Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19 Arizona Cardinals 18 Sunday 28 September 1997 at Houlihans Stadium FOX COMMENTARY CREW Kenny Albert and Tim Green
The Buccaneers equaled the best start in franchise history by winning their fifth straight game despite losing in most statistical categories. Tampa Bay was outgained 364 to 147 total yards, but managed to sack QB Kent Graham six times (three by DT Brad Culpepper) and intercept two of his passes. The Tampa special teams opened the scoring when Alshermond Singleton blocked a punt and recovered it for his own score. The Cardinals did have a late chance but Kevin Butler missed a 47- yard fieldgoal attempt.
STARTERS OFFENSE DEFENSE LT 74 Gruber LDE 72 Ahanotu LG 60 Pyne DT 77 Culpepper C 61 Mayberry DT 99 Sapp RG 64 Diaz RDE 91 Upshaw RT 70 Odom WLB 55 Brooks TE 80 Harris MLB 56 Nickerson WR 85 Anthony SLB 50 Gooch WR 88 Copeland LCB 21 Abraham QB 12 Dilfer SS 47 Lynch FB 40 Alstott FS 25 Johnson RB 28 Dunn RCB 45 Legette PLAYED 5 Husted, 6 Barnhardt, 20 Barber, 22 Mincy, 23 Bouie, 29 Gant, 31 Young, 37 Ellison, 51 Singleton, 52 Bellisari, 53 Quarles, 69 Pierson, 71 Wunsch, 73 Middleton, 78 Jones, 82 Hape, 83 Moore, 84 Thomas, 86 Williams, 94 White, 97 Jackson DID NOT PLAY 4 Walsh, 32 Rhett INACTIVES 13 Milanovich, 24 Robinson, 27 Parker, 59 Porter, 65 Dogins, 75 Curry, 87 Davis, 90 Maniecki
GAME SCORING TB 6:53-1Q Singleton recovered blocked punt (kick failed) TB 5:46-2Q Anthony 8 pass from Dilfer (2 pt failed) ARI 1:52-2Q Moore 21 pass from Graham (Butler kick) ARI 9:48-3Q Butler FG37 ARI 0:26-3Q Williams 42 int return (Sanders pass) TB 4:48-4Q Williams 31 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
GAME REPORTS Rick Stroud reports on a shaky High 5 for the Buccaneers Bucs recall past and then condemn it It was ugly but who cares - it was a win Ronde Barber's NFL debut is a real learning experience Click here for the gamebook and the play-by-play
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING BUCS: Alstott 8-27, Dunn 10-27, Dilfer 2-0. CARDINALS: McElroy 13-40, Johnson 5-21, Centers 4-4, McKinnon 1-3, Graham 1-2, Swann 1-0. PASSING BUCS: Dilfer 24-12-110-1-2, Barnhardt 1-1-25-0-0. CARDINALS: Graham 52-31-339-2-1. RECEIVING BUCS: Anthony 5-49, Harris 3-10, Dunn 2-10, Williams 1-31, Bouie 1-25, Copeland 1-10. CARDINALS: Moore 8-147, Centers 8-58, Sanders 5-60, Edwards 3-27, Williams 2-15, McElroy 2-11, Gedney 1-17, Carter 1-4, Johnson 1-0. INTERCEPTIONS BUCS: Abraham 1-0, Lynch 1-0. CARDINALS: Williams 1-42. KICK RETURNS BUCS: Williams 2-43, Dunn 1-30. CARDINALS: Williams 2-46. PUNT RETURNS BUCS: Williams 4-57. CARDINALS: Williams 2-21. SACKS BUCS: Culpepper 3-19, Ahanotu 2-21, Sapp 1-5. CARDINALS: Swann 2-12, Smith 1-10.
VIDEO CLIPS Al Singleton’s blocked punt was one of big special teams plays Tommy Barnhardt turned QB on this fake punt pass to Tony Bouie Karl Williams’ fourth down score was the biggest play of the game