The Associated Press

TOKYO - Chris Simms helped make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' journey to Japan a success.The son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms led a fourth-quarter touchdown drive and threw for 70 yards as the Super Bowl champions beat the New York Jets 30-14 Saturday in the American Bowl, the NFL's exhibition opener.

Though Simms is the Bucs' third-string quarterback behind Brad Johnson and Shaun King, coach Jon Gruden saw potential in the third-round pick out of Texas.

"He definitely has ability and he proved it tonight," Gruden said. "We had solid execution and I like the attitude of our team."

Simms was upset when he was drafted because he felt he had the talent to be selected higher than No. 97 overall. Gruden has helped the quarterback during training camp, going over the offense as they sat on a golf cart after practice.

Simms started the second half and led a drive that culminated with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Barlow 45 seconds into the fourth quarter to put the Bucs up 20-7. Simms finished 7-of-10 for 70 yards before a Tokyo Dome crowd of 43,601.

Ralf Kleinmann kicked two field goals, including a 36-yarder with nine minutes left, that made it 30-7.

The Jets got off to a good start but could not stop the Tampa Bay offense. LaMont Jordan ran for a 1-yard touchdown on the opening drive, but the Jets were shut down until late in the fourth quarter when rookie Brooks Bollinger threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Reid.

"We have to stop giving up those long drives," Jets coach Herman Edwards said. "But we're going to give the players a day and a half to get rested and adjusted to the time difference in New York."

Just as Edwards promised, the Jets got the ball to Japanese receiver Yoshinobu Imoto in the final minutes of the fourth quarter when he caught a 44-yard pass from Bollinger.

Imoto was one of two Japanese players in the American Bowl. Linebacker Shinzo Yamada played in one series for Tampa Bay.