George Returns and Leads Colts Over Buccaneers : Interconference: He makes his first start and passes for 234 yards as Indianapolis defeats Tampa Bay, 24-14.

Jeff George took a beating, but his return to the Indianapolis lineup proved to be just what the Colts needed.

George, who missed the Colts’ first three games because of a stretched ligament in his right thumb, overcame a shaky start Sunday to throw two second-half touchdown passes and lead the Colts to a 24-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

George was sacked only once, but he was pressured and repeatedly knocked down. He completed 15 of 33 passes for 234 yards against a Tampa Bay defense that wilted after dominating the first half.

“Quarterbacks in this league, if you get protection, you can beat anybody,” said George, who had three passes intercepted. “The line protected me. The receivers made great plays, and we were able to come back.”

The Buccaneers (3-2) intercepted two of George’s first three passes and moved the ball well on offense, but were only able to build a 14-7 halftime lead despite running 44 plays to the Colts’ 21.

“They are a better team than the reputation they bring with them,” Tampa Bay Coach Sam Wyche said. “I tried to sell that to our guys all week, but it didn’t work. We didn’t play our best game, but even if we had played our best we might not have won.”

The game swung on the Colts’ first possession of the third quarter when the Colts (2-2), who had had the ball for only 30 seconds of the opening quarter and 6:30 in the first half, drove 71 yards to tie the score on Jesse Hester’s 34-yard touchdown reception.

Dean Biasucci’s 45-yard field goal put the Colts ahead, 17-14, with 5:49 left in the third quarter and George clinched the victory with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Cash with 7:36 to play.

Tony McCoy recovered James Brooks’ fumble at the Buccaneers’ 39 to set up the final Colts’ touchdown. Indianapolis intercepted two passes by Vinny Testaverde, including Chris Goode’s first-quarter theft that he returned 46 yards to the Tampa Bay two.

On the next play, Rodney Culver ran over the left side to tie the score, 7-7.

Testaverde, who completed 23 of 47 passes for 286 yards, threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Stanford Jennings in the first quarter and Reggie Cobb scored on a one-yard run, ending an 81-yard scoring drive that lasted nearly 11 minutes for Tampa Bay.