Game 75. Seattle at Tampa Bay
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Tag Archives: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1997 Game 193 (Week 14) Tampa Bay at NY Giants
Buccaneers gave the Giants the Blues!
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured their NFC Wildcard spot with a 22-14 victory over the New York Giants Sunday afternoon in Giants Stadium. Earlier in the day, the Washington Redskins lost to the St. Louis Rams, so the Giants blew a golden opportunity to tie the Skins for the NFC Eastern Division lead.
The Buccaneers’ defense was the story in this game as it has been all season. The Bucs held the Giants to 267 total yards and 138 in the air. The Bucs harassed Giant QB Danny Kanell all day long. They sacked him six times and DT Warren Sapp was all over the place. He had two sacks on the day.
The Buccaneers had a decent day from their offense. QB Trent Dilfer was 17 of 34 for 197 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. Mike Alstott rushed for 48 yards and caught a 35-yard pass. RB Warrick Dunn rushed for 24 yards and caught four passes for 51 yards and two TDs.
The Giants got 88 yards rushing from rookie RB Tiki Barber. QB Kanell was 16 of 31 for 170 yards and a touchdown. WR Chris Calloway caught 4 passes for 83 yards and a 59-yard touchdown.
The Buccaneers will have a huge matchup next week in Tampa Bay as they take on the division-leading Green Bay Packers. The Giants will have their first of three consecutive division games to end the season as they travel to Philadelphia. After the Eagle game, the Giants will have a huge game against the Redskins in a Saturday game. Then the Giants will end the season at Dallas.
Game 57. Tampa Bay at Cincinnati
Game 48. Tampa Bay at Baltimore
Game 32. Buffalo at Tampa Bay
Game 32. Buffalo at Tampa Bay (In-Game Video)
1997 Game 174 (Week 13) Tampa Bay at Chicago
Tampa Bay shuts down the Bears
The defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is starting to become one of the elite defenses in the NFL. On Sunday, the Bucs’ defense shut down the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in a 9-3 defensive battle.
The Bucs harassed Bears’ QB Erik Kramer all day long. They sacked him five times and forced him into a crucial interception. They held the Bears to 171 total yards and only 61 yards on the ground.
As for the Buccaneer offense, they struggled too. They racked up 237 yards total offense and 105 on the ground. QB Trent Dilfer was 17 of 29 passing for 146 yards.
The Buccaneers are now 8-4 on the season and currently holds one of the NFC Wildcard positions. Next week, the Bucs have a big matchup as they travel to play the Giants. Both teams are vying for those Wildcard positions. As for the Bears, they are on one of the worst stretches in their franchise history. They are now 1-11 and have lost 10 in a row. They will take on Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.
Game 20. San Diego at Tampa Bay
Game 11. Tampa Bay at Houston
1997 Game 158 (Week 12) New England at Tampa Bay
Patriots get back on track with big win in Tampa
The Patriots came into Sunday’s game at the “Big Sombrero” against Tampa Bay losing 2 of their last three games. The Buccaneers are a formidable opponent, so tensions were high in the New England area hoping the Patriots could get back on track.
The Patriots came out swinging and they rolled up a 20-7 halftime lead against a very stout Tampa Bay defense. Drew Bledsoe came up with two explosive plays in the second quarter to put the Patriots up 20-0. He hit Shawn Jefferson for a 63-yard touchdown and then connected with RB Keith Byars on a 44-yard pass to give the Patriots their commanding lead.
The Patriot defense was formidable all day long. They gave up one explosive play as QB Trent Dilfer threw a short pass to RB Warrick Dunn, who took it to the house for the Buccaneers only touchdown from 49-yards out. Otherwise, the Patriot defense stuffed the Bucs.
The Bucs were only able to rush for 65 yards, which is the staple of their offense. The Patriots were able to force three big turnovers also. They picked Dilfer off twice and then stopped a Bucs drive in Patriot territory when they forced a Mike Alstott fumble.
Bledsoe and the offense had a so-so day. The Bucs defense stiffened in second half. Bledsoe threw for 224 yards but only completed 15 of 35 passes on the day. The threw 2 touchdowns but also threw a pick. RB Curtis Martin rushed for just 57 yards on 24 carries.
Next week, the Patriots, 8-3, will take on division rival the Miami Dolphins at Foxboro. The Buccaneers will need to get their ship righted as they travel to Chicago next Sunday. The Buccaneers started 5-0, but now have lost four of the last six games and now have a 7-4 record. They sit third in their division and are clinging to a Wildcard spot in the NFC.