Super
Bowl XXXVII
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: January 26, 2003
Score: Tampa Bay 48 Oakland 21
Attendance: 63,607
MVP: Dexter Jackson, CB Tampa Bay
Super Bowl XXXVII started out as a scrappy defensive battle. The Raiders struck first following Charles Woodson’s interception of an errant Brad Johnson pass. Sebastian Janikowski’s 40 yard field goal put Oakland on top. On Tampa Bay’s next drive, Martin Gramatica evened the score with a boot of his own. Neither Johnson nor his Raider counterpart Rich Gannon looked effective in the first quarter, but while the Buccaneer running game began to open up the Tampa Bay short passing game, the Oakland ground game made little headway against the top defense in the NFL. As the second quarter wore on it was clear that Rich Gannon was having one of his rare games where he looked uncomfortable in the pocket. It did not help that his offensive line was having a difficult time keeping the Buccaneer defensive line away from him. Under pressure, Gannon looked hesitant and indecisive. In particular, tackles Lincoln Kennedy and Barry Sims were being isolated on the Tampa Bay’s speedy defensive ends who were taking wide splits to keep inside help from getting to them. At the half, the Buccaneers had amassed a 20-3 lead and it looked bleak for the Raiders.
Things did not improve through most of the third quarter for the AFC champions. Keenan McCardell’s second touchdown reception was followed by Gannon’s third intercepted pass. This one was intercepted by cornerback Dwight Smith and returned for a score, making the tally 34-3. Following this, the Raiders showed some spirit for the only time in the game. Jerry Porter’s toe-tapping touchdown reception in the back of the end zone brought Raider fans to their feet for the first time since Woodson’s interception. On Tampa Bay’s next drive Tim Johnson blocked Tom Tupa’s punt and the recovery was carried in for a score by Eric Johnson. When Jerry Rice split the Tampa Bay safeties for a 48 yard scoring catch on the Raiders’ next drive, the score was suddenly 34-21 Buccaneers with over six minutes left in the game and the fans in silver and black were tempted by hope. However, the Tampa Bay offense held onto the ball for the next three minutes and change. With the pressure to score immediately, a Gannon pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage into the hands of Derrick Brooks who returned it for a score and ended any hope at a miracle comeback. A minute and half later, the Buccaneers had scored again and were NFL champions.
NFL MVP: QB Rich Gannon
The Raiders had only Four All-Pros:
QB Rich Gannon
S Rod Woodson
RT Lincoln Kennedy
C Barret Robbins