TAMPA, Florida (AFP) — Matt Bryant, mourning the death of his baby son, Matthew Tryson, just four days earlier, kicked three field goals Sunday to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 30-21 National Football League victory over Green Bay.
"Today was his day. It was all about him for me," Bryant said of his 3-month-old son, who died at home on Wednesday. "I talked with him in my head throughout the game. I wanted to remind him, he's my baby boy. He's with me all the time."
Despite the turmoil of the week, Bryant said he decided to play as a way to pay tribute to the child.
"I just buried my son yesterday," Bryant said. "I wanted to honor Tryce's name. I didn't think it was fair for his life to end so short. The best way I felt I could get out and honor him (was to play)."
"He was here with me," Bryant added. "He helped out."
However, Bryant admitted it was hard to concentrate on the game.
"I can't think of any other game being close to this," he said. "It's hard for me to stay focused. I didn't want to have a bad game today, I wanted to focus and lift Tryson up. I was so drained and tired."
Bryant's presence proved crucial for the Bucs, who didn't have another kicker on their active roster.
He made two field goals in the second quarter to help the Bucs build a 13-7 halftime lead.
In the fourth quarter he converted a 24-yard field goal with 2:26 to play to give Tampa Bay the lead for good at 23-21.
"I can't say enough about Matt Bryant and what he's been through and what he's done today," Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden said. "This was important for him to play. He needed the game, he needed football today. And boy did he deliver."
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