Ravens at Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Fla.
Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The Ravens blanked the Bengals last Sunday,
emphatically avenging what they felt was their most embarrassing defeat of the season. The
Buccaneers solidified their playoff hopes with a dominating win over the Saints.
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| OVERVIEW: Don’t look for anything too fancy in a
game expected to be dominated by both teams’ swarming, physical defenses. One week
after surrendering a season-worst 476 yards of total offense in a 26-21 loss to the
Steelers, the Ravens returned to form with a 16-0 victory over the Bengals. The Ravens
limited Cincinnati to 281 yards and made three tide-turning interceptions, including a
pair of picks by MLB Ray Lewis that he returned for a total of 94 yards.
One week after allowing the Bears 207 rushing yards in a 27-3 loss in Chicago, the
Buccaneers came up with their best overall performance of the season. In the first half,
the Bucs outgained the Saints 269-34 and limited them to just one first down. For the
game, the Bucs outrushed New Orleans 157-41 and intercepted Aaron Brooks four times,
including three by CB Ronde Barber.
Both teams have excelled in December. The Ravens’ loss to Pittsburgh was their
first in the month of under head coach Brian Billick. With its win last week, Tampa Bay
improved to 12-1 at home in December under head coach Tony Dungy.
Special teams could be a key factor in this game. Ravens RS Jermaine Lewis is
accustomed to having big games in December. Check the status of Bucs PK Martin Gramatica,
who strained his right hamstring vs. the Saints.
When the Ravens have the ball:
After setting a team record for fewest rushing attempts in a game with 13 in the loss
to the Steelers, the Ravens increased their output significantly against the Bengals with
35 carries for 157 yards. Over the previous six games, the Ravens had averaged only 88.2
rushing yards per game. |
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| Raymond James Stadium |
| Tampa, Fla. |
| Date: Saturday, December 29, 2001 |
| 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Baltimore |
9-5-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
8-6-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
7-6-1 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
5-9-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
4-3-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay (H) |
4-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
3-3-1 |
| |
Tampa Bay (H) |
3-3-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Baltimore |
9-5-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
5-5-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
7-6-1 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
4-6-0 |
|
| With Terry Allen (91 rushing yards and a TD vs.
Cincinnati) carrying the rushing load, the Ravens will try to control the clock and come
at the Bucs with a balanced, workmanlike attack that also features high-percentage passes
from Elvis Grbac. They also would love to get off to a fast start for a change. The
Ravens have scored only 29 points in the first quarter this season and haven’t
produced a touchdown in the opening frame in nine games.
The Ravens’ pass protection could be vulnerable, however. It allowed five sacks
last week and could be missing ORG Bennie Anderson, who suffered a neck injury in the
first series last week and did not return (check status). Look for the Bucs’ defense
to try to rattle Grbac, who has had a hand in 21 of the Ravens’ 33 turnovers (16
interceptions and five lost fumbles).
A key matchup sends Bucs red-hot DRE Simeon Rice, who has seven sacks in his last four
games, vs. Ravens perennial Pro Bowl OLT Jonathan Ogden.
Qadry Ismail, the Ravens’ most reliable wideout, likely will see a lot of Barber.
In addition to being a fine cover man, Barber is an adept blitzer who at times will rush
the passer out of the nickel package.
When the Buccaneers have the ball:
As is the case with the Ravens, Tampa Bay would love to take command quickly, like it
did vs. the Saints in jumping out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead. Before last week, the Bucs
had scored only 16 points in the first quarter the entire season. The Ravens’ defense
hasn’t allowed a first-quarter touchdown in eight straight games.
Tampa Bay’s ground game was as strong as it’s been all year vs. the Saints,
with Mike Alstott pounding out 101 yards and scoring his career-high ninth rushing TD.
Because of recent injuries on their defensive line (check the status of DT Tony
Siragusa, leg), the Ravens’ normally formidable rushing defense has given up an
average of 154.0 yards on the ground the last two weeks.
But the Bucs could be better-served attacking the Ravens’ pass defense, which has
been susceptible to big plays most of the season, especially in zone coverage. It also
hasn’t made many big plays itself. The interception by CB Duane Starks last week was
the first by a Ravens starting cornerback since Week Four.
After throwing just one TD pass the previous five weeks, QB Brad Johnson threw three
scoring strikes to three different receivers last Sunday. One of them was a 17-yard score
to RB Warrick Dunn, who led the team with five catches vs. the Saints and has become a key
target out of the backfield.
League-leading WR Keyshawn Johnson will match up against CB Chris McAlister, who was
torched by Steelers WR Plaxico Burress two weeks ago and has had trouble defending against
deep fade routes.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 23. |
Offense |
| WR |
87 ISMAIL, 80 Stokley |
| OLT |
75 OGDEN, 77 Vickers |
| OLG |
64 MULITALO, 77 Vickers |
| C |
62 FLYNN, 74 Bobo, 61 Rabach* |
| ORG |
66 ANDERSON*, 77 Vickers, 65 J. Thomas |
| ORT |
77 VICKERS, 78 S. Williams |
| TE |
82 SHARPE, 86 Heap*, 88 Jones |
| WR |
89 TAYLOR, 84 J. Lewis, 83 Johnson |
| QB |
18 GRBAC, 1 Cunningham, 7 Redman |
| RB |
29 ALLEN, 23 M. Williams, 44 Brookins |
| FB |
32 GASH, 30 Ayanbadejo, 39 Ricard |
Defense |
| DLE |
90 BURNETT, 96 A. Thomas |
| DLT |
95 ADAMS, 79 Webster, 73 Gregg |
| DRT |
98 SIRAGUSA, 91 Dalton |
| DRE |
96 A. THOMAS, 94 Douglas |
| LLB |
58 BOULWARE, 50 Jackson, 54 S. Taylor |
| MLB |
52 R. LEWIS, 56 Hartwell* |
| RLB |
55 SHARPER, 50 Jackson |
| LCB |
22 STARKS, 24 Porter* |
| RCB |
21 McALISTER, 38 Trapp |
| SS |
45 HARRIS, 37 Lake, 42 Mitchell |
| FS |
26 WOODSON, 28 Baxter* |
Specialists |
| PK |
3 STOVER, 12 Kight |
| P |
5 RICHARDSON |
| H |
5 RICHARDSON, 18 Grbac |
| PR |
84 J. LEWIS, 21 McAlister, 22 Starks |
| KR |
84 J. LEWIS, 45 Harris, 44 Brookins |
| LS |
59 MAESE*, 61 Rabach* |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
81 GREEN, 85 Anthony, 87 Murphy |
| OLT |
67 WALKER*, 69 Pierson |
| OLG |
64 McDANIEL, 75 Washington, 68 Grice |
| C |
62 CHRISTY, 75 Washington |
| ORG |
60 COLEMAN, 65 Hochstein* |
| ORT |
71 WUNSCH, 76 Curry |
| TE |
83 MOORE, 80 Yoder, 89 Roberg*, 84 McDermott |
| WR |
19 K. JOHNSON, 86 Williams, 88 Wynn* |
| QB |
14 B. JOHNSON, 10 King, 1 Hamilton |
| RB |
28 DUNN, 22 Stecker, 27 Abdullah |
| FB |
40 ALSTOTT, 43 Cook*, 27 Abdullah |
Defense |
| DLE |
78 JONES, 94 White |
| NT |
92 McFARLAND, 98 Cannida |
| UT |
99 SAPP, 91 Darby |
| DRE |
97 RICE, 94 White, 96 Wyms* |
| SLB |
53 QUARLES, 51 Singleton |
| MLB |
59 DUNCAN, 52 Webster |
| WLB |
55 BROOKS, 50 Gooch |
| LCB |
25 KELLY, 21 Abraham |
| RCB |
20 BARBER, 26 Smith* |
| SS |
47 LYNCH, 46 Gibson |
| FS |
34 JACKSON, 38 Howell*, 33 Vance |
Specialists |
| P |
3 ROYALS |
| PK |
7 GRAMATICA |
| H |
3 ROYALS, 14 Johnson |
| PR |
86 WILLIAMS, 81 Green, 22 Stecker |
| KR |
86 WILLIAMS, 81 Green, 22 Stecker |
| LS |
84 McDERMOTT, 83 Moore |
* Rookie |
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