TAMPA BAY 31, ATLANTA 10: Bucs return to winning formula with a whole lotta shakin' going on from No. 99.
By RICK STROUD
Published September 22, 2003
ATLANTA - This is what happens when you dare to doubt the world champions.
This is what you get for defying Oz and questioning the game plan of Jon Gruden.
Defensive tackle Warren Sapp dances in your end zone after catching his first touchdown pass during the Bucs' 31-10 victory Sunday against the Falcons.
This is what happens when you pull on the tiger's tail and suggest the defense can't stop the run.
It leaves a pile of feathers where Falcons running backs used to be and holds them to 29 yards.
This is what happens when you poke the giant in the eye and say the offensive line can't protect the passer or open holes.
Running back Michael Pittman rushes for 82 yards and catches seven passes for 82 more, including a touchdown.
Stung by the criticism after last week's overtime loss to Carolina, the Bucs continued their trend of not losing back-to-back games under Gruden.
"We felt that chip on our shoulder," linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "We felt (last) week we might not be getting as much respect. But that's good, too. It kind of woke us up to that fact we weren't having any fun. We had fun (last) week in practice, and it showed we had fun (Sunday)."
How much fun?
Gruden played Sapp and Anthony McFarland at tight end in a formation he calls Rolex and proceeded to clean Atlanta's clock.
Sneaking into the end zone on a play-action fake, Sapp cradled a 6-yard pass from Brad Johnson with 1:55 left in the first half to give the Bucs a 17-3 lead.
"We've scored a couple touchdowns on runs inside the goal line there, and you've got to have a couple play-action passes. And we thought first down was a good time to do that," Gruden said. "It just adds to the legacy of Warren Sapp."
Meanwhile, Sapp added a step to end zone celebrations, dancing "like Beyonce to Crazy Love."
"Obviously, with Sapp's touchdown, with all the great plays he'll have in his career, I don't know if it'll be Hall of Fame or not, but that will be one of the top five plays he'll have in his bag," Johnson said.
With Michael Vick still out with a broken fibula, the Bucs pressured Falcons quarterback Doug Johnson into throwing three interceptions, two by safety Dwight Smith, and forced five turnovers.
All of Johnson's interceptions came during the second quarter, and he passed for just 95 yards before coach Dan Reeves pulled him during the fourth quarter.
The Bucs had not given up a regular-season touchdown in 17 quarters dating to last season. That streak might have continued Sunday had it not been for a fumble by running back Thomas Jones that was returned 37 yards by linebacker Sam Rogers to the Tampa Bay 2.
The Bucs nearly made a goal-line stand, stuffing Warrick Dunn for 1 yard on two carries. But on third down, the Falcons inserted running back Woodrow Dantzler at quarterback to run the option, and the man who played that position at Clemson scored on a 1-yard run.
It pulled the Falcons to within 17-10 just 4:47 into the third quarter.
"We've got to get those out of there," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "Woodrow comes in, and we know he's running an option. We've just got to get somebody on the ball. It stinks to give up our first (touchdown) of the year when they only had 2 yards to go. But we almost kept them out of there."
But this is what happens when you challenge the champs.
Johnson answered by leading Tampa Bay on a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, going 5-for-5 for 46 yards. This time, with McFarland and Sapp blocking, fullback Mike Alstott scored his first of two second-half touchdowns by slamming across from 2 yards.
"You have a freaky turnover like that. They score. It's 17-10, and you're in another ballgame," Johnson said.
"For us to bounce back on the next drive, take it 80 yards and score, it really kind of delivered a punch after a turnover."
This is what happens when you question the special teams.
A week after allowing blocks on two field goals and an extra point and a 52-yard punt return in overtime, the Bucs were sharp.
Moving center John Wade to left guard and inserting rookie Sean Mahan at right guard, they handled all four Martin Gramatica extra points and one field goal flawlessly. And John Howell's recovery of a fumbled kickoff by Brian Kozlowski ended any Falcon comeback hopes.
"It was amazing that wasn't the first thing brought up (Sunday)," Gruden said of the protection on placekicks.
"We have to give Gramatica good looks. We can't take the bat out of his hands. Our pride was on the line (Sunday), and I thought our guys delivered."
After the loss to the Panthers, Bucs players said they grew tired of hearing how they were vulnerable to offenses that deploy two tight ends and a big back and run straight ahead.
"Every team that beat us, they get their package out of both New Orleans games, the Pittsburgh game and the other game with (Carolina)," Sapp said. "They get that formula with deuce (tight ends), power the ball, let them wear them down. But when we're in our gap, you're not wearing anything. We're wearing you out because we're hitting you.
"Wednesday after practice, (Gruden) told us, "I sense a little lull about you. That game is still lingering. There's still a bad taste in our mouth.' Once he gives us the clue he's over it - because he takes it worse than anybody; that's his offense that got nine points - once he said he was by it, we put the pedal to the metal."
This is what happens when you get your fingerprints on the Lombardi Trophy.
Any questions?
"I think sometimes we play with a chip on our shoulder when people do doubt us," Lynch said. "It's not always a bad thing."
