CNNSI.com 2003 Football Playoffs 2003 Football Playoffs


CNNSI.com's Jacob Luft and Luke Winn analyze every drive.
First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter
First Quarter Drives
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 26 TAM 31 3 5 1:16 INT 0 0
Bucs' ball: Tampa Bay won the toss, setting the stage for the obligatory "Bucs have never run back a kickoff for a touchdown" comment. Al Michaels obliged. After completing a short pass to Mike Alstott on first down, Brad Johnson's first INT came on the third play of the game. On third and 5, Oakland's Regan Upshaw blew through the Tampa Bay line, hit the Buc QB, and Charles Woodson reeled in one gift of an interception.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 36 TAM 22 7 14 2:51 FG 3 0

Sebastian Janikowski admires his FG. AP
Raiders' ball: The Raiders began the game offensively with a clever wrinkle, going with an empty backfield to spread out the Bucs' defense. Three consecutive passes out of the five-WR set got them a first down, then they stalled in the three-wideout, one-tailback set and kicked a field goal. As they have done in the postseason so far, Bucs pass rushers Greg Spires and Simeon Rice established themselves early.
Key Play: On third and 2 from the Bucs' 28, Gannon hit Tim Brown in the flat for an easy 9-yard gain that kept the drive alive.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 29 OAK 14 9 58 2:45 FG 3 3

Martin Gramatica celebrates his 31-yard FG. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Bucs' ball: Tampa Bay was forced to use its first challenge to retain the ball after Aaron Stecker (nearly) fumbled the kickoff. The Bucs then gave the Raiders their first look at a no-huddle offense on the second play, and Gruden showed he's committed to the passing game first, to set up the running game. The Bucs finally ran on the fifth play of the drive, and it paid off -- with a 23-yard gain by Michael Pittman, which got them into scoring position. Martin Gramatica delivered with a 31-yard FG to even the score.
Key Play: One play before Pittman's big run, on third and 10, Johnson hit Joe Jurevicius on a crossing pattern for a 23-yard gain, the Bucs' biggest pass yet.

Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 30 OAK 31 3 1 1:06 PUNT 3 3
Raiders' ball: The Bucs' pass rush hit its stride, flushing Gannon out of the pocket to stifle a second-and-4 play and then sacking him on third down to force a punt. Greg Spires exploded past Lincoln Kennedy for the 5-yard loss.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 16 TAM 17 3 1 0:39 PUNT 3 3
Bucs' ball: Tampa, once again, found itself in a third-and-long situation early and tried to counter Oakland's pass rush -- which has been strong thus far -- with a screen on third and 9. The Raiders' front seven wasn't fooled, however, and Johnson was forced to discard the ball for a three-and-out.

Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 49 TAM 43 3 6 1:26 PUNT 3 3
Raiders' ball: For the second time, the Raiders started a drive inside Tampa Bay territory. They came out in a short-yardage set, with a fullback and Zack Crockett in the backfield. Two runs up the middle failed to get a first down, and on third and 4, Spires came up with another big play by pressuring Gannon and then deflecting his pass.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 16 TAM 31 5 14 2:21 PUNT 3 3
Bucs' ball: Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden has been known to script his first 15 plays, and the Super Bowl breakdown (10 passes, five runs) was almost identical to the NFC Championship game (11 passes, four runs). The difference here, however, is that Brad Johnson is having much less success throwing the ball.

Second Quarter Drives
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 49 TAM 43 3 8 1:17 INT 3 3
Raiders' ball: Once again, the Raiders squandered excellent field position. Darrien Gordon returned a punt 17 yards to the Oakland 49, and the Raiders appeared to have momentum after an 8-yard screen pass to Charlie Garner on first down. But on third and short, Gannon rolled out to his right and threw a pick to Dexter Jackson that snuffed out the drive. Neither quarterback looks comfortable, with Gannon uncharacteristically struggling when he has to leave the pocket.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 49 OAK 26 9 26 3:53 FG 3 6

Martin Gramatica attempts his second FG of the game. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Bucs' ball: Some thought the key to the Bucs' offense would be establishing Mike Alstott, but the big back didn't get his first carry until the 14:11 mark of the second quarter. Tampa Bay used "bunch" formations to try to establish Keyshawn Johnson over the middle, and it worked -- the big wideout caught two passes for 20 yards to set up yet another Gramatica FG, this time from 43 yards out. Gramatica proceeded to celebrate in traditional, Gramatica-like fashion.
Key Play: An 11-yard Johnson & Johnson connection on third and 9 from the 50 kept the scoring drive alive.

Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 34 OAK 45 3 11 1:00 INT 3 6
Raiders' ball: The Bucs have gotten what they wanted so far defensively, disrupting the Raiders' precision offense with a pass rush from the front four. After a first down ignited by a no-back, five-receiver set, Oakland stalled again. On first down with plenty of time to throw, Gannon pump-faked left and threw a deep post to Jerry Porter on the right hash mark, but Dexter Jackson read the play perfectly from his safety spot and made his second pick of the game.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 45 OAK 40 3 5 0:49 PUNT 3 6
Bucs' ball: Another good use for the bunch formation -- a three-man wall for Michael Pittman to run to the right side. Too bad the Bucs' offense can't get anything else going. On third down, Keyshawn Johnson flopped like a fish -- or possibly a Premiere League forward -- to try to draw an interference penalty on Charles Woodson, but the side judge wouldn't buy it.

Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 11 OAK 10 3 -1 0:33 PUNT 3 6
Raiders' ball: Oakland has tried everything to get its offense going -- no backs, one back, two backs, no-huddle, etc. Nothing works. This time, the Raiders tried a bunch formation of their own on first down, but Gannon misfired on a middle screen. On second down, Simeon Rice got his second sack of the game.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 27 OAK 2 4 27 1:58 TD 3 13

Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman celebrate the Bucs' first TD. Al Bello/Getty Images
Bucs' ball: Karl Williams gave the Bucs a big advantage in the field-position game, taking Shane Lechler's punt back to the 27-yard line, already in prime Gramatica territory. On the Bucs' best blocking play yet -- a fake reverse -- Pittman took the ball through a mammoth hole for a 19-yard run to the Oakland 2, but continued his season-long aversion to actually putting points on the board. Alstott sealed the deal two plays later. Finally, we had a touchdown.
Key Play: Williams' 25-yard punt return put the Bucs' offense in a "comfortable" position for the first time, and they took care of business.

Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 29 OAK 48 6 19 2:32 PUNT 3 13
Raiders' ball: The Raiders suddenly caught a case of the dropsies, as Charlie Garner and Tim Brown dropped passes on potential big plays to doom yet another drive.
 
Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
TAM 23 OAK 5 10 62 3:15 TD 3 20

Keenan McCardell gets high-fives for burning Charles Woodson for a TD. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Bucs' ball: Here's something you wouldn't have predicted before the game: Brad Johnson was 7-for-20 passing with 2:00 left in the first half ... and he was still outplaying Rich Gannon. Oakland, the third-most penalized team in the league, racked up three on this drive, and Tampa Bay turned to its bread and butter: a clock-gobbling stretch in which 12 of its last 15 plays involved Alstott, Pittman or Stecker. To cap off the drive, Keenan McCardell picked on Charles Woodson for a 5-yard TD catch ... and, folks, the rout may be on.
Key Play: A 16-yard screen pass from Johnson to Alstott set the tone for Tampa Bay's entire drive and got the Bucs into Oakland territory at the two-minute warning.

Began Last Plays Yards Time Result
OAK 13 OAK 17 3 4 0:30 PUNT 3 20
Raiders' ball: The Raiders stubbornly refused to take a knee and head into the locker room, and it nearly cost them another turnover when Gannon was pressured on first down. Oakland finished the half with a paltry three first downs.
 
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