Buccaneers at Eagles
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia, Pa.
Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000
AT A GLANCE: This playoff battle will feature a pair of
second-year quarterbacks and tough defense. Shaun King and Donovan McNabb are developing
into fine QBs, but each will be tested by his opponent’s nasty defense.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Buccaneers’ quest to become the
first team to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium begins in earnest this weekend.
However, they will have to go on the road as a wild-card team to achieve their goal. It
didn’t have to be that way. Had PK Martin Gramatica connected on a 40-yard field-goal
attempt with nine seconds remaining last week in Green Bay, the Bucs would have beaten the
Packers and wound up with a first-round bye and a home game. But Gramatica missed, and the
Packers won in overtime.
The Eagles have completed an amazing turnaround from a year ago. After finishing 5-11
last season, the Eagles improved to 11-5 in 2000. This is the Eagles’ first playoff
appearance since 1996.
The Eagles have won six of their last seven games, including two in a row, but they
weren’t thrilled with the way they played against the Bengals in Week 17. The Eagles
will have to give a better effort to beat the Buccaneers.
Of course, being Philadelphia, this game could be affected by the elements. That gives
the Eagles a large advantage considering the Buccaneers’ troubles in the cold. Tampa
Bay is 0-19 when the game-time temperature is 40 degrees or below.
The Buccaneers are 3-5 lifetime in the postseason, but they are 0-4 in road playoffs
games. The Eagles have a 9-11 lifetime postseason record and are 6-3 at home.
WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL:
The Buccaneers lack an identity on offense, but that may be by design. It seems this
team adjusts to its opponent’s defensive weakness. In one game, the Bucs may run like
crazy. The next week, they may throw like crazy. Given the Eagles’ habit of
surrendering large amounts of rushing yardage, you should expect the Bucs to concentrate
on the ground attack this week. |
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|
| Veterans Stadium |
| Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Date: Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 |
| 4:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
10-6-0 |
| |
Philadelphia |
11-5-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
9-6-1 |
| |
Philadelphia |
9-5-2 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Tampa Bay (R) |
4-4-0 |
| |
Philadelphia (H) |
5-3-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tampa Bay (R) |
4-3-1 |
| |
Philadelphia (H) |
3-3-2 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
2-1-0 |
| |
Philadelphia |
8-3-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
2-1-0 |
| |
Philadelphia |
6-3-2 |
|
|
| That means a lot of Warrick Dunn, a multidimensional threat out of the backfield.
Tampa Bay especially likes to get Dunn into space, where he excels, and they often do so
by having the offensive linemen pull. In the last five weeks, Dunn has averaged 155
rushing/receiving yards per game. Since returning from a knee injury, Mike Alstott has not
had many carries. Dunn has proven to be very durable, but he will certainly take some
licks from Jeremiah Trotter, the Eagles’ hard-hitting middle linebacker.
In recent weeks, the Buccaneers have given in to Shaun King’s pleas to loosen the
reins. He has attempted 80 passes in the past two games. In just his second NFL season,
King is capable of making big plays, but he is also prone to making mistakes.
WR Keyshawn Johnson also is capable of making big plays, but the Bucs are still waiting
for him to truly break out. WR Jacquez Green has outstanding deep speed. They will have to
contend with top CBs Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor.
A key matchup in the trenches pits DRE Hugh Douglas (15 sacks) against OLT Pete
Pierson. Offensive tackle is not a Tampa Bay strength.
WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL:
QB Donovan McNabb is the key to the Eagles’ offense. He is clearly a dangerous
runner, but the Buccaneers will want to be wary of his passing ability as well.
McNabb’s top target is TE Chad Lewis, who earned his first Pro Bowl berth this
season. McNabb also has several weapons to throw to out of the backfield, but in recent
weeks, WRs Charles Johnson and Torrance Small have gotten much more involved in the
offense.
Tampa Bay’s secondary doesn’t normally play tight man coverage, preferring to
employ a zone scheme. It has paid off for CB Donnie Abraham, who has seven interceptions.
While the Buccaneers feature a fierce pass rush from their front four, they will have
to be ready to contain McNabb, who has good escapability. Head coach Andy Reid says that
part of the Eagles’ success this season is because of the continuity on the offensive
line, which has had the same starters at every position all season.
The Eagles’ running game hoped to get a spark from veteran RB Chris Warren, who
was signed before Week 15. Warren got 15 of the Eagles’ 35 carries last week and
rushed for 42 yards. But he also lost two fumbles. While Warren may get the most carries,
the Eagles will continue to go with a running-back-by-committee approach.
Check the status of Buccaneers WLB Derrick Brooks, who suffered a sprained right
shoulder vs. the Packers, and Eagles RB Darnell Autry (sprained ankle).
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 25, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 GREEN, 86 Williams, 87 Murphy* |
| OLT |
69 PIERSON, 79 Hegamin |
| OLG |
64 McDANIEL, 65 Dogins, 60 Coleman* |
| C |
62 CHRISTY, 75 Washington, 68 Unutoa |
| ORG |
73 MIDDLETON, 60 Coleman* |
| ORT |
71 WUNSCH, 76 Curry |
| TE |
83 MOORE, 82 Hape, 80 Yoder* |
| WR |
19 JOHNSON, 85 Anthony |
| QB |
10 KING, 15 Zeier, 14 Hamilton* |
| RB |
28 DUNN, 22 Stecker, 27 Abdullah |
| FB |
40 ALSTOTT, 82 Hape, 48 Kirby |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
72 AHANOTU, 78 Jones, 95 McLaughlin |
| NT |
92 McFARLAND, 98 Cannida |
| DT |
99 SAPP, 97 Jackson |
| DRE |
78 JONES, 94 White, 95 McLaughlin |
| SLB |
53 QUARLES, 51 Singleton |
| MLB |
59 DUNCAN, 52 Webster*, 58 Davis |
| WLB |
55 BROOKS, 50 Gooch |
| LCB |
21 ABRAHAM, 31 Young |
| RCB |
20 BARBER, 25 Kelly |
| SS |
47 LYNCH, 46 Gibson*, 33 Vance |
| FS |
24 ROBINSON, 34 D. Jackson |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
3 ROYALS |
| PK |
7 GRAMATICA |
| H |
3 ROYALS |
| PR |
86 WILLIAMS, 81 Green, 28 Dunn |
| KR |
22 STECKER, 86 Williams, 81 Green |
| KC |
68 UNUTOA |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 SMALL, 87 Pinkston*, 86 Van Dyke |
| OLT |
72 T. THOMAS, 76 Welbourn, 67 Schau |
| OLG |
76 WELBOURN, 74 Brzezinski, 63 Fraley* |
| C |
65 MILLER, 67 Schau |
| ORG |
71 MAYBERRY, 66 B. Williams* |
| ORT |
69 RUNYAN, 76 Welbourn |
| TE |
89 LEWIS, 83 Thomason, 84 Broughton |
| WR |
81 C. JOHNSON, 85 Brown, 82 Douglas |
| QB |
5 McNABB, 10 Detmer, 11 Powlus |
| RB |
35 WARREN, 24 Autry, 36 Pritchett, 30 Mitchell, 33
Hamner* |
| FB |
38 MARTIN, 36 Pritchett |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
98 WHITING, 59 Mamula |
| DLT |
78 H. THOMAS, 96 Grasmanis |
| DRT |
90 SIMON*, 98 Whiting, 97 Walker* |
| DRE |
53 DOUGLAS, 98 Whiting |
| SLB |
51 EMMONS, 56 Caldwell |
| MLB |
54 TROTTER, 57 Darling, 52 Gardner |
| WLB |
52 GARDNER, 56 Caldwell, 58 Reese |
| LCB |
23 VINCENT, 32 Bostic |
| RCB |
21 TAYLOR, 31 Harris |
| SS |
43 MOORE, 42 Cook |
| FS |
20 DAWKINS, 45 Hauck, 25 Cherry |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
7 LANDETA |
| PK |
2 AKERS |
| H |
10 DETMER |
| PR |
30 MITCHELL, 85 Brown, 16 Scott* |
| KR |
30 MITCHELL, 82 Douglas |
| LS |
88 BARTRUM, 89 Lewis |
* Rookie |
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