Turnaround Continues for Dilfer

Embattled quarterback Trent Dilfer delivered his second solid performance since returning to the Tampa Bay starting lineup after a one-week absence, throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers’ 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Dilfer was benched three games ago, ending a streak of 72 consecutive starts after the Buccaneers (5-4) stumbled to a 3-3 start while ranking 29th in the NFL in passing and averaging only 13 points.

He regained the job last week because Eric Zeier is injured and has been a different player, leading the team to its two highest yardage totals of the season and throwing for five touchdowns with only one interception in two victories.

“It was ugly. I get benched after a win. You know: ‘Can we win another game? Dilfer stinks. They can’t score any points,’ ” Dilfer said. “The only way you can get through it is being enthusiastic, enjoying preparation, enjoying one another. I think that’s something we’ve done.”

Dilfer, in his sixth season, was 17 for 27 and threw a long touchdown pass to Jacquez Green for the second week in a row--a 52-yard play that gave the Buccaneers a 17-3 lead in the third quarter.

The Chiefs (5-4) pulled within 17-10 on Elvis Grbac’s 50-yard touchdown pass play to Joe Horn with 10:40 remaining. However, Grbac had a pass intercepted by Hardy Nickerson in the end zone with 28 seconds left.