The Buccaneers defense put the team in position to win its first game of the year, but rookie quarterback Mike Glennon wasn’t able to take them home.
Glennon was picked off by Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson deep in Tampa territory in the fourth quarter, setting up a Larry Fitzgerald touchdown that tied the score at 10. Jeff Demps, playing his first NFL game, took the ensuing kickoff out from nine yards deep in the end zone and got tackled at the 10-yard line. Glennon was sacked on third down, leading to a punt from the end zone that Peterson returned to the Tampa 38-yard line.
Carson Palmer hit Jaron Brown for 19 yards and Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson picked up yet another personal foul for hitting him while he was defenseless to put the Cardinals into field goal range. Jay Feely made a 27-yard field goal with 1:29 left to play. The Bucs tried to drive to tie or win, but Peterson picked Glennon again to ice the game.
The rookie was 24-of-43 for 193 yards and a touchdown to go with the two picks, but he was just 9-of-19 in the second half as the Bucs failed to extend their 10-0 halftime lead. The defense played well enough to win, but late errors cost Tampa the victory. New quarterback, same old story.