Up next for Bucs: nemesis

Tampa Bay turns its attention to the Eagles, who have bounced the Bucs from the playoffs the past two years.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 15, 2002

TAMPA -- They own the longest winning streak in the NFL, are tied for the best record with four other teams, have the league's top-ranked defense and are as healthy as they've been since training camp.

But the Buccaneers should be fearful of torn knee ligaments, sprained ankles and separated shoulders that might result from a loss at Philadelphia on day.

And that's just the injuries fans might suffer from jumping off the Bucs' bandwagon.

The Eagles have had Tampa Bay's number, eliminating it the past two season with wild-card victories at Veterans Stadium.

In fact, while the Bucs' five wins have come at the expense of opponents that are a combined 7-21, five of their next six games are against teams with .500 or better records.

So they could make believers with a win against the Eagles.

"Philly's been our Achilles' heel the last two years trying to win a championship," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "This is the team that's knocked us out. Guys will be geared up for this game. There will be no lack of motivation for the Philadelphia Eagles."

Obviously, coach Jon Gruden was not a part of the defeats at Philadelphia. He said he won't spend much time reviewing film of those playoff losses in which Tampa Bay failed to score a touchdown.

"We'll see how Philadelphia defended the Bucs offense," Gruden said. "We'll see how we matched up and played against their offense. It'll be a tool for us, but obviously, we'll look at this year's tapes also.

"I'm not going to investigate on what happened last year or the year before that. We've just got to concentrate on what's happening right now on this year's football team and get ready mentally to go up there and play a great game."

Gruden knows about playing in Philadelphia. He was the team's offensive coordinator from 1995-97.

"The unique makeup of the city? I never saw anything but the dark going to and from over the Walt Whitman Bridge," Gruden said. "I don't know anything about the makeup of the city.

"I know this. It's a passionate city, they love their football and it's going to be a very exciting atmosphere there. It always is."

Providing most of that excitement is quarterback Donovan McNabb, who has not only passed for 1,280 yards and 11 TDs but is the team's leading rusher with 241 yards and three scores.

"This guy is built like a halfback. He's 240-pounds, he's very elusive, a very strong-armed guy," Gruden said. "They have a very good supporting cast, and it'll be a real challenge for us.

"They're tough. And I know the people in Philadelphia, they don't like the other team that's coming to town so it's going to be a real challenge. Who are we to compare who's tougher than anybody else?"

The Bucs are coming off their best rushing performance of the season in Sunday's 17-3 win over Cleveland. Mike Alstott accounted for 126 of the Bucs' 186 yards.

"There are some areas we're excited about," Gruden said. "It's our best rushing game to date. It's our fifth straight win. But there are some areas we've got to improve. Will this become a wide-open offense at some point? That's our goal. But our goal again is to win. It could be a closed formation, turn around and slam it in there with Alstott. If that's what it takes to win. That's something I'm going through a little bit. But I learned a great thing (Sunday): that that ain't a bad thing."

Neither is the streak of 12 quarters without allowing a touchdown. Everything is in place for Tampa Bay to stake its claim to supremacy in the NFC.

"On paper, you've got to look at us and say we're holding an advantage right now," Barber said. "We're not making a lot of mistakes on offense, we're dominating on defense and they're coming off a loss.

"But tell me Oakland was going to lose to St. Louis (Sunday) and I'd slap you in the face."