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Bucs return with a bang
First playoff game in 15 years results in 20-10 lashing of LionsBy Fred Goodall, Associated Press writer
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Big Sombrero rocked, and so did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Playing with the poise of postseason veterans rather than upstarts, the Bucs celebrated their return to the playoffs after a 15-year absence yesterday with a 20-10 victory over the Detroit Lions.
Trent Dilfer threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Horace Copeland, Mike Alstott scored on a 31-yard run and Michael Husted kicked two field goals for Tampa Bay, which hadn't won a playoff game since 1979.
The victory, in the Bucs' first playoff game at Houlihan's Stadium in 18 years, sends them to Green Bay next Sunday for a third meeting this season against the defending Super Bowl champion.
"If we can match their physicality and their emotion, we can go up there and win," Dilfer said.
The Packers swept the season series between the NFC Central rivals and have won nine of 10 games against Tampa Bay. Nevertheless, the Bucs insist they'll head north with confidence.
"We didn't want to be happy just being in the playoffs. Now, we don't want to be happy winning one game," second-year coach Tony Dungy said. "We've come a long way from 0-5 (in 1996) to the playoffs and winning this game."
A crowd of 73,361 counted down the final seconds in what will be the Bucs' last game in the stadium affectionately known as The Big Sombrero -- unless Tampa Bay upsets Green Bay and Minnesota beats San Francisco next week.
The Lions dedicated their postseason to linebacker Reggie Brown, who had spinal neck surgery after being injured in last week's regular-season finale, and wore his "59" on their helmets in tribute.
Detroit also lost quarterback Scott Mitchell to a mild concussion late in the third quarter -- he was wheeled off on a stretcher -- leaving backup Frank Reich to try to lead the Lions back from a 20-0 deficit.
Sanders, the NFL's co-MVP with Green Bay's Brett Favre, became the third player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season this year. But he had only 65 on 18 carries Sunday, the first time he didn't gain at least 100 since Tampa Bay held him to 20 in Week 2. And he didn't stick around to speak to the media.
"Offensively speaking, we never got into any kind of rhythm," Lions coach Bobby Ross said. "Their plan was even simpler than we anticipated. But we never got into the game offensively until the third quarter."
Tampa Bay didn't have a starter on offense with any playoff experience. Yet it was the Bucs who were moving the ball early. Dilfer's touchdown pass to Copeland capped an 89-yard drive that lasted nearly nine minutes, and Husted's second field goal made it 13-0.
The Bucs wasted an opportunity late in the first half, though, when Warrick Dunn fumbled and Detroit's Robert Porcher recovered at the Lions 14.
Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin spent two weeks fretting about a third meeting with Sanders, who ran for 215 yards against Tampa Bay on Oct. 12 and has gained more during his career (1,998) against the Bucs than he has against any other opponent.
The Lions, however, have a history of not getting the four-time rushing champion involved in postseason games, particularly on the road, and yesterday was no different.
The Bucs held a better than 2-1 advantage in time of possession in the opening half, outgaining the Lions 198-52. Sanders had 15 yards on six carries and the Lions hurt themselves with poor special teams play and an interception that set up a field goal.
Tampa Bay played much of the first half in Detroit territory after the Lions' John Jett failed to get off a punt and was tackled at his 40. The Bucs also escaped unscathed when kick returner Karl Williams fumbled inside his 20, but Detroit's Matt Russell couldn't pick up the ball and it squirted out of bounds.
The Lions' woes continued after halftime. Jett's 31-yard punt led to Alstott's touchdown that forced Ross to decide whether to abandon the running game and rely on Mitchell's arm.
The quarterback was knocked out of the game when he scrambled and dived head-first for a 2-yard gain at the Bucs 15. Jason Hanson kicked a 33-yard field goal on the next play, then Detroit got a 1-yard TD run from Tommy Vardell in the fourth quarter.
"Unfortunately, we're notorious for slow starts and it caught up with us," said Lions receiver Herman Moore, who had only four catches for 44 yards after having 104 receptions during the regular season.
Dilfer completed 13 of 26 passes for 181 yards and was intercepted once. Mitchell was 10-for-25 for 78 yards with one interception, while Reich finished 11-for-15 for 129 yards.
Dunn (72 yards, 18 attempts) and Alstott (68 yards, 11 attempts) both outrushed Sanders, who has been limited to 148 yards on 52 carries in four road playoff games, all losses.
"There's really not a plan to stop Barry, you've just always got to hustle," said Bucs defensive tackle Brad Culpepper. "All week, we'd been hearing Barry this and Barry that. Maybe that was fodder for us."
Photo by The Associated Press Buccaneers quarterback Trent Dilfer takes the high road on this lunge for a first down during yesterday's victory over the Lions. |  |
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