Tokyo ? Chris Simms helped make Tampa Bay’s 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.

The special instruction must have helped. Simms started the second half and led a drive that culminated with a four-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.

“We’ve got a long way to go still,” Gruden said. “We enjoyed Tokyo enormously, but we’re ready to go home now.”

Both teams seemed to have fun on the trip. Warren Sapp loved the sushi, while Gruden was impressed with a giant roller coaster next to the Tokyo Dome.

“I hate to say it, but that roller coaster across the street is pretty cool,” Gruden said. “That’s one steep deal, and I’d like to try that.”

Tampa Bay running back Thomas Jones dodges New York's Ryan Wingrove (96) and Lance Gibson (97) while sizing up safety Derek Pagel (25). Jones scored from four yards out late in the second quarter of the Buccaneers' 30-14 exhibition victory Saturday in the American Bowl at Tokyo Dome.

The Jets got off to a good start, but could not stop the Tampa Bay offense.

LaMont Jordan ran for a one-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.

“We were all rooting for him,” Jets receiver Santana Moss said. “We have been telling him all week that he has to do something big in his hometown.”