MIAMI — Jeff Garcia saved his best for last.
Garcia played three series Saturday, and he helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Miami Dolphins 31-28 and with a 26-yard touchdown to Joey Galloway on his final pass.
Bruce Gradkowski brought the Bucs from behind twice in the fourth quarter and threw touchdown passes of 6 yards to Earnest Graham and 1 yard to Paris Warren.
"I like some of the things we did offensively," said Bucs coach Jon Gruden, whose team improved to 2-1. "Defensively we have to play better."
Dolphins rookie John Beck played the entire second half and threw for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
The first-team units played to a 14-all standoff before both teams began substituting liberally midway through the second quarter.
Miami's Trent Green, formally awarded the No. 1 job this week, pulled off a trick play for one touchdown and threw for another to cap an 18-play drive. He also threw a screen pass that linebacker Cato June intercepted and returned 2 yards for a score.
The Dolphins fell to 2-1.
"We stayed healthy with all the starters," coach Cam Cameron said. "That's the first thing you feel good about."
After his interception set up a Miami score, Garcia directed a 76-yard drive capped by his touchdown pass to Galloway on third-and-11.
"We need more of those, and more consistency," said Garcia, who went 4-for-10 for 54 yards. "It's still a work in progress."
Former Bucs starter Chris Simms played for the first time since a spleen injury sidelined him last season. He took six snaps in the third quarter, threw an incomplete pass and was penalized for an illegal forward pass.
Beck entered the game to start the second half and promptly led the Dolphins on a 79-yard touchdown drive, all of it through the air. The score came on a 51-yard pass to P.K. Sam, putting Miami ahead 21-17.
After Tampa Bay regained the lead, Beck directed a 76-yard touchdown drive. On third-and-5, he beat a blitz by going long to Derek Hagan for a 31-yard score.
Beck's unit was stopped on downs on its final two possessions, and he finished 11-for-22.