BUCS NOTEBOOK

Coverage Units Able To Contain Hester

Published: Dec 18, 2006

CHICAGO - All week long, the Bucs relished the challenge of stopping Mr. Unstoppable, Chicago rookie Devin Hester.

Mission accomplished.

The former Miami Hurricanes standout already had set an NFL record with six returns for touchdowns, but a mistake-prone Hester was contained throughout Chicago's 34-31 OT victory.

"We think he's pretty good, but we think we're pretty good, too," Bucs special teams coach Rich Bisaccia said. "He deserves the respect, and he's an exciting player. I'm extremely proud of our entire team and we did our part."

Hester brought back six punts for 63 yards and averaged only 15.2 yards on five kickoff returns as the Bucs swarmed around the NFC's likely Pro Bowl returner.

He fumbled three times after halftime, losing the ball to Wesly Mallard at his own 20 on a late third-quarter kickoff return when hit by Blue Adams.

"All we heard the whole week was about Chicago's special teams," said Mallard, whose fumble recovery set up Alex Smith's 9-yard TD catch to pull the Bucs within 24-17. "We feel like we're good enough to cover anybody and we were being discounted."

Hester's second fumble came on a hit by Jermaine Phillips after Tampa Bay forged a 31-31 tie with 3:44 remaining. Hester pounced on that loose ball, but he fumbled again in OT and the ball trickled out of bounds at the Bears 29.

"Devin Hester went through a lot this week," Chicago coach Lovie Smith said. "Everyone was patting him on the back and telling him he is great. You're going to have some games like that."

Hester returned Tampa Bay's opening punt of the second half 32 yards, but he had little wiggle room most of the day.

"You've got to give our special teams credit," Bucs CB Juran Bolden said. "Facing a guy who is spectacular, I believe we won the special-teams battle."

WHISTLE STOP: In what could be his final appearance at Soldier Field, Joliet, Ill., native Mike Alstott gave his supporters something to cheer about with a 14-yard TD run late in the third quarter.

Alstott skirted right end to slice Chicago's advantage to 24-10 and set the stage for Tampa Bay's 21-point fourth quarter.

"It was sure nice to see Mike run into that end zone," Bucs rookie G Davin Joseph said.

In his 11th pro season, Alstott faces an uncertain future in Tampa. He has carried only 32 times in 14 games, but he tied Cadillac Williams with 26 yards Sunday as almost 100 friends and family looked on in the crowd of 62,260.

The Bucs will not play Chicago next season, but they are slated to return to Soldier Field in 2008.

KEEP IT TIGHT: While Bears TE Desmond Clark enjoyed a productive day, Bucs counterpart Alex Smith had his ups and downs.

By halftime, Clark had caught a pair of TD passes from Rex Grossman and had become the first Chicago tight end to top the 100-yard mark since 1985, when Emery Moorehead accomplished the feat - also against the Bucs.

"I think [offensive coordinator] Ron Turner just made it a point to get me the ball this week," said Clark, who finished with seven catches for 125 yards.

Smith caught five passes, including a TD, but he also fumbled on the first possession of overtime, only to see Robbie Gould miss a 37-yard field-goal attempt.

"I was just fighting for that extra yard," Smith said. "That was just inexcusable on my part - to struggle for that extra yard. We came into their city and put up a hell of a fight."

THE PLAYOFF ROAD: With their win, coupled with a New Orleans loss to Washington, the 12-2 Bears locked up the NFC's No. 1 seed in the postseason.

It didn't come easy as the Bucs rolled up 357 yards and forced OT with three TD passes by Tim Rattay in the fourth quarter.

"We got it done," said MLB Brian Urlacher, who registered 11 tackles. "In the second half, we didn't play our best football, but the offense got it done when they had to. I'm tired of worrying about yards and points. I'm worried about winning. We've won three in a row and we're getting on another good stretch."

BUC BITS: QB Luke McCown was inactive for the Bucs, along with CB Alan Zemaitis, S Donte Nicholson, C Nick Mihlhauser, T Donald Penn, TE Doug Jolley, DE Charles Bennett and DT Jon Bradley. … The Bears played without four starters - T John Tait, DT Tommie Harris, DT Tank Johnson and SS Todd Johnson. … With 339 yards against the Bucs, Grossman became the first Chicago QB to top the 300-yard mark in 73 games, dating to Jim Miller in 2002. … Tampa Bay's 95-yard march midway through the fourth quarter was the fifth-longest scoring drive in franchise history. … The Bucs dropped to 0-7 on the road heading into Cleveland on Sunday. … Chicago improved to 10-0 vs. NFC opponents. … The Bucs forced 10 punts and tied a franchise record with 11 punts. … Tampa Bay is 1-16 in the past three seasons when trailing after one quarter.

Ira Kaufman