4. 2002 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TAMPA BAY BUCS at 1. 2007 AFC CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
1. 2007 AFC CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 16-0
Pythagorean Record 14-2
Offense: 1st
Defense: 4th
d. Jags Divisional Rnd 31-20
d. Chargers AFC Title 21-12
Lost Super Bowl Giants 17-14
d. '83 Cowboys 31-28 (POTG- Tom Brady)
d. '15 Chiefs 37-27 (POTG- Randy Moss)
HC: Bill Belichick, OC: Josh McDaniels, DC Dean Pees
Gillette Stadium, Avg Temp 45 degrees
Announcers: Gil Santos/Gino Cappelletti
Offense:
QB Tom Brady (30) Michigan ALL PRO 50 TD/8 INT 68.8 comp % 300.4 Y/G 8.3 Y/A 117.2% 2 rush TD
RB Lawrence Maroney (22) Minnesota 835 yds 4.5 y/c 4 rec 116 yds 6 TD
RB Randy Moss (30) ALL PRO Marshall 98 catches, 1493 yds, 15.2 y/c 23 TD
WR Wes Welker (26) TTech 113 catches, 1175 yds, 10.5 y/c 8 TD
WR Donte Stallworth (27) Tenn 46 catches, 697 yds, 15.2 y/c 3 TD
TE Ben Watson (27) UGA 36 catches, 389 yds, 10.8 y/c 8 TD
LT Matt Light (29) ALL PRO Purdue
LG Logan Mankins (25) Fresno St
C Dan Koppen (28) B College
RG Steve Neal (31) C St Bakersfield
RT Nick Kaczur (28) Toledo
Defense:
LDE Ty Warren (26) Tex A&M 4 sacks
NT Vince Wilfork (26) Miami 2 sacks
RDE Jarvis Green (28) LSU 6.5 sacks
LOLB Mike Vrabel (32) Ohio St ALL PRO 12.5 sacks
LILB Adalius Thomas (30) So Miss 6.5 sacks, int, TD
RILB Teddy Bruschi (34) Arizona 2 sacks
ROLB Junior Seau (38) USC 3 int, 3.5 sacks
LCB Asante Samuel (26) C Florida ALL PRO 6 int, TD
RCB Ellis Hobbs (24) Iowa St 1 int
SS Rodney Harrison (35) W.Illinois int, 2 sacks
FS James Sanders (24) Fres St 2 int
PK Stephen Gostkowski (23) Memphis
P Chris Hanson (31) Marshall
KR Ellis Hobbs (24) Iowa St TD
PR Wes Welker (26) TTech
128 teams left led by the top overall seed in the field, the 2007 Patriots. 30 year old Tom Brady won the MVP with 50 TD passes. 23 of those went to 30 year old Randy Moss. They were the first team with an undefeated regular season since the '72 Dolphins. In Rnd 1, the Pats knocked off the '83 Cowboys, Brady was 19-22. In Rnd 2, Randy Moss had 170 yds receiving and the Patriots beat the '15 Chiefs. The Pats are now 20-1.
4. 2002 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 13-3
Off: 18th
Def: 1st
1st NFC South
d. Niners Div Rnd 31-6
d. Eagles NFC Title 27-10
d. Raiders 48-21 Won Super Bowl
d. '15 Bengals 41-10 (Brad Johnson, PotG)
d. '14 Packers 44-16 (Michael Pittman PotG)
HC: Jon Gruden, OC: Bill Buir, DC: Monte Kiffin
Raymond James 75 Degrees
Announcers: Dave Sims/Scot Brantley
Offense
QB Brad Johnson (34-Florida St) 22 TD/6 INT 62.3% 234.5 y/g 6.8 y/a 92.9
RB Michael Pittman (27-Fresno St) 718 yds, 3.5 y/c 59 catc, 477 yds, 8.1 y/c, 1 TD
FB Mike Alstott (29-Pudue) 548 yds, 3.8 y/c 35 catch, 242 yds, 6.9 y/c 7 TD
WR Keyshawn Johnson (30-USC) 76 catch, 1088 yds, 14.3 y/c 5 TD
WR Keenan McCardell (32-UNLV) 61 catch 670 yds 11 y/c 6 TD
TE Ken Dilger (31-Illinois) 34 catch 329 yds 9.7 y/c 2 TD
LT Roman Oben (30-Louisville)
LG Kerry Jenkins (29-Troy)
C Jeff Christy (33-Pitt)
RG Cosey Coleman (24-Tennessee)
RT Kenyatta Walker (23-Florida)
Defense
LDE Greg Spires (28-Florida St) 3.5 sacks
LDT Booger McFarland (25-LSU) 1.5 sacks
RDT Warren Sapp (30-Miami) ALL PRO 2 int 7.5 sacks
RDE Simeon Rice (28-Illinois) ALL PRO int 15.5 sacks
LLB Alshermond Singleton (27-Temple) int sack
MLB Shelton Quarles (31-Vandy) 2 int sack TD
RLB Derrick Brooks (29-Florida St) ALL PRO 5 int sack 3 TD
LCB Brian Kelly (26-USC) 8 int sack
RCB Ronde Barber (27-UVA) 2 int 3 sacks
SS John Lynch (31-Stanford) 3 int
FS Dexter Jackson (25-Florida St) 3 int
K Martin Gramatica (27-Kansas St)
P Tom Tupa (36-Ohio St)
KR Aaron Stecker (27-W Illinois)
PR Karl Williams (31-Tex A&M-Kingsville)
The NFL's top defensive team, the '02 Super Bowl Champs, with their postseason and the romp over the '15 Bengals in Rnd 1, the Bucs are now at 16 total wins. This team is rolling, they played their best football in the playoffs and that has continued, in rnd 2, Tampa beat the '14 Packers 44-6. Tampa is now 17-4.
The '07 Pats are the top overall seeds, but they are 3 point underdogs, at home, to the Bucs - the Bucs have been steamrolling their way through the tournament.
The winner reaches the Round of 32, the Region 1 Final (it'll be a second before we get there).
Let's go the New England for the kick to this huge, huge matchup.
1st Qtr:
The Patriots open up at the 32.
Booger McFarland sacks Tom Brady on the first play of the game, Pats go 3 and out - Bucs will start at their own 24.
3 and out. Pats at the 37.
3 and out. John Howell, second year DB out of Colorado St -- BLOCKS - the Chris Hanson punt, the Bucs take over at the New England 30 yard line, big play here in the first quarter by Tampa special teams!
But....the drive goes 3 and out - and when Martin Gramatica misses the FG, New England escapes unscathed.
Pats at the 35. Halfway through the first. 3 and out. There has yet to be a first down.
Tampa at the 24.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Brad Johnson hits Keenan McCardell; it's a 19 yard pickup and the game's first first down.
1/10 - A yard for Michael Pittman and an offsides call then gives Tampa 5 more.
2/4 - A yard for Mike Alstott.
3/3 - Johnson hits Rickey Dudley, it's 10 yards and the Bucs are at the Pats 40.
The drive stalls here -- and Gramatica...again.....misses the FG. Still scoreless, nearing the end of the quarter. Pats at their own 39.
1/10 - Tom Brady to Randy Moss. 8 yards.
2/2 - Lawrence Maroney for 7, New England crosses midfield.
1/10 - Kevin Faulk stuffed - and that's the quarter.
2nd Qtr: Patriots 0 Bucs 0
All time great offense, all time great defense - Region 1 Semi Final.
Pats have a 2nd and 10 at the Tampa 46.
2/10 - Maroney loses 3.
3/13 - Brady finds Faulk in space - it's a big 16 yard pickup and New England is at the 33.
The drive ends in a Shelton Quarles sack - and Janikowski misses a FG of his own - so it remains scoress with 11:33 left in the half when Tampa takes over in this defensive struggle.
1/10 - A yard for Michael Pittman.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Big play - Johnson to Johnson, it's a 25 yard catch for Keyshawn, the Bucs are at the Patriot 36....they go back 5 on a false start.
1/15 - Johnson finds a wide open Rickey Dudley, 29 big yards...29 yards and Tampa is at the Patriot 12.
New England's got a pretty good defense themselves - they stone the Bucs here, Gramatica with the chip shot and it is 3-0.
Pats ball at the 28.
1/10 - Faulk with a 15 yard pickup.
And that's all - another punt and it's Tampa ball, little more than 4 to play in the half, at the 19.
1/10 - Johnson to Ken Dilger, 8 yards.
2/2 - Incomplete, a false start takes Tampa back 5.
3/7 - Another big play by Keyshawn, a ton of YAC on this one, Johnson 22 yards to the 44.
1/10 - 4 yards to Dilger.
2/6 - 4 yard Pittman run. And that's the 2 minute warning. Bucs at the Pats 48.
3/2 - Johnson 4 yards to Aaron Stecker, Bucs at the New England 44....
But - nothing else, and with a minute left, the punt leaves the Pats at their own 19.
1/10 - Brady to Moss. 11 yards and out of bounds at the 30.
1/10 - Brady to Moss. 14 yards, Pats at the 44, they stop the clock at 47 seconds left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Brady has to run - he gets 3 yards, Patriots stop the clock.
3/7 - Brady to Ben Watson - a dozen yards. Pats at the Bucs 41, Brady will spike the ball, there's 32 seconds left - Pats trying to get some points.
They don't. The drive ends here - at the half - it is 3-0.
3rd Qtr: Bucs 3 Patriots 0
A defensive war, Bucs with the slim lead - one of these teams will survive to the final 32 and the Region 1 Final.
Tampa at the 25.
1/10- Screen to Stecker - Stecker's got some blocks --Stecker's -- STECKER BREAKS IT -- AARON STECKER MIDFIELD...40.....30....20...AARON STECKER IS IN THE END ZONE....TOUCHDOWN BUCS -- AARON STECKER TAKES A SCREEN 75 YARDS -- TAMPA TAKES THE 10-0 LEAD!!
Just a shocking start to the half - the Bucs with a 75 yard TD and now they lead the top overall seeds 10-0!!!!
Patriots at the 21.
1/10 - Maroney for 2.
2/8 - Brady - Moss, Randy Moss has been the only offense for the Pats, 11 yards and a first down.
And that's it - after the punt, Tampa at the 27.
1/10 - Johnson to Pittman, 7 yards.
2/3 - Johnson to McCardell, 9 yards, Bucs at the 43.
The drive stalls - Pats take over at the 21.
1/10 - Brady to Jabar Gaffney, 7 yards.
2/3 - Maroney for 7. Pats at the 35.
And that's all - Tampa takes over, 6 minutes left in the third, up 10-0. They start at the 26.
3 and out -- and when Wes Welker takes the punt back to the Tampa 28 - there's a jolt of life into this Patriot crowd.
1/10 Maroney for 4.
2/6 - Brady 9 yards to Welker and the Pats are at the 15 yard line.
And that is all - Tampa just shuts them down, Gostkowski FG makes it 10-3.
Bucs at their own 20 after the touchback. 3 plays get nothing - they are lined up to punt as the quarter ends.
4th Qtr: Bucs 10 Patriots 3
15 minutes of football to go; the topseeded Patriots trail by a score in what has been a hard hitting slobberknocker of a football game. Bucs will be punting as the quarter begins.
The Patriots will start at their own 39.
1/10 Sammy Morris for 2.
2/8 - Morris gets 3.
3/5- Brady to Moss - he is out of bounds right at the sticks, first down New England.
1/10 - Maroney for 1.
2/9 - Maroney is stopped, and New England faces a third and long.
3/9 - Brady -- Donte Stallworth, catch and run to a first down - the Patriots are at the Tampa 35 yard line with less than 11 minutes to play.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Faulk gets 3. The Patriots face another 3rd down.
3/7 - Brady - Moss, Moss has to fight to the sticks -- he's got it -- New England is at the Tampa 23 yard line!
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete. This is Brady's 4th third down on the drive, it's now almost 6 minutes into the 4th qtr -- Tampa leads 10-3.
3/10 - Brady - Welker -- Welker's got a step - it's a 15 yard pickup for Wes Welker! It's a first and goal for the Pats at the 8 yard line.
1/goal - Maroney for 2.
2/goal - Incomplete. Why not? A fifth third down on the drive.
3/goal -- Brady -- End Zone ---- Sammy Morris ----- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS.....TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS....TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS....6 yards from Brady to Morris and the New England Patriots tie this score at 10 halfway through the 4th quarter. Tom Brady with a 15 play 7 and a haf minute drive to tie this game at 10.
Tampa at the 33.
1/10 - Johnson to Dilger, 10 yards.
1/10- = Pittman is stuffed.
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Johnson to Pittman, Michael Pittman fights. fights. fights his way to a first down at the New England 46.
The drive dies here - after a punt, New England has the ball at their own 10 yard line, 3 and a half minutes left. Tie score. Can Brady, MVP of the league, in a 50 TD season, take the Pats down against this Bucs defense that has been so stingy throughout the postseason and this tournament?
1/10 - Morris for 2.
2/8 - Incomplete
3/8 - Brady -- Moss -- 11 yards, Randy Moss has had a tremendous day against this Bucs defense.
1/10 - Brady's sacked by Simeon Rice, that's Tampa's 3rd sack - it is the two minute warning.
2/14 - Incomplete
3/14 - Tom Brady picks it up - 7 straight 3rd down conversions for the Pats, 14 yards to the 36.
1/10 - Brady - Stallworth - 8 yards.
2/2 - It's an end around to Stallworth and he picks it up. Patriots at their own 44, a minute left in the game - New England driving for that game winning FG attempt.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 -- This time - Brady can't connect with Gaffney -- and with a little more than 30 seconds left in regulation - the Pats punt.
Tampa ball at their own 22.
1/10 - Ty Warren gets the first Pats sack of the day.
2/14 - Johson to McCardell, he gets almost all of it - it's a 13 yard pickup, Tampa is at their own 31 with 13 seconds left in regulation.
3/1 - Mike Vrabel ends regulation with a sack.
OT: Patriots 10 Bucs 10
We thought we'd get a classic, it's been a punch in the mouth football game - and now we go to sudden death overtime -- one team moves to the Region 1 Final and the other goes home.
Tampa wins the toss. They start at the 36.
1/10 - Johnston 7 to Alstott.
2/3 - 5 for Alstott.
1/10 - Johnson finds Keyshawn, 10 yards and a first down at the New England 42 -- Tampa driving, it just takes a FG to win this game.
1/10 - 2 for Pittman
2/8 - 6 yard reception by McCardell. So, it's 3rd and 2 at the Patriot 34-- from here it's a 51 yard FG, Gramatica has already missed 2 long FGs today.
3/2 - Alstott picks it up - the Bucs have a first down at the New England 30!
1/10 Jameel Cook gets a carry, back to the line.
2/10 - Pittman gets 4 - the Bucs are at the 26.
3/6 - Incomplete from Johnson ---
And so - here we are, Martin Gramatica comes out for a 43 yard FG attempt, he's 1 of 3 today, this one is for the win.
Belichick calls time.
Gramatica waits.
Here it is.
Snap.
Hold.
Kick.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOD!!!! GOOOOOOD!!!!
MARTIN GRAMATICA WITH THE 43 YARD FIELD GOAL IN SUDDENT DEATH OVERTIME -- THE BUCCANEERS HAVE ELIMINATED THE TOP SEEDED PATRIOTS!
Final: Bucs 13 Pats 10
Tampa wins the Region 1 Semi-Final, they will move to the Round of 32.
Johnson: 18 for 29, 274 TD
Brady: 21 of 38, 187 TD
Pittman: 15 carries 41 yds
Maroney: 14 carries 27 yds
Stecker: 2 catches, 79 yds TD
Moss: 7 catches, 70 yds
Player of the Game: Simeon Rice
