Sebastian Janikowski added the extra point and the Raiders took a 7-0 lead with 10:36 left in the second quarter.
Janikowski’s ensuing kickoff was fielded 8 yards deep in the end zone for a touchback. Garcia and the Tampa Bay offense took over at their own 20. RB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to cap an 80-yard drive. Bryant’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 5:38 left in the second quarter.
Justin Miller returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 26. The Raiders drove out to their own 40 before the Bucs forced a punt. Lechler’s soaring, spiral officially traveled 60 yards and bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
The Raiders forced a three-and-out and Bryant came on to punt. Higgins returned the kick to the Oakland 39. Russell found rookie WR Chaz Schilens in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard TD pass to cap a 7-play, 61-yard scoring drive. Janikowski’s extra point gave the Silver and Black a 14-7 lead with 30 seconds left in the second quarter.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 24 yards to the Tampa 22. A RB Warrick Dunn run up the middle brought the first half to a close and the Raiders took a 7-point lead into the locker room at the break.
Smith returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the Tampa Bay 28. The Raiders held the Bucs to a three-and-out. Higgins returned Bidwell’s punt 19 yards to the Oakland 40. The Buccaneers returned the favor with a three-and-out of their own and Lechler came on to punt the ball away. Smith returned Lechler’s punt to the Tampa 17.
The Buccaneers tied the game when Garcia connected with WR Mark Clayton with a 58-yard scoring strike for the touchdown. Bryant’s extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 10:03 left in the third quarter.
Miller returned the ensuing kickoff, got popped and fumbled. LB Isaiah Ekejiuba recovered for the Raiders at the 13. After picking up one first down, the Raiders were forced to punt. Smith returned Lechler’s 59-yard punt and a penalty against Tampa Bay backed the Buccaneers up to their own 13.
Tampa Bay took a 17-14 lead with 14:51 left in the 4th quarter when Bryant connected on a 29-yard field goal attempt to cap a 13-play, 76-yard drive.
Justin Miller returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 31. Later in the drive Russell was picked off deep in Tampa Bay territory. S Sabby Piscatelli returned his pick all the way to the Raiders 12. Two plays later, Williams scored on an 8-yard TD run. The extra point gave the Bucs a 24-13 lead with 11:27 left in the fourth.
DE Greyson Gunheim fielded the short kickoff and returned it to the Raiders 34. The Raiders cut the Buccaneers lead to 24-21 when Russell connected with Higgins for a 12-yard touchdown pass and Janikowski added the extra point with 9:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 24 yards to the Tampa Bay 33. The Buccaneers drove to the Raiders 33 before facing 4th and 4. Garcia’s pass for Clayton fell incomplete and the Raiders offense took over.
The Silver and Black reclaimed the lead when Bush exploded over the right side and zipped down the field for a 57-yard touchdown run. Janikowski’s extra point was good and the Raiders led 28-24 with 7:03 left to play.
The Raiders got the ball right back when safety Rashad Baker picked off a Garcia pass deep down the left sideline. Bucs head coach Jon Gruden challenged the ruling saying that Baker was out of bounds. The ruling of an interception was upheld and the Raiders took over at their own 42.
Russell, Bush and company drove to the Tampa Bay 2-yard line before facing 3rd and goal. Bush was stopped short and Janikowski came on and dsrilled a 25-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 31-24 lead with 1:09 left in the game. DE Greyson Gunheim's first career sack ended the game and preserved the win.
