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Posted: Friday January 24, 2003 12:54 PM
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Oakland (13-5) vs. Tampa Bay (14-4)
Sunday, 6:18 p.m. EST (ABC)
Qualcomm Stadium (70,000), San Diego
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It has always been said tough defense supported by a strong running game wins championships. Well, Oakland is looking to dispel that theory. The Raiders bring the league’s top passing offense into the big game and will look to air it out against Tampa Bay's No. 1-ranked defense. It’s the first time in NFL history that the league’s best offensive attack takes on the first-rated defense in the Super Bowl.
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• Raiders' offense vs. Buccaneers' defense
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Rich Gannon
Elsa/Getty Images |
The Raiders fooled around with the run in the first half of the Divisional game against the Jets two weeks ago, but with a Super Bowl berth on the line they came out firing from the opening kickoff against the Titans in the AFC Championship Game. QB Rich Gannon started hot and never looked back, finishing with 286 yards and three TDs. Gannon was able to spread the ball around early, which made it tough for Tennessee to take any particular receiver out of the equation. The Raiders were so pass-happy that they only called one running play in the first three quarters of the game. Oakland ended the day with 17 rushing attempts, but Gannon himself accounted for eight of those for 41 yards and a TD. The Raiders only started to run the ball when they were well ahead and by that point the Titans’ defensive line was already exhausted from rushing the passer. Oakland’s big offensive line has been outstanding in protecting Gannon (no sacks allowed against Tennessee) and has the ability to play smash-mouth when necessary. But what the Raiders do best is throw the football and they learned a valuable lesson in playing the Jets. If they get away from what they do best -- try to balance their attack -- they will keep their opponent in the game. The Bucs have been vulnerable in the past to power running teams with big offensive lines, but Oakland should not and will not change the way it plays offense. WRs Jerry Rice and Tim Brown can find the openings in any zone -- even against Tampa Bay’s vaunted Cover 2 schemes -- and with Jerry Porter’s emergence, Gannon has someone to vertically stretch any zone defense. If his wideouts are covered, Gannon can check down to RB Charlie Garner and TE Doug Jolley. Gannon has run this offense masterfully and if his line can protect him against a really fast and athletic Buccaneers’ front seven he will continue to make the throws even against the No. 1-ranked pass defense in the league.
Last weekend Tampa Bay’s defense finally got some help from its offense in a big game. But given the way the Bucs dominated the Eagles' offense, they didn’t really need the assistance. Tampa Bay shut down Philadelphia’s running game and won the physical battle upfront. The Bucs’ front seven is extremely fast and athletic and have chased down opposing quarterbacks all season long, stifling some of the game’s most mobile signal-callers (Michael Vick, Aaron Brooks, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb). Gannon does not run as much as he used to but he had a big game on the ground last week. Tampa Bay will be the fastest defense that Oakland faces all year. It will be crucial for the Bucs to get quick pressure on Gannon; they may not sack him but they can at least take away his throwing lanes. In the NFC Championship Game, Tampa Bay showed that it wasn’t afraid to mix up coverages and come after the quarterback (witness CB Ronde Barber’s third-quarter blitz and sack of McNabb, which resulted in a fumble). DE Simeon Rice (a league-high 15 1/2 sacks in the regular season) and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Brooks may lead the charge, but DT Warren Sapp must win the battle up front or from the inside blitz to really affect Gannon’s timing. Sapp’s sack production dipped late in the season when DT Anthony McFarland went out and he was subsequently bogged down with more run-stopping responsibilities. But keep an eye on Sapp on Sunday: If Oakland does not elect to run the ball, look for Sapp to cut loose and go after Gannon. Most of Tampa Bay’s pressure comes from its front four (37 of 43 regular-season sacks were generated by defensive linemen). If the Bucs cannot get pressure from their front four, they will be forced to blitz and Tampa Bay’s corners could be stuck playing the Raiders’ receivers in man coverage.
• Buccaneers' offense vs. Raiders' defense
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Brad Johnson
AP |
No one expected the Bucs' offense to step up and produce in the cold last weekend against the Eagles’ stingy defense. But Brad Johnson and the rest of the attack kept Philadelphia off balance with multiple formations, taking the aggressiveness out of the normally blitz-happy Eagles by going to the no-huddle early in the game. Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden came up with a great game plan and his offense constantly took advantage of mismatches. Johnson avoided the turnover bug that had plagued the Bucs in previous games in Philadelphia and made big plays down the field, completing passes of 71,31, 22 and 19 yards against a defense that rarely gave up long gains of 20-plus yards during the regular season. The much-maligned Tampa Bay offensive line was the star of the game for the offense, giving Johnson the time he needed in not surrendering a single sack to the notorious Eagles’ pass rush. Against a secondary that boasts three Pro Bowl performers, the Bucs' receivers made plays; Joe Jurevicius single-handedly shifted momentum to his team with his 71-yard reception at the end of the first quarter. Although the ground game accounted for only 49 yards, Tampa Bay showed a commitment to the run with 32 carries. If the Bucs are able to run the ball against the Raiders' defense, Gruden will have the balanced attack he wants to help control the clock and keep Oakland’s offense off the field. Tampa Bay knows it cannot match the Raiders in terms of offensive firepower.
Oakland's defense did not put on dominating performance last weekend, giving up 24 points and 312 total yards. But the Raiders made the plays when they had to. Teams generally try to run the football and control the clock against Oakland in order to keep Gannon off the field, but the Raiders' defense has done a great job of shutting down the opposing ground game. The Raiders will need to continue that trend this week, shutting down Tampa Bay’s running game to get after Johnson. Last week the Eagles were caught off guard by the hurry-up offense and could not get into their blitzes, but since Oakland gets its pressure primarily from its front four, it should be able to remain aggressive. The Raiders need to force the Bucs’ offensive line to play another great game and prove that last week’s effort was no fluke. Look for CBs Charles Woodson and Tory James to be even more aggressive this week against Tampa Bay’s big receivers, Keyshawn Johnson and Keenan McCardell. Woodson and James have done a good job in the past two games against the Jets’ and Titans’ fast, quick and small receivers. With their height the Bucs' wideouts present a different type of problem but they are not as fast, so Woodson and James should be able to run with them. The Raiders' defense must also avoid any breakdowns and penalties. Lastly, Oakland cannot afford to take the Bucs' offense for granted. Brad Johnson has had a hot hand in his past eight starts (18 TDs vs. three INTs). The Eagles underestimated the physical nature of Tampa Bay’s attack and it cost them.
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The Bucs were worried about their coverage units going into last week’s game in Philadelphia and rightfully so. Tampa Bay was burned on the opening kickoff when Brian Mitchell ran off a 70-yard return to set up the Eagles’ first score. It forced the Bucs to kick away and squib kick the rest of the game. Tampa Bay must pick things up this week; it cannot afford to give up field position to Oakland's offense. The Raiders’ special teams came up big again against Tennessee, forcing a fumble and tackling Titans punter Craig Hentrich before he could get a punt away. Both plays resulted in Sebastian Janikowski field goals.
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Raiders' receivers vs. Bucs' secondary
You could not ask for a better matchup than the No. 1 passing offense vs. the No. 1 pass defense. The Raiders have so many weapons, so it will be interesting to see what approach the Bucs will take.
Bucs' front four vs. Raiders' offensive line
The Bucs have been able to get pressure all season without much blitzing. This will be a key for Tampa Bay this week. Sapp & Co. will be going up against a very good Raiders line that shut down an equally good Tennessee pass rush last week.
Bucs' offensive line vs. Raiders' front seven
The Bucs' offensive line will need to accomplish two things against a very active Raiders front seven. Tampa Bay must obviously protect its quarterback, but the unit also needs to generate more production out of its running game to control tempo and the clock.
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During the postseason the Raiders have not needed many third-down attempts -- last week Oakland went 4 of 9 (44.4 percent) in this situation -- because they do most of their damage on first and second down. However, the Raiders' defense allowed the Titans to convert 50 percent of their opportunities. Tampa Bay’s offense was successful on third down against the Eagles 40 percent of the time; the key to the game was the Bucs’ ability to avoid third-and-long situations. Tampa Bay allowed Philadelphia to convert only 31.2 percent of its chances. If the Bucs can make third-down conversions they will hold onto the football and take time off the clock, thus keeping the ball away from Oakland’s offense.
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A lot has been made about the Gruden’s departure from Oakland, but in reality both teams have benefited tremendously from the situation. The Bucs needed a change in a big way and Gruden has forced the Tampa Bay offense to match the intensity of its defense. Gruden clearly out-coached both Andy Reid and his defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson, last week. Many have wondered whether $8 million dollars and four draft picks was too high a price to pay for someone who doesn’t even play a down. Ask anyone in the Bucs' organization that question and the answer will be a resounding yes! As for the Raiders, Al Davis could not look any better after taking a chance on Bill Callahan to lead an aging ball club whose time was running out to reach the Super Bowl. Callahan has done a terrific job in his first head-coaching stint as Oakland plays in the title game for the first time since 1984.
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You couldn’t ask for a better matchup given the subplots between these clubs. A lot of the talk may be about the coaches, but the game will be won and lost on the field. Tampa Bay’s defense has made two very good offenses in San Francisco and Philadelphia look inept in the playoffs. The Bucs will face a Raiders attack that is as aggressive in its approach. Oakland dismantled two red-hot football teams in New York and Tennessee by a combined score of 71-34 on its path to San Diego. The Raiders have so many weapons and Gannon playing at an extremely high level. Tampa Bay has great team speed on defense and can stay with Oakland, but the Bucs' offense will not be able to keep pace. Look for the Silver & Black to win its first Super Bowl in 19 years by a touchdown.
Reported by Real Football. Throughout the season, the Real Football staff will bring you an "insiders" analysis of key matchups in the league. The Real Football staff includes coaches, players, scouts and other experts with real experience inside the NFL, who give you access to a unique, exclusive look inside the game.
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