NFC divisional
playoff game |
Redskins at Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.,
Saturday, Jan. 15
AT A GLANCE: The defensive-minded Buccaneers will try to stop one of
the league’s most explosive offenses when the NFC East-champion Redskins visit the
home of the NFC Central champs.
|
| OVERVIEW: On paper, this game appears to be a matchup of
opposites. The Buccaneers, champions of the NFC Central, boast one of the most fearsome
defenses in the NFL and a rather conservative offense. On the other hand, the Redskins,
winners of the NFC East title, feature an explosive, high-powered scoring attack on
offense but have been dogged by an underachieving defense for much of the season. The
Buccaneers had a first-round playoff bye, so they are expected to be well-rested. However,
they will be without OLT Paul Gruber, who broke his right leg in the Week 17 win at
Chicago.
The Redskins destroyed the Lions 27-13 in a wild-card matchup last week but suffered a
couple of major injuries. OLT Andy Heck will miss this game with a torn hamstring, and the
status of RB Stephen Davis is up in the air because of a sprained knee he suffered in the
second quarter last week. Also, C Cory Raymer’s status is up in the air because of a
pulled muscle in the right side of his rib cage. He stayed in the game after the injury.
These teams met in the final week of the preseason, when rookie QB Shaun King led the
Bucs to a 16-13 comeback win.
Tampa Bay will have a huge home-field advantage. The fans at Raymond James Stadium are
loud, and the Bucs feed off that energy. The Buccaneers are 7-1 at home this season, while
the Redskins are 4-4 on the road, though they have lost four of their last five away from
home.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL:
Davis set the tone for the Redskins last week before getting hurt, as he rushed for 118
yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. After the game, Davis said he expected to be ready
to play — but he was listed as "doubtful" at presstime. If he is able to
play, how effective will he be if the knee isn’t 100 percent, especially considering
that he was still recovering from an ankle injury leading up to last week’s game?
The Redskins love to run Davis right up the middle, which in turn helps set up QB Brad
Johnson’s passing game. Provided he’s ready to go, Davis could have a tough time
vs. a Buccaneers defense that finished the regular season ranked No. 5 vs. the run. |
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|
Profile |
| Raymond James Stadium |
| Tampa, Fla. |
| Date: Saturday, January 15, 2000 |
| 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Washington |
11-6-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
11-5-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Washington |
9-8-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
11-4-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Washington (R) |
4-4-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay (H) |
7-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Washington (R) |
4-4-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay (H) |
6-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Washington |
9-2-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
8-3-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Washington |
6-5-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
8-3-0 |
|
|
| Johnson is a high-percentage pass who can get the ball away quickly when he needs to.
He will have to do just that this week against a fierce Buccaneers pass rush led by Pro
Bowl DT Warren Sapp. The Redskins’ offensive line had some breakdowns in the second
half of the season and will be without at least one starter — Heck. He is expected to
be replaced by seldom-used Kipp Vickers. The Buccaneers’ secondary is much improved
this season. Tampa Bay is forcing turnovers more frequently, so it will be important for
WRs Michael Westbrook, Albert Connell and Irving Fryar to be on the same page with
Johnson. CB Donnie Abraham is Tampa Bay’s top cornerback.
WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL:
The Buccaneers are a run-first team that prefers to put the ball in the hands of quick,
elusive Warrick Dunn and powerful, run-right-through-you Mike Alstott. They will stick
with that plan this week against a Redskins defense that has struggled to stop the run.
While Washington’s defense has improved over the second half of the season, it is
still suspect against good running teams.
King has proven that he is a winner, posting a 4-1 record as a starter in Tampa Bay. In
fact, King is 17-1 as a starter dating back to his days as a junior at Tulane. He has a
good arm, good mobility, confidence and poise.
The Redskins’ defense was all over Lions QB Gus Frerotte last week, sacking him
five times. The defensive line is full of talent and will attempt to pressure King into
making mistakes. The Buccaneers’ loss of Gruber at left tackle is costly. Seldom-used
Pete Pierson will now get the start and will line up against veteran DRE Marco Coleman,
who has been a big addition to the Redskins’ defense this season.
The Buccaneers need more production downfield from their wide receivers, who have not
been very effective. Speedster Jacquez Green is the most explosive of the wideouts, but
Reidel Anthony has been very inconsistent and veteran Bert Emanuel has been slowed by
injuries. They will be tested by talented CBs Darrell Green and Champ Bailey.
The Skins will have to watch out for TE Dave Moore in the red zone. He leads the team
with five TD catches.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 9, 2000 |
|
Redskins depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
82 WESTBROOK, 87 Thrash |
| OLT |
79 VICKERS, 73. J. Brown |
| OLG |
63 SIMS, 74 Badger |
| C |
52 RAYMER, 60 Fischer, 66 Turk |
| ORG |
77 T. JOHNSON, 74 Badger, 69 Milstead |
| ORT |
76 JANSEN*, 73 J. Brown |
| TE |
80 ALEXANDER, 88 Jenkins |
| WR |
83 CONNELL, 86 Fryar, 84 Thompson |
| QB |
14 B. JOHNSON, 16 Peete, 11 Weldon |
| RB |
48 S. DAVIS, 20 Hicks, 30 B. Mitchell |
| FB |
37 CENTERS, 45 Sellers |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
75 COOK, 90 Lang, 72 Kalu |
| DLT |
95 WILKINSON, 93 Boute |
| DRT |
94 STUBBLEFIELD, 78 Brown, 71 Tanner |
| DRE |
99 COLEMAN, 75 Cook |
| LLB |
54 JONES, 51 Francis |
| MLB |
50 D. SMITH, 56 Gouveia |
| RLB |
59 BARBER, 53 Mason |
| LCB |
24 BAILEY*, 21 McMillian, 31 Pounds |
| RCB |
28 GREEN, 25 Denton |
| SS |
29 SHADE, 23 Stevens, 26 Buckley |
| FS |
23 STEVENS, 35 Evans |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
1 M. TURK |
| PK |
5 CONWAY |
| H |
1 M. TURK, 14 B. Johnson |
| PR |
30 MITCHELL, 87 Thrash |
| KR |
30 MITCHELL, 87 Thrash |
| KC |
66 D. TURK |
* Rookie |
|
|
Buccaneers
depth chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 GREEN, 88 Williams |
| OLT |
69 PIERSON, 79 Hegamin |
| OLG |
65 DOGINS, 64 Diaz |
| C |
61 MAYBERRY, 75 Washington, 68 Unutoa |
| ORG |
73 MIDDLETON, 65 Dogins |
| ORT |
71 WUNSCH, 79 Hegamin |
| TE |
83 MOORE, 82 Hape, 80 Davis |
| WR |
87 EMANUEL, 85 Anthony, 84 McDonald*, |
| QB |
10 KING*, 15 Zeier, 13 Milanovich, 12 Dilfer |
| RB |
28 DUNN, 35 McAfee |
| FB |
40 ALSTOTT, 43 McLeod |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
72 AHANOTU, 78 Jones |
| NT |
77 CULPEPPER, 92 McFarland*, 98 Cannida |
| DT |
99 SAPP, 92 McFarland*, 97 T. Jackson |
| DRE |
94 WHITE, 78 Jones, 95 McLaughlin* |
| SLB |
53 QUARLES, 51 Singleton |
| MLB |
56 NICKERSON, 59 Duncan, 58 Davis |
| WLB |
55 BROOKS, 50 Gooch |
| LCB |
21 ABRAHAM, 31 Young |
| RCB |
20 BARBER, 25 Kelly |
| SS |
47 LYNCH, 34 D. Jackson* |
| FS |
24 ROBINSON, 30 Smith, 34 D. Jackson* |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
2 ROYALS |
| PK |
7 GRAMATICA* |
| H |
2 ROYALS |
| PR |
81 GREEN, 86 Williams, 85 Anthony |
| KR |
28 DUNN, 85 Anthony, 81 Green |
| KC |
68 UNUTOA, 83 Moore |
* Rookie |
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