Bucs were better team on field Tom McEwen, The Tampa Tribune, published 21 December 1981 Perhaps I can best explain how very much the 20-17 Tampa Bay win over Detroit Sunday meant to the Buc Family by reporting to you that Coach John McKay did a disco victory dance in the locker room. Not only that, but when time ran out on the agonising Lions, and it was run-on-to-the-field time for the victors, McKay shot his right fist high in the air in salute of the championship moment. And once in the dressing room, his general comments to the press made, McKay spotted linebackers Richard Wood and Andy Hawkins dancing to the booming disco sounds coming out of Hugh Green's silver, 20-pound portable stereo. He joined the dance, more shuffling West Virginia style than discoing, but he was dancing there, the old coach was, hair mussed, blood spots on his orange jersey, pride swelling in his chest. Once more the Bucs had come to the showdown for national respect. Once more they had arrived at such an opportunity an underdog, and in this case, peculiarly, a six-point underdog. The Lions would win Sunday, all said, because they always win in the Silverdome, and I suppose because they beat the malarkey out of Minnesota for the world to see nine days ago. The Lions would win because of the 12th man, the great, noisy crowd, the one they used to beat Dallas several weeks ago. And they would win because, well, because it was the Bucs they were playing. The Buc approach was simple. "Man for man," said Cecil Johnson, "we knew we were better athletes." Not putting Eric Hipple down, but would you trade Doug Williams for him? "We weren't worried about the crowd," McKay said. "Only the players play and the coaches coach. They coached, we played, we were better on this day and we won and we are the champions." Indeed, they were a better team Sunday. Here's why. The Bucs had no turnovers. The Lions had three, all devastating. Two turnovers belonged to safety Cedric Brown. Both were interceptions, both were behind the Buc goal and both killed Lion scoring opportunities. One belonged to the tandem of Lee Roy Selmon and nose tackle David Logan. Selmon crushed Hipple, who lost the ball. Logan grabbed the ball on the first bounce and carried it 21 yards for a touchdown. The Bucs had the better place-kicker. Bill Capece hit on 40- and 30-yard field goals and two extra points, while a more experienced Eddie Murray missed, for no explained reason, one of 34. A good rush by Dave Stalls may have been distracting. The Bucs had the big plays when needed. Doug Williams hit Kevin House on yet another long pass, this one for 84 yards and a score, and he saw James Owens catch a 35-yard drive-saving pass while flat on his keester. The Bucs were more aggressive. That spirit forced the fumble and produced the interceptions that held the Lions in check during the Buc offensive lull in mid-game. Selmon had his best game of the year. He was everywhere. Moreover, the defensive front sacked Hipple three times, Gary Danielson once. Premier running back Billy Sims must be bruised from the licks he took. The Bucs did not yield to final pressure. When it was 20-17, momentum on the Lions" side, and 1:21 remaining in the game, it came time for the final Detroit shot, an attempt at an onside kick to retain possession. The Bucs put in their "Hands Team," meaning people who handle the football regularly. Jimmie Giles was ailing an unavailable. Special teams coach Howard Tippett went to Theo Bell to replace Giles on the front line, right side. He'd be in the thick of it. Murray bounced the ball to his left, toward Bell, Tony Davis and Gerald Carter. "We were sort of waiting, then I went forward," said Davis. "I jumped and touched the ball and we all went down. I saw Theo had it. I knew we were the champs." Then Davis leaped up and for the world to see, signalled Bucs" ball with a grand mimic of a referee. The Buccaneers, the so-often maligned Buccaneers, the so-often overlooked Buccaneers, had done what they had to do to win this game, the title, $5,000 each, and a ticket into the playoffs. They also had come off the mat, for the loss to San Diego a week ago was a knockdown, they had come from the mid-season cellar. It is my belief that not one of the 80,000-plus Detroit fans thought their team could lose, perhaps not one Lion. "I wouldn't say we were overconfident," said James Harrell of the Lions, "but, well, I will say that when the Bucs moved for a field goal the first time, some of us said, "Wait, that's not supposed to happen to us in here." But it did - and more. "It was a bitter defeat," said Detroit coach Monte Clark. "We had our opportunities and in a championship game, you have to perform in championship style. We had our chance to do it and we did not." But the Bucs did perform in championship style and they are the champions. "What we did was go out and make things happen," said Richard Wood. "We did not wait for something to happen." "There was an awful lot of talking being done when we got to town. There won't be much when we leave," said Jerry Eckwood. McKay made the point that he'd much rather be playing in the Silverdome for the title than at Green Bay, where it is freezing, or Chicago, where it is freezing, or Minnesota, where it is freezing. "It was just like home for us today, just like Tampa weather," he said. Doug Williams passed out bouquets to the team, mentioning many by name. No, he didn't see House catch the pass in the second quarter that became an 84-yard touchdown play for a 10-7 lead. The Bucs had their backs to the wall until that surprise. "I had to rush it, got hit and went down," Williams said. "I jumped up and saw House running and tried to catch him, but that would be impossible. I think this helps us with respect. Not a lot thought we could come here and break that 7-0 record. We knew what we had to do. We heard the 12th man thing. "Let it Ripple with Hipple." One writer today in Detroit didn't even think we could score three points. Detroit was tough, but we were better today when we had to be. I thought we would be." Cecil Johnson was beside himself with pleasure. "In mid-season, we went down in the trench. But we crawled out, didn't quit, and proved these last few weeks we are men and we are professionals." Finally, in those moments to be remembered and to be revered, with McKay laughing and dancing, the players screaming and exchanging good-goings, secondary coach Wayne Fontes got himself one of those foot-long cigars, lit, puffed it and said: "We're proud. It was certainly not easy, but then nothing worthwhile is easy." A championship. That's worthwhile.