Gained some respect for the '02 Bucs today (1 Viewer)

[Chase Stuart]

Whenever people discuss great Super Bowl teams in recent history, no one mentions the '02 Bucs. But what always stays with me is how that team didn't leave anything to chance.

The Giants needed about 10 things to go right their way yesterday, and they all did. If the Pats recover Bradshaw's fumble...if Strahan doesn't sack Brady out of field goal range...If Samuel jumps an inch higher...if Manning/Tyree play doesn't go down...if Steve Smith doesn't get wide open on that pick...if Moss' fingertips catch the bomb instead of just touch it. But you always need some degree of luck to win the championship. Think of some recent winners:

06 Colts - had a billion close calls in the AFCC Game

05 Steelers -- Big Ben's tackle

04 Pats -- 3 point SB win

03 Pats -- 3 point SB win and divisional round win

01 Pats -- billion close calls throughout the playoffs

00 Ravens -- one Shannon Sharpe play a game; some bounces against the Titans

99 Rams -- Mike Jones tackle

98 Broncos -- broken play in the AFCG game for 47 yards to McCaffrey; Jets had four uncharacteristic fumbles

97 Broncos -- bunch of game changing plays in the SB

96 Packers -- Howard; several game changing SB plays

95 Cowboys -- Neil.

Then you look at the 2002 Bucs. Won the division by 2.5 games. Won the three playoff games by 25, 17 and 27. Blewout the 49ers and Raiders, no close calls there. IIRC, fell down early to Phi, but then dominated the game.

It's very rare to see a team leave nothing to chance en route to winning the Super Bowl. Tampa Bay's probably had the most dominant post-season of the past decade. Seeing all the things that went the Giants way this post-season, and of course, yesterday, reminded me of that.

 

[Capella]

Your best post ever.

to that defense.

 

[Dreamer]

Your best post ever. :X to that defense.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

I agree, that was a very fun team. For whatever reason, I had hopped on their Madden bandwagon before the season so I had kept a keen eye on them. They had a similar feel to the Giants, had gotten up that hill a few times but couldn't quite reach the top. To finally win a cold weather at Philly, who had been preordained as NFC champs before that game(I'll never forget that Jurvecious grab) to entering the bowl as the coda to a coronation of those very good early 00's Raider squads, I loved seeing Chuckie get his revenge in such convincing fashion. My only regret is seeing Tim Brown not get a ring that year, but otherwise, probably the most unlikely blowout in bowl history. I don't know what the line was on that, but I'm sure the Raiders were at least touchdown favorites.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

And the Steelers beat 'em.

Yes the Bucs were monsters and what gets them forgotten is the lack of some poster boy offensive player. Its a shame. They deserve a better recollection.

 

[Capella]

I agree, that was a very fun team. For whatever reason, I had hopped on their Madden bandwagon before the season so I had kept a keen eye on them. They had a similar feel to the Giants, had gotten up that hill a few times but couldn't quite reach the top. To finally win a cold weather at Philly, who had been preordained as NFC champs before that game(I'll never forget that Jurvecious grab) to entering the bowl as the coda to a coronation of those very good early 00's Raider squads, I loved seeing Chuckie get his revenge in such convincing fashion. My only regret is seeing Tim Brown not get a ring that year, but otherwise, probably the most unlikely blowout in bowl history. I don't know what the line was on that, but I'm sure the Raiders were at least touchdown favorites.

Bucs were 3.5 point dogs.I'll never forget Tony Dungy being interviewed the week of the game -- something along the lines of "this is going to be a huge blowout for the Bucs" -- I thought that was so odd for him to say. Guy had his finger on the pulse.

 

[Capella]

And the Steelers beat 'em. Yes the Bucs were monsters and what gets them forgotten is the lack of some poster boy offensive player. Its a shame. They deserve a better recollection.

I think they'll be remembered better down the road when Brooks, Sapp and Lynch retire. They had a hell of a run (defensively).

 

[videoguy505]

I was rooting for the Raiders that year, and that SB will always be somewhat tainted due to the fact that they never changed the audibles. Yeah, it's totally the Raiders bonehead coaching staff that did it, and it's their fault, but it prevents me from giving the Bucs full credit.

 

[Capella]

I was rooting for the Raiders that year, and that SB will always be somewhat tainted due to the fact that they never changed the audibles. Yeah, it's totally the Raiders bonehead coaching staff that did it, and it's their fault, but it prevents me from giving the Bucs full credit.

So that taints it for you? That defense was ridiculous all year.

 

[The Jerk]

Good observation, Chase!

And far better than this one:

The best chance to beat the Pats this year will be in one of four games: this coming week against Washington, Indy, the Giants, or the Steelers.

I'd give the Steelers the lowest chance of that group. Barring a turnaround, their offensive line and defensive secondary will not be good enough to win. They might make it interesting for a half, but they have a lot of improvement to make in two critical areas. Plus, they already have several injuries and are past their bye week.I can't believe I'm posting this after the Week 1 and 2 performances by the Giants, but they might have the best chance after the Colts, with a running game that could be effective in limiting the number of Patriot possessions, enough passing to put up points as needed, and a defensive line that could produce pressure on Brady without requiring a huge number of blitzes. It's all about matchups...

Eli Manning will throw about 5 INTs in that game if the Pats are 15-0 and going for the undefeated season. I'd give the Giants somewhere between 0 and 0.1% chance of ending the Patriots undefeated season.I'd say the Eagles have a better chance of doing it than the giants. But really, only the Colts have a halfway decent shot. The Steelers winning in NWE seems unlikely, and Balt/NYG have little chance. Maybe Phi or one of the division opponents do it: NWE has never swept the division.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Also dont forget that the Ravens probably lose to Oakland if fat Goose doesnt knock Gannon out of the game

 

[Slinger]

That was an extremely special year for the Buccaneers. Mike Alstott had his last stellar game of his career versus the Browns that year. The offense was very average, but scored points when it mattered. The defense was simply lights out that year.

 

[AmpLee]

Looking back they really were a great superbowl team....Tony Dungy really did an amazing job turning that franchise around before Gruden took over. People forget how much of a laughingstock that franchise was back in the day

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

IIRC, fell down early to Phi, but then dominated the game.

Philly took the opening kickoff to the Bucs' 10 yard line or something. Duce Staley banged it in 2 plays later, the Vet (in it's last ever game mind you) went absolutely bonkers, and then the next three hours are a horrible blur of some kind.As an Eagle fan who witnessed the horror in person, I would describe that day as the best one minute I've ever experienced as a sports fan, immediately followed by the 59 worst. I still see Joe Jurevicius running down the sideline in my nightmares. Five years later and I'm still not over it.

 

[Aussie Cowboy]

As an Eagle fan who witnessed the horror in person, I would describe that day as the best one minute I've ever experienced as a sports fan, immediately followed by the 59 worst.

As a punter that had a boatload on the Eagles that day, I'd have to agree with you.