WHO HAD THE EDGE?
Bucs’ offense vs. Raiders’ defense
Brad Johnson shook off an interception on his second pass and stayed within the game plan without forcing throws against a superior secondary. Oakland consistently failed to make key stops and allowed the Bucs to slowly edge away, never giving the offense help with field position.
THE EDGE: Bucs.
Raiders’ offense vs. Bucs’ defense
Defense won this championship. Tampa Bay sacked league MVP Rich Gannon three times in the first half and turned Oakland one-dimensional by throttling the running game. Then the Bucs jumped the Raiders’ pass routes for five interceptions, three for TDs, including Derrick Brooks’ to end Oakland’s hopes.
THE EDGE: Bucs.
Special teams
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Karl Williams’ 25-yard punt return in the second quarter set up the Bucs’ first TD, and the Bucs were superb covering kicks. But the Bucs let Oakland back into the game emotionally with a blocked punt for a TD and a bobbled FG snap.
THE EDGE: Raiders.
Coaching
Jon Gruden kept Brad Johnson passing despite limited success and never let the Raiders hunker down to stop the running game. The Bucs kept their defense simple and were quicker than veteran wideouts Tim Brown and Jerry Rice in zone coverages, leaving small gaps that the Raiders were not fast enough to exploit.
THE EDGE: Bucs.
Intangibles
The Raiders had all the veterans with the Super Bowl rings but played like it was just another game. The Bucs had the passion of being Super Bowl first-timers who wanted to prove they were every bit the equal of the past champs they were facing.
THE EDGE: Bucs.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Brad Johnson to Keenan McCardell
Second quarter
The dagger to the Raiders’ heart came at the end of the first half when McCardell beat Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson for a 5-yard TD pass that put Tampa Bay up 20-3. The lifeless Raiders became outright comatose in the second half and never got closer than 13 points.
UNSUNG HERO
When the offense was struggling, Tampa Bay turned to Michael Pittman, who gave them the running game they needed, carrying 29 times for 124 yards. Pittman, a Fresno State product who spent his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, signed with Tampa Bay in March.