2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Tampa Bay Buccaneers
year = 2002
record = 12-4
division_place = 1st NFC South
coach = Jon Gruden
stadium = Raymond James Stadium
playoffs = Won the Super BowlThe 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 9-7 season. It was Jon Gruden's first season as the Buccaneers head coach. They won the Super Bowl for the first time in the teams history beating the Oakland Raiders.

chedule

ummary

Upon his arrival in Tampa, Gruden immediately went to work, acquiring former Jaguars WR Keenan McCardell, and RB Michael Pittman from the Cardinals. The Buccaneers needed to improve their sluggish offense, as the league's sweeping realignment sent them to the new NFC South division, along with Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans.

The offense made slight improvements during the season, but the strength of the team was the defense. The 2002 Buccaneers became the first team to lead the league in total defense, points allowed, and interceptions since the 1985 Bears. They also held opposing quarterbacks to an unbelievable 48.4 passer rating for the season [http://www.buccaneers.com/team/staffdetail.aspx?coachid=48] . Led by this dominating defense, the 2002 Buccaneers achieved their most successful season to date. They won the NFC South title with the team's best ever record, 12-4, and then defeated the 49ers in what became coach Steve Mariucci's last game with that franchise. In a surprising upset, the Tampa Bay won their first NFC championship on the road against the Eagles in the last NFL game ever played at Veterans Stadium. Cornerback Ronde Barber capped off the win by intercepting a Donovan McNabb pass and returning it 92 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia fans could only watch in stunned silence.

The Buccaneers went on to rout Gruden's former team, the Oakland Raiders, by a score of 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. Gruden's familiarity with the Raiders' players and playbook paid off, as John Lynch and other Buccaner players recognized some of Oakland's formations and plays at crucial points in the game [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/peter_king/news/2003/02/03/mmqb/] . The Bucs became the first team to win the Super Bowl without any picks in the first two rounds of the previous spring's NFL Draft, having traded these picks to the Oakland Raiders for the rights to acquire Gruden. Gruden became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl.

Preseason

During the offseason, the Buccaneers signed a new deal with Walt Disney World, and moved their Training Camp from the University of Tampa to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex outside of Orlando.

The Buccaneers played four preseason games (home team in capital letters).
*BUCCANEERS 14, Dolphins 10
*Buccaneers 20, JAGUARS 0
*Redskins 40, BUCCANEERS 10
*Buccaneers 17, TEXANS 13

During the first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night August 12, which served as Jon Gruden's first coached game (albeit preseason), Frank Murphy took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. It was the Buccaneers' fifth kickoff return touchdown in the preseason, however, at the time, the team had still never returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the regular season (and would do so not until 2007).

Game Summaries

Week 1 New Orleans Saints

Jon Gruden's era in Tampa Bay began at home against new division rival, the New Orleans Saints. Though heralded for his offensive expertise, the Buccaneers offense sputtered and was anemic for the first three quarters. The Saints held a 20-10 lead late in the fourth quarter, while Tampa Bay's offense had only 161 yards through three periods, and quarterback Brad Johnson was sacked three times, on a hot, humid 90° afternoon.

With just under three minutes remaining, Brad Johnson led the Buccaneers on touchdown drive to narrow the score to 20-17. In the final two minutes, the offense finally performed, as Johnson drove the Buccaneers to the Saints 34 yard line. Tampa Bay faced 4th down with 23 seconds to go and counting, and no timeouts remaining. Martin Gramatica hurried onto the field and kicked a game-tying field goal as time expired, and forced overtime.

Tied 20-20 in the overtime period, Tampa Bay received, and quickly drove to the Saints 39 yard line. With the choice of a field goal attempt of over 55 yards, Gruden elected to punt. The teams traded possession twice, and with just over 4 minutes remaining in the overtime, Tampa Bay was pinned back at their own 5 yard line. Tom Tupa attempted to punt on 4th down from the endzone, but Fred McAfee was unblocked. Tupa avoided the tackle, and attempted a desperation shovel pass to John Howell from his non-throwing arm. The ball was intercepted by James Allen, standing in the confines of the endzone, and the Saints were credited with a game-winning touchdown.

Week 2 at Baltimore Ravens

Tampa Bay rebounded in week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. Karl Williams returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown, and Martin Gramatica scored three field goals. Derrick Brooks sealed the victory and secured the 25-0 shutout with a 97-yard interception return touchdown with 1:06 to go.

Week 3 St. Louis Rams

On Monday night, the Buccaneers hosted the Rams, continuing a popular rivalry between the two clubs. The Tampa Bay defense intercepted Kurt Warner four times, and held a 19-14 lead late in the fourth quarter.

With just over a minute to go, Warner drove the Rams to their 34 yard line, but Derrick Brooks intercepted his pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown, his second such score in two weeks. Tampa Bay won 26-14, and improved to 2-1.

Week 4 at Cincinnati Bengals

Tampa Bay crushed the hapless Bengals 35-7. Brad Johnson threw three touchdown passes (of 35 yards, 65 yards and 22 yards, respectively), while Shelton Quarles returned an interception 25 yards for a score (Tampa Bay's third such score in three weeks).

Week 5 at Atlanta Falcons

Tampa Bay visited another new division rival, the Atlanta Falcons. The Buccaneer defense dominated yet another game, holding the Falcons to only 3 first half points, despite giving up good field position (the Falcons had a 47-yard kickoff return, a fumble recovery and a recovered onside kick).

On the first drive of the third quarter, quarterback Michael Vick was knocked out of the game after a sack by Simeon Rice. Doug Johnson took over at quarterback for the Falcons, and did not fare well. Though the Falcons took a 6-3 lead midway through the third period, the lead was short-lived. Three plays later, Brad Johnson connected on a 76-yard touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson, and a 10-6 lead. After a Martin Gramatica field goal streched the lead to 13-6, Tampa Bay pinned the Falcons on their own 16 yard line with 6:24 to go in the game. Doug Johnson was being sacked but got the ball off, which was in-turn, intercepted by Warren Sapp at the Atlanta 15 yard line. Sapp lateraled to Derrick Brooks who then ran for a touchdown. It was Tampa Bay's fourth consecutive game with a defensive score, and Brook's third of the season.

Tampa Bay won by a final score of 20-6, and improved to 4-1.

Week 6 Cleveland Browns

Tampa Bay hosted Cleveland, and notched their first ever win against the Browns franchise by a score of 17-3. Fullback Mike Alstott was the most notable of the day, rushing 17 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, Alstott rumbled 19 yards, shaking at least seven tackles, for one of the more memorable plays of his career.

Despite the convincing win, the Buccaneer kicking game suffered several woes. One field goal attempt was blocked, one sailed wide left, and another was foiled by a botched snap.

Week 7 at Philadelphia Eagles

Derrick Brooks recovered and returned a Donovan McNabb fumble for a touchdown (his fourth defensive score of the season), but Tampa Bay could not prevail over the Eagles at Veterans Stadium, falling 20-10. It marked the third straight loss at Veterans Stadium for the Buccaneers, and the fourth straight loss overall to the Eagles.

Early in the game, quarterback Brad Johnson suffered a rib injury, but managed to stay in the game. With 14 minutes to go, physically beaten and exhausted, Johnson lofted a pass intended for Keyshawn Johnson, and it was intercepted. He lacked strength due to the bruised rib. Brad Johnson was benched and would not return to the game. The turnover sealed the victory for the Eagles.

Week 8 at Carolina Panthers

Rob Johnson started for the injured Brad Johnson, and managed to guide the Buccaneers to a tough 12-9 win over the Carolina Panthers. Martin Gramatica hit four field goals (32, 52, 53, and 47 yards respectively) for Tampa Bay's only points.

In the final minute, tied 9-9, Rob Johnson drove the Buccaneers into Carolina territory. With 21 seconds to go, Johnson scrambled for a 9-yard run, and was pushed out of bounds at the Carolina 35, but was injured on the play. Third-string quarterback Shaun King scurried off the bench cold, and delivered a clutch 7-yard pass to Karl Williams. With 5 seconds to go, Gramatica kicked the game-winning field goal.

Week 9 Minnesota Vikings

Brad Johnson returned to the lineup, throwing five touchdown passes (including three to Keyshawn Johnson), and a total of 313 yards, as the Buccaneers rolled 38-24 over the visiting Vikings.

Week 10 Open Date

Tampa Bay's bye week took place in week 10.

Week 11 Carolina Panthers

Brad Johnson threw two touchdown passes, and Martin Gramatica scored four field goals, in a 23-10 win over the Panthers. The Buccaneers swept the season series with Carolina, and posted a franchise-best 8-2 start.

Week 12 Green Bay Packers

Longtime rival Green Bay came to Raymond James Stadium, with the best record in the NFC on the line. In the first quarter, Brett Favre connected on a touchdown pass to Donald Driver to take the lead 7-0. Tampa Bay scored a field goal at the end of the first half, and the score was 7-3 at halftime. The Buccaneers scored another field goal in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to 7-6.

On the first play of the next drive, Favre was intercepted by Brian Kelly, who returned the ball to the Packers 18 yard line. During the return, Chad Clifton was jogging down field, away from the main action, and was blindsided by Warren Sapp. Clifton laid motionless on the field for several minutes, and was carted off the field with a season-ending pelvic injury. The turnover led to a Brad Johnson touchdown pass to Joe Jurevicius, followed by a two-point conversion catch by Keyshawn Johnson, and a 14-7 lead.

Ronde Barber, Dexter Jackson, and Kelly intercepted three more Favre passes, and Tampa Bay won convincingly 21-7. At 9-2, the Buccaneers stood with the best record in the NFC conference. After the game, Sapp and Packers coach Mike Sherman were involved in a confrontation on the field, exchanging heated words. The Sapp hit was regarded by some as a cheap shot, but Clifton would recover fully from the injury, and Sapp defended his actions, and was not penalized by the league.

Week 13 at New Orleans Saints

Mike Alstott scored a 44-yard touchdown catch, and Keenan McCardell caught another late in the game, but the Buccaneers fell to the Saints, 26-20 on "Sunday Night Football". Brad Johnson was intercepted once, lost a fumble, and Aaron Stecker lost another fumble, as the Saints swept Tampa Bay for the season.

Week 14 Atlanta Falcons

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick entered the game with considerable pregame hype and an 8-game unbeaten streak. Vick, however, was sacked twice by Tampa Bay, and held to only 125 yards passing and a measley 15 yards rushing. Meanwhile, Brad Johnson connected on four touchdowns (two apeice to Jurevicius and McCardell) as the Buccaneers won 34-10.

Week 15 at Detroit Lions

Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman each scored a rushing touchdown, but the visiting Buccaneers found themselves still tied 20-20 late in the fourth quarter with the 3-10 Lions. With 3:04 to go, Martin Gramatica broke the tie with a 38-yard field goal, and Tampa Bay held on for a 23-20 victory.

Injuries plagued the Buccaneers that week, as John Lynch sat out the game with a neck strain. Keyshawn Johnson left the game with a groin injury, and Anthony McFarland broke his right foot, and would miss the remainder of the season. Most notably, however, was quarterback Brad Johnson, who suffered a back injury during the game. He did not leave the game, but afterwards, the severity of the injury was more significant than originally known. He would be sidelined during practice the following week.

Week 16 Pittsburgh Steelers

With Brad Johnson sidelined, backup quarterback Shaun King started against the Steelers on Monday night. Tampa Bay was rocked 17-7 by the visiting Steelers, the second consecutive season being beaten soundedly at home by Pittsburgh.

The night started out on a rough note even before kickoff, as during pre-game warm-ups Warren Sapp skipped through the Steelers. Jerome Bettis shoved Sapp, and this was followed by a heated argument between the two teams. The Buccaneers had also been ridiculed by Steelers' Lee Flowers as being "paper champions."

On the first play of the game, Tommy Maddox's pass to Plaxico Burress gained 41 yards to the Tampa Bay 40 yard line. The Steelers drove 81 yards in only six plays, as Maddox connected with Antwaan Randle El for an 11-yard touchdown. On the second play of Tampa Bay's first drive, King was intercepted by Chad Scott, who returned the ball 30 yards for a touchdown, and a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

Trailing 17-0, Tampa Bay kicker Martin Gramatica made a 50-yard field goal, but it was negated by a Pittsburgh penalty, and instead Tampa Bay was awarded a first down at the Pittsburgh 28 yard line. Four plays later, however, Mike Alstott lost a fumble at the 7 yard line, and the Steelers took a 17-0 lead into halftime.

Shaun King was finally benched having thrown a pitiful 9-for-26, an interception, and only 73 yards passing. Rob Johnson took over in the second half, and salvaged the remainder of the game. With 1:23 to go, Keyshawn Johnson caught a touchdown pass, and avoided the shutout.

Week 17 at Chicago Bears

In the final week of the season, Tampa Bay traveled to Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, to meet the Chicago Bears. A win would secure the #2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Brad Johnson sat out for the second game in a row, and Rob Johnson started the game for Tampa Bay.

The temperature at kickoff was 38°, and Tampa Bay looked to snap a 0-21 record in games under 40°. Rob Johnson passed for 134 yards and no interceptions, , and Michael Pittman rushed for 90 yards, but the Buccaneers offense could not score a touchdown. Martin Gramatica kicked a franchise-best 5-out-of-5 field goals, and his 15 points were the only scores of the game. Bears quarterback Henry Burris was intercepted four times by Tampa Bay (twice by Kelly, and once each by Brooks and Smith).

With the win, Tampa Bay secured a bye for the wild card round and recorded the club's first win with the temperature under 40°. The Buccaneers finished with a franchise-best 12-4 regular season record along with a club-best 6-2 road record.

Divisional playoffs: San Francisco 49ers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=49ers
R1=3
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
RT=6
Home=Buccaneers
H1=7
H2=21
H3=3
H4=0
HT=31

"at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida"

*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: 54°F (Partly cloudy)
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth (color commentators)
*Referee: Gerald Austin
*Game Attendance: 65,599

The Buccaneers, with the league's top ranked defense during the 2002 regular season, forced five turnovers, sacked quarterback Jeff Garcia four times, and limited the 49ers to only two field goals. Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson, who had been sidelined for a month, returned to throw for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Mike Alstott scored two touchdowns, while the Buccaneers held onto the ball for 36:46 and held the 49ers to a season low 228 yards. This was San Francisco's first playoff game without a touchdown since 1986.

NFC Championship: at Philadelphia Eagles

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Buccaneers
R1=10
R2=7
R3=3
R4=7
RT=27
Home=Eagles
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=0
HT=10

"at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia"

*Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: 26°F (Mostly cloudy)
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth (color commentators)
*Referee: Terry McAulay
*Game Attendance: 66,713

Tampa Bay won on the road for the first time in playoff history, and in temperatures below 32°F (0°C), in the last football game played at Veterans Stadium. The Eagles were heavy favorites at home going into the game. The Eagles had beaten the Buccaneers four consecutive times, in the wild card round the two previous seasons, and also during regular-season games in 2001 and 2002. During the two playoff losses, both at Veterans Stadium, Tampa Bay had failed to score a single touchdown.

Eagles running back Brian Mitchell returned the opening kickoff 70 yards, setting up a 20-yard touchdown run by Duce Staley less than a minute into the game. Tampa Bay responded with Martin Gramatica's 48-yard field goal on their ensuing drive. At the end of Philadelphia's next possession, Lee Johnson's punt pinned the Buccaneers back at their own 4-yard line. But Tampa Bay stormed 96 yards and scored with Mike Alstott's 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead. The key play on the drive was a 71-yard completion from Brad Johnson to Joe Jurevicius on third down and two from their own 24-yard line.

David Akers tied the score, 10-10, with a 30-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but the Bucs responded with an 80-yard, 12-play drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson. With time running out in the half, Donovan McNabb led the Eagles to the Tampa Bay 24-yard line, only to lose a fumble while being sacked by his high school teammate Simeon Rice, who stripped the ball away and recovered it himself.

On the Eagles' first drive of the third quarter, McNabb lost another fumble due to a tackle from defensive back Ronde Barber, and Bucs lineman Ellis Wyms recovered it. Later on, with 1:02 left in the third period, Gramatica's 27-yard field goal increased the Tampa Bay lead to 20-10. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles managed to drive 73 yards to Tampa Bay's 10-yard line, but Barber intercepted McNabb's pass with 3:12 left in the game and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.

This was the last Eagles game ever played at Veterans Stadium which was demolished shortly thereafter.

uper Bowl XXXVII: Oakland Raiders

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Raiders
R1=3
R2=0
R3=6
R4=12
RT=21
Home=Buccaneers
H1=3
H2=17
H3=14
H4=14
HT=48"at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego"

*Game time: 6:18 p.m. EST
*Game weather: 81°F (sunny)
*TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator)
*Referee: Bill Carollo
*Game Attendance: 67,603

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl, routing the Oakland Raiders 48-21. The Buccaneers defense intercepted Rich Gannon a Super Bowl record five times, and returned three of the interceptions for touchdowns. Safety Dexter Jackson was named the game's MVP.

Division standings

References

* [http://www.bucpower.com BUC POWER]
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2002_games.htm Pro Football Reference]