Champs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a generation away from being the NFL's most laughable franchise, established itself Sunday as the league's best as its No. 1 defense throttled Oakland's Rich Gannon-led offense, scoring with three interceptions, while Brad Johnson methodically drove the Bucs to three touchdowns and an astonishing 48-21 Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the favored Raiders.

The Bucs sacked Gannon, the regular-season MVP, six times and picked off five of his passes. Cornerback Dwight Smith returning one 44 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. That came 43 seconds after Keenan McCardell caught his second touchdown pass from Johnson.

When the Raiders cut the Bucs lead to 13 points, Derrick Brooks, NFL defensive player of the year, and Smith sealed the victory with interception returns of 44 and 50 yards in the final minute and a half.

John Gruden, signed away from the Raiders this season, coached the Bucs to their first Super Bowl, and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, in their 27th season. Only coincidentally, they didn't win for the first time ever until their 27th game. For the Raiders, 3-2 in Super Bowls, it was a disappointing return after a 19-year absence.

Dexter Jackson's two first-half interceptions -- a Super Bowl first -- stopped Oakland drives after the Bucs' first possession ended with a Charles Woodson interception. The teams traded first-quarter field goals and Tampa Bay went on top 6-3 on Martin Gramatica's 43-yard field goal about four minutes into the second quarter.

Tampa Bay then broke away to a 20-3 lead on Mike Alstott's 2-yard touchdown plunge and McCardell's 5-yard scoring catch 30 seconds before halftime. McCardell's 8-yard reception ended an 89-yard drive that used up nearly eight minutes of the third quarter before Smith's first interception made it an astounding 34-3.

With the Bucs playing a more conservative offense, the Raiders climbed back into the game. Late in the third quarter Gannon passed 39 yards to Jerry Porter for touchdown that initially was ruled incomplete.

Eric Johnson's 13-yard score with a blocked punt early in the fourth and Gannon's 48-yard scoring strike to Jerry Rice in the fourth cut he Bucs lead to 23 points. All three two-point conversions failed and the Raiders' last hope ended in Brooks' hands.

Like a man who has outgrown the bumps and bruises and coloring books of childhood, these 53 men in red and pewter have finally and forever locked away the frustration of the past five seasons and, before that, years of Creamsicle-colored ineptitude. The Buccaneers sail home today with their most precious, long-sought treasure.