This is the first No. 1 offense vs. No. 1 defense in a Super Bowl, but pro football didn’t start with the Super Bowl.
The last time it happened for the NFL championship was 1963 in Wrigley Field, when the No. 1 defense of the Bears took on the No. 1 offense of the New York Giants. Bears 14, Giants 10.
The No. 1 defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t expect to hold the No. 1 offense of the Oakland Raiders to 10 points, 18 below their average, on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. But they do expect to set the tone of this game with speed and matchups that should force the Raiders to work hard for everything they get.
“Our defense has to play a dynamite football game to beat the Raiders,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said.
Raiders runner-receiver Charlie Garner will challenge Bucs linebacker and NFL defensive player of the year Derrick Brooks. Raiders slot receiver Jerry Porter hopes he is covered by anybody except Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber.
Rich Gannon might pass on every down because nobody was better. The Bucs say bring it on because nobody was better against the pass. The Bucs have harassed quarterbacks, especially mobile ones, all season, but they have yet to face the league’s MVP. The Raiders insist they can run if necessary. If they wear out Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp, it’s over.
“As you attack the Tampa Bay defense, you have to attack with patience in order to not waste plays,” Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. “If these guys back you up in down and distance, it could be a long, long afternoon.”
Even if the Bucs contain Gannon and his Hall of Fame-bound receivers, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, Gruden also must figure out a way for Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson to move the ball the way he did against a good Philadelphia team last week.
“I think the Raiders are here in large part due to the play of their defense,” Gruden said.
The Raiders are better against the run, but Gruden has shown he won’t give up on the run with Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman. Johnson will wait patiently until he spots a mismatch with big receivers Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Jurevicius or his tight ends.
“We’re going to try to create some things that he hasn’t seen,” Callahan said. “I’ve learned from Jon, if they haven’t seen it, they can’t prepare for it.”
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
Tribune pro football reporter Don Pierson compares the teams:
RAIDERS OFFENSE VS. BUCS DEFENSE
The best against the best. Do the Raiders follow the season’s trend toward offense, or can the Bucs prove the adage that defense still wins championships?
Edge: Bucs
BUCS OFFENSE VS. RAIDERS DEFENSE
This is where the Jon Gruden factor weighs most heavily. Brad Johnson can’t outrun Rich Gannon and doesn’t have to outplay him. But if he makes the right reads and right throws, Gruden will have receivers open for him.
Edge: Bucs
SPECIAL TEAMS
If this game is won by either not-so-special-teams play, fans should ask for their money back. Placekickers Martin Gramatica and Sebastian Janikowski are both good, but the fewer long snaps, the better. Return and coverage teams are average or below.
Edge: Even
COACHING
Gruden either wins or loses this game. His Oakland successor, Bill Callahan, is the “other” coach, a mere prop in this drama. But he shouldn’t be underestimated. The Raiders have obviously responded to his calmer style.
Edge: Bucs
INTANGIBLES
While Gruden has knowledge on his side, the Raiders have experience and incentive. Not only are they going after a last Super Bowl for many of them, they can put a permanent frown on the “Chucky” face that may have grown too familiar.
Edge: Raiders
COVERAGE, COVERAGE AND MORE COVERAGE
There’s no such thing as overkill when it comes to the Super Bowl on television. The pregame shows last longer than the game, and occasionally are more interesting. Tribune sports media reporter Ed Sherman runs through the various pregame hoopla for those fans who can’t figure out a way to extricate themselves from the couch.
SUNDAY NFL COUNTDOWN, ESPN, 10 A.M.
ESPN has a three-hour pregame show leading into ABC’s four-hour pregame show. What this show won’t have are bands and comedians. It pretty much will be hard-core football.
Stuart Scott will host, and he will be assisted by former and current players who have combined to win 16 Super Bowls. Kenny Mayne should have an entertaining feature on the “worst player ever to win a Super Bowl.”
SUPER BOWL PREGAME SHOW, WLS-CH. 7, 1 P.M.
The marathon will include a clock counting down the minutes to kickoff, just in case you couldn’t figure it out yourself.
Chris Berman serves as the host. He will be joined by a cast of thousands. Mike Tirico will host the analysts’ set from USS Preble, a naval destroyer moored in San Diego Harbor. Among the experts will be Michael Strahan, Brian Billick, Steve Young, Dan Fouts and Bob Griese.
There will be a ton of features, including a special behind-the-scenes look at Super Bowl week with former Illinois star Simeon Rice of the Bucs. Fresh from Fox Sports’ pregame show, Jimmy Kimmel will be on hand to give numerous plugs for his new ABC show.
Musical guests include Santana, Bonnie Raitt and the Goo Goo Dolls. Magicians Penn & Teller will write down and seal their picks for the winner, score and MVP of the Super Bowl along with one off-the-wall prediction. It will be revealed after the game.
GAME TIME, 5 P.M.
If you’ve made it this far, you might as well stick around to watch the game. But first, there’s more pageantry. Celine Dion will sing “God Bless America,” and the Dixie Chicks will give their rendition of the national anthem. Then finally Al Michaels and John Madden get to call the game.
Shania Twain will be the featured performer at halftime.
POSTGAME
There’s still more fun. Bon Jovi will sing “It’s My Life” set to a video presentation of highlights from the game. Tirico will present the Lombardi Trophy and there will be a ton of interviews.
And, oh yes, Penn & Teller disclose their predictions. Bet you can hardly wait.
ALTERNATIVES
If the game is going bad, Nickelodeon is having a “Coach” marathon, beginning at 8 p.m.
PREDICTIONS
A Tribune panel of experts tells you how it’s all going to end. The oddsmakers like the Raiders, but Tribune staffers lean the other way.
RICK MORRISSEY
Tampa Bay 24, Oakland 13
MIKE DOWNEY
Oakland 45, Tampa Bay 24
DON PIERSON
Tampa Bay 24, Oakland 17
JOHN MULLIN
Tampa Bay 20, Oakland 17
MELISSA ISAACSON
Tampa Bay 24, Oakland 21
FRED MITCHELL
Oakland 27, Tampa Bay 23
TERRY BANNON
Tampa Bay 23, Oakland 13
BUCCANEERS’ ROSTER
OFFENSIVE STARTERS
WR Keyshawn Johnson
LT Roman Oben
LG Kerry Jenkins
C Jeff Christy
RG Cosey Coleman
RT Kenyatta Walker
TE Ken Dilger
WR Keenan McCardell
QB Brad Johnson
FB Mike Alstott
RB Michael Pittman
DEFENSIVE STARTERS
LE Greg Spires
DT Warren Sapp
NT Chartric Darby
RE Simeon Rice
SLB Alshermond Singleton
MLB Shelton Quarles
WLB Derrick Brooks
LCB Brian Kelly
RCB Ronde Barber
SS John Lynch
FS Dexter Jackson
SPECIALISTS
K Martin Gramatica
P Tom Tupa
KR Aaron Stecker
PR Karl Williams
LS Ryan Benjamin
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NO. PLAYER POS HT WT YR COLLEGE
7 Martin Gramatica K 5-8 170 4 Kansas State
9 Tom Tupa P 6-4 225 14 Ohio State
10 Shaun King QB 6-0 225 4 Tulane
11 Rob Johnson QB 6-4 212 8 Southern Cal
14 Brad Johnson QB 6-5 224 11 Florida State
19 Keyshawn Johnson WR 6-4 212 7 Southern Cal
20 Ronde Barber CB 5-10 184 6 Virginia
23 Jermaine Phillips S 6-1 214 R Georgia
25 Brian Kelly CB 5-11 193 5 Southern Cal
26 Dwight Smith CB 5-10 201 2 Akron
27 Aaron Stecker RB 5-10 205 3 Western Illinois
30 Darian Barnes FB 6-0 245 R Hampton
31 Tim Wansley CB 5-8 180 R Georgia
32 Michael Pittman RB 6-0 218 5 Fresno State
34 Dexter Jackson S 6-1 203 4 Florida State
35 Corey Ivy CB 5-8 183 1 Oklahoma
38 John Howell S 5-11 196 2 Colorado State
40 Mike Alstott FB 6-1 248 7 Purdue
41 Daniel Wilcox TE 6-1 245 2 Appalachian State
43 Jameel Cook FB 5-10 227 2 Illinois
47 John Lynch S 6-2 220 10 Stanford
51 Alshermond Singleton LB 6-2 228 6 Temple
52 Nate Webster LB 5-11 225 3 Miami
53 Shelton Quarles LB 6-1 225 6 Vanderbilt
55 Derrick Brooks LB 6-0 235 8 Florida State
58 Jack Golden LB 6-1 240 3 Oklahoma State
59 Justin Smith LB 6-0 218 R Indiana
60 Cosey Coleman G 6-4 322 3 Tennessee
62 Jeff Christy C 6-2 285 10 Pittsburgh
64 Dan Goodspeed T 6-6 300 1 Kent State
66 Ryan Benjamin LS 6-1 242 1 South Florida
67 Kenyatta Walker T 6-5 302 2 Florida
71 Kerry Jenkins G 6-5 305 5 Troy State
72 Roman Oben T 6-4 305 7 Louisville
74 Cornell Green T 6-6 315 3 Central Florida
75 Lomas Brown T 6-4 280 18 Florida
77 Todd Washington C-G 6-3 324 5 Virginia Tech
80 Todd Yoder TE 6-4 250 3 Vanderbilt
83 Joe Jurevicius WR 6-5 230 5 Penn State
84 Reggie Barlow WR 6-0 190 7 Alabama State
85 Ken Dilger TE 6-5 250 8 Illinois
86 Karl Williams WR 5-10 177 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville
87 Keenan McCardell WR 6-1 191 11 Nevada-Las Vegas
88 Rickey Dudley TE 6-6 255 7 Ohio State
89 Casey Crawford TE 6-6 255 3 Virginia
90 Buck Gurley DT 6-2 295 1 Florida
91 Chartric Darby DT 6-0 270 2 S.C. State
93 DeVone Claybrooks DT 6-3 295 2 East Carolina
94 Greg Spires DE 6-1 265 5 Florida State
95 Ron Warner DE 6-2 248 2 Kansas
96 Ellis Wyms DE 6-3 279 2 Mississippi State
97 Simeon Rice DE 6-5 268 7 Illinois
99 Warren Sapp DT 6-2 303 8 Miami
RAIDERS ROSTER
OFFENSIVE STARTERS
WR Tim Brown
LT Barry Sims
LG Matt Stinchcomb
C Barret Robbins
RG Frank Middleton
RT Lincoln Kennedy
TE Roland Williams
WR Jerry Rice
QB Rich Gannon
FB Jon Ritchie
RB Charlie Garner
DEFENSIVE STARTERS
LE DeLawrence Grant
LT Sam Adams
RT John Parrella
RE Tony Bryant
SLB Bill Romanowski
MLB Napoleon Harris
WLB Eric Barton
LCB Charles Woodson
RCB Tory James
SS Derrick Gibson
FS Rod Woodson
SPECIALISTS
K Sebastian Janikowski
P Shane Lechler
KR Marcus Knight
PR Tim Brown
LS Adam Treu
NO. PLAYER POS HT WT YR COLLEGE
1 Ronald Curry DB 6-1 220 R North Carolina
3 Rick Mirer QB 6-3 210 10 Notre Dame
8 Marques Tuiasosopo QB 6-1 220 2 Washington
9 Shane Lechler P 6-2 225 3 Texas A&M
11 Sebastian Janikowski K 6-2 255 3 Florida State
12 Rich Gannon QB 6-3 210 15 Delaware
20 Tory James CB 6-2 190 7 Louisiana State
22 Terrance Shaw CB 6-0 200 8 Stephen F. Austin
23 Darrien Gordon CB 5-11 190 10 Stanford
24 Charles Woodson CB 6-1 200 5 Michigan
25 Charlie Garner RB 5-10 190 9 Tennessee
26 Rod Woodson S 6-0 205 15 Purdue
28 Randy Jordan RB 5-11 220 9 North Carolina
30 Madre Hill RB 6-0 205 2 Arkansas
32 Zack Crockett RB 6-2 240 8 Florida State
33 Anthony Dorsett S 5-11 205 7 Pittsburgh
36 Derrick Gibson S 6-2 215 2 Florida State
38 Clarence Love CB 5-10 180 3 Toledo
40 Jon Ritchie RB 6-1 250 5 Stanford
41 Eric Johnson S 6-0 210 3 Nebraska
44 Keyon Nash S 6-3 215 R Albany State
47 Tyrone Wheatley RB 6-0 235 8 Michigan
49 Alvis Whitted WR 6-0 185 5 N.C. State
50 Eric Barton LB 6-2 245 4 Maryland
51 Tim Johnson LB 6-0 240 1 Youngstown State
53 Bill Romanowski LB 6-4 245 15 Boston College
56 Travian Smith LB 6-4 240 5 Oklahoma
57 Rod Coleman DT 6-2 285 4 East Carolina
58 Napoleon Harris LB 6-2 255 R Northwestern
62 Adam Treu C 6-5 300 6 Nebraska
63 Barret Robbins C 6-3 320 8 Texas Christian
65 Barry Sims T 6-5 300 4 Utah
66 Langston Walker T 6-8 345 R California
70 Brad Badger T 6-4 320 6 Stanford
72 Lincoln Kennedy T 6-6 335 10 Washington
73 Frank Middleton G 6-4 330 6 Arizona
74 Matt Stinchcomb T 6-6 310 4 Georgia
75 Chris Cooper DE 6-5 275 2 Nebraska-Omaha
78 Chad Slaughter T 6-8 340 2 Alcorn State
79 Mo Collins G 6-4 325 5 Florida
80 Jerry Rice WR 6-2 200 18 Mississippi Valley St.
81 Tim Brown WR 6-0 195 15 Notre Dame
82 James Jett WR 5-10 170 10 West Virginia
83 Marcus Knight WR 6-1 180 2 Michigan
84 Jerry Porter WR 6-2 220 3 West Virginia
87 Alvis Whitted WR 6-0 185 5 North Carolina St.
88 Doug Jolley TE 6-4 250 R Brigham Young
90 Kenyon Coleman DE 6-5 285 R UCLA
91 Regan Upshaw DE 6-4 260 7 California
92 Junior Ioane DT 6-4 320 2 Arizona State
95 Sam Adams DT 6-3 330 9 Texas A&M
97 John Parrella DT 6-3 300 10 Nebraska
99 DeLawrence Grant DE 6-3 280 2 Oregon State
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