Tampa Bay Buccaneer Josh Freeman Turning into a Comeback Kid?

In Josh Freeman’s young career, he has shown signs of inconsistency and flashes of brilliance, though more inconsistency than brilliance.

Twelve career touchdowns to 19 interceptions is inconsistent, as is a 4-6 record as a starter—hardly statistics overwhelming enough to crown him the next great NFL quarterback.

However, it’s the manner in which he wins that flashes brilliance: from behind.

Freeman’s first career win came last season against the Packers in Week 9, also his first career start and the Buccaneers’ first win of 2009.

Trailing 28-17 in the fourth quarter, Freeman hit Kellen Winslow in the back of the end zone from seven yards out for his second touchdown of the game to bring the Buccaneers within five. Then, with just over four minutes left in the game, Freeman found rookie Sammie Stroughter for another seven-yard touchdown strike, as the Buccaneers took a 31-28 lead.

A Tanard Jackson interception returned for a touchdown with under a minute left sealed the Buccaneers' 38-28 win, and there was a lot of talk afterwards about Freeman’s comeback ability and young promise.

But that talk would be short-lived, as Freeman and the Buccaneers dropped their next five games, falling to 1-12 on the year.

Freeman then led the Buccaneers into Seattle, where they beat a hapless Seahawks team 24-7 and found themselves looking for back-to-back wins for the first time that year as they faced the eventual Super Bowl champion Saints in New Orleans.

The Buccaneers quickly fell behind 17-0, and it looked as if they were about to get handed their 13th loss of the season.

Trailing 17-3 in the second half, a 23-yard Cadillac Williams touchdown run and a 77-yard punt return for a score by Micheal Spurlock sent the game into overtime, where the Buccaneers won, 20-17.

Freeman was 21-of-31 for 263 yards and no touchdowns in the contest, though he did throw two interceptions, one in the first quarter and one just after halftime.

But when it counted, in the fourth quarter, Freeman was a stout 4-of-6 for 79 yards. He did not have a pass attempt in overtime, as the Buccaneers ran the ball on 10 consecutive plays, including a Freeman scramble, to set-up the game-winning field goal.

One fourth-quarter possession did end with an incomplete pass of 4th-and-1, and Freeman was not asked to do much as far as taking the game into his own hands, but the Buccaneers won in comeback fashion, nonetheless.

Fast-forward to 2010’s season opener against the Browns.

After falling behind 14-3 in the first half, Freeman rebounded from a second-quarter interception to capitalize on a Ronde Barber interception, tossing a three-yard touchdown pass to rookie Mike Williams to bring the Buccaneers within four. They went into halftime down 14-10, and it stayed that way until the fourth quarter, where Freeman had another chance to lead a comeback.

On a drive that started at the Cleveland 47-yardline, Freeman started the drive 1-of-4 for just 14 yards, and the Buccaneers found themselves facing 3rd-and-10 on the Cleveland 33-yard-line.

Freeman then lofted a pass over the shoulder and into the arms of Micheal Spurlock in the end zone for what would be the game-winning touchdown, as the Buccaneers won the game 17-14 and Freeman recorded his third come-from-behind win.

Freeman was 21-of-38 for 236 yards with two touchdowns with one interception in the game, and he is now 4-6 as a starter.

“Sometimes you’re going to be called upon to score at the end of the game,” said Freeman, “but I just try to be ready for any possible scenario going in, and I try to do my best to get a win.

“You have to understand the game situation, but there can’t be any panic about it.”

Sure, he’s has had chances to lead his team from behind because a struggling defense often puts the offense in a hole.

He’s also had chances to lead comeback wins in some of those six losses and came up short, including a 16-6 loss at Carolina last year in which he threw five interceptions. There was also a two-point loss at Miami and a three-point loss in Atlanta, both winnable games late.

That’s all a part of the inconsistency of a young quarterback.

If Freeman can cut down on his interceptions and make a habit of taking care of the ball late in the game, we could see more comeback wins than two- and three-point losses for the Buccaneers in 2010.

“As far as bringing the team back,” said Freeman, “I prepare every week the exact same, and really try to be ready for every situation.”

As Freeman continues to gain NFL experience, Buccaneer fans will find out if Freeman is truly a comeback kid or not.

Freeman will look to lead the Buccaneers to a surprise 2-0 start on Sunday when they travel to Carolina to face the Panthers.

This article can also be found at www.footballnewsnow.com.