AJ McCarron: 'It just felt good being out there'

TAMPA – Firsts are always worth remembering, even if they're not under the most auspicious of circumstances.

When AJ McCarron finally, after more than a year as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, broke his first NFL huddle at his own 20-yard line at Raymond James Stadium on ESPN's Monday Night Football, only several thousand remained in the crowd.

The Bengals trailed 23-3, the first half marred by three turnovers and inopportune breakdowns.

His first play was a handoff to Rex Burkhead, which was called back on a hold by wide receiver Greg Little. Two plays later, his first NFL pass fell incomplete, leading to a Bengals punt.

"It's definitely a long wait, something I miss doing," he said. "It just felt good being out there with the guys in a game atmosphere and getting hit again and just having the feel of the game around you is just something you can't describe. It's unbelievable."

McCarron's second series again started with a penalty, this time a hold on lineman Matt O'Donnell. His first completion came to Burkhead, a 2-yard gain, but the hit he received after it resonated a little more.

"I threw the screen to Rex and I felt I got hit pretty late and the guy drove me into the ground, so it felt good to take a lick like that and get up from it," he said. "Just being back in the game felt good."

Tampa Bay ate up the rest of the third quarter, but a goal-line stand by the defense gave McCarron the ball back at his own 1-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, that drive lasted one play as Danny Lansanah slipped a Mark Weisman block and tackled Cedric Peerman in the end zone for a safety and a 25-3 Buccaneers lead.

The fourth series McCarron directed was more productive and the Bengals' best offensive effort of the night, a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.

And it started with the quarterback telling his teammates they were going to go down and score.

"We had confidence in him, had faith, and just listened to our quarterback and do what he says," wide receiver Jake Kumerow said.

Operating out of the shotgun and the no-huddle, he completed passes to Peerman, Kumerow and Tyler Kroft for first downs as he went 8-for-10 passes for 66 yards. The lone blemish was a missed deep ball to an open Denarius Moore down the sideline.

"You definitely know when AJ's in the huddle," Kroft said. "There's a presence when he's in there. I think he's a real good person one, and then two he's a really smart quarterback and he knows what's going on. He's not afraid to make the calls to put us in the best situation."

A 5-yard James Wilder, Jr. run then capped off the drive.

"He was a general. He took charge," Wilder, Jr. said. "He's not one of those guys who's just making plays – he's a leader as well."

The no-huddle offered McCarron an opportunity to find a rhythm with his receivers, but he attributed the success to starting the drive with a positive play rather than the penalties and a tackle for loss.

"We got in a good rhythm and put together a good drive, which was good for us and good to see the guys get that mojo back in them and some excitement," McCarron said. "We kept having silly penalties so it put us behind, so trying to play from behind with the down and distance is tough. It's not the best situation to be in. But the guys did a really good job of bouncing back. We had started with a positive play and just kept it going from there. It was really good to see."

McCarron finished his NFL debut with a 90.1 rating on 11 of 15 passing for 97 yards.

"Being in the atmosphere, feeling like you're in the game and everything, it was just an awesome experience," he said.

Wilder scores in homecoming

James Wilder, Jr. talked all week long about how special Monday night's game would be in his hometown and playing against the team his father, James, once starred for.

It became unforgettable with just under three minutes left in the game when he found the end zone from five yards out, and then rushing in for the two-point conversion.

"It was an honor to be able to score here," Wilder, Jr. said. "That was awesome. That was cool."

Despite the emotions of the moment, the second-year running back kept his cool by handing the touchdown ball to the referee. It was his second touchdown run of the preseason after finding pay dirt last week against New York.

"I just did something good so I was like let me not mess up the moment by doing too much," he said. "In my head I wanted to, but I was like, let me just act like I've been here before. I've only been there once more, but I'll act like I've been there a couple more times before."

Carter cashes in

Chris Carter provided some highlights for the Bengals' defense, coming up with 1.5 sacks of Tampa backup Mike Glennon off the edge of the defensive line.

The first came late in the second quarter, a nine-yard loss that pushed the Tampa offense further into its own end and later resulted in a punt. The second, which he shared with safety Shawn Williams, eventually led to a missed Buccaneers field goal.

"Sacks are great – they're amazing – but I think the biggest thing is when you can get out there to hold up the drive and stop the drive and kind of cause a disruption with what their offense has going on," Carter said.

Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has been experimenting with Carter as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end pass rusher, and his sacks came with his hand in the dirt and standing up.

Carter also recorded two quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss.

"A little versatility, but we just run different plays and just gotta make it happen," Carter said. "Just showing a little bit. To be honest, there's a lot I can improve in that game. That's what happens. You come out with a loss and you've got to go back to the film and just see, OK, what can I build on here and what can I build on there."