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Game-by-game preview

Rick Stroud's version of the 1998 schedule

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 3, 1998

SEPT. 6, AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M.: Vikings coach Dennis Green has lost a lot of weight and his team looks hungry. The focus is on stopping the three-headed receiving monster of Cris Carter, Jake Reed and Randy Moss. One of them is open all day, but his quarterback can’t get it there. Brad Johnson’s arm isn’t strong enough to bend the target on a dunking booth after his nerve injury last season. Meanwhile, the story is about a rookie receiver - Jacquez Green - who enters the game late and scores on a zig-zagging 59-yard reverse. Bucs 20, Vikings 17.

SEPT. 13, AT GREEN BAY, 1 P.M.: Baywatch comes early at Lambeau as the Bucs try to exact revenge for their three losses to the Packers in ‘97. The game is held up 10 minutes after Warren Sapp and Brett Favre get their facemasks stuck together like two teenagers with braces in pregame warmups. RB Warrick Dunn combines for 160 yards rushing and receiving. But a fourth-quarter drive for the game-winning score is aborted when Trent Dilfer is sacked by the still-gambling LeRoy Butler as Bert Emanuel stands alone in the end zone. Packers 17, Bucs 16.

SEPT. 20, CHICAGO, 4 P.M.: Raymond James Stadium opens in front of a sellout crowd, some of whom actually like their seat location. Six people are treated for minor injuries after stepping on carpenter nails but they love the new stadium infirmary lounge box. FB Mike Alstott scores the first TD in the new ballyard and records his first career 100-yard rushing game. A cannon on the massive pirate ship in the north end zone near Buccaneer Cove is stuffed with money and fired into the upper deck to appease those who had been sitting on the 50-yard line since ‘76. Bucs thump hapless Chicago, which complains about the small visitors locker room. Bucs 34, Bears 3.

SEPT. 28, AT DETROIT, 8:20 P.M.: Bucs appear on
Monday Night Football for the first time since
‘83. Al Michaels refers to them as the Tampa Bucs 27 times. Dunn tolerates more comparisons to Lions future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, then goes out and proves they’re
warranted by rushing for 125 yards and two TDs. Bucs 24, Lions 17.

OCT. 4, NEW YORK GIANTS, 4:15 P.M.: Look up the records. Teams that win on Monday Night Football struggle and often lose their next game. The Bucs fall into this trap. They trail early, rally in the fourth quarter and fall short when Michael Husted’s 58-yard field-goal attempt hits the left upright. The missed kick is the result of swirling winds. The Glazers vow to consider closing the end zones by adding more seats. People start lining up at the stadium 342 days before they go on sale. Giants 20, Bucs 19.

OCT. 11. BYE

OCT. 18, CAROLINA, 1 P.M.: Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins, who has broken his jaw and his nose in the past two preseasons, looks a little like a Picasso painting after Sapp and the boys get through with him. Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and an unidentified member of the Glazer family get into a heated discussion over which team has the best stadium. Bucs clearly have the best team. Bucs 28, Panthers 14.

OCT. 25, AT NEW ORLEANS, 1 P.M.: The Bucs continue to prosper in any dome away from home. Saints quarterback Danny Wuerffel takes over from starter Billy Joe Hobert and is woeful. He does complete six passes to former Florida receivers Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green on the Bucs sidelines. Saints coach Mike Ditka breaks his vow of not swearing. Bucs 41, Saints 6.

NOV. 1, MINNESOTA, 1 P.M.: Randall Cunningham takes over at quarterback for the Vikings. Dennis Green is late to the game after appearing at Barnes & Noble to autograph his new diet book, No Room for Dessert. The Bucs complete their first sweep in the NFC Central. Fans are given souvenir brooms but are asked to tidy up Raymond James before leaving. Bucs 17, Vikings 13.

NOV. 8, TENNESSEE, 8:20 P.M.: Tennessee owner Bud Adams announces before the game the Oilers’ new nickname is the Tuxedos. Sapp is wrapped around the neck of quarterback Steve McNair like a bow tie all day. A-Train Pizza gives away 65,000 free pies as part of a new promotion after Alstott rushes for 100 yards. Alstott fires his promotions manager at A-Train Pizza after the game. Bucs 24, Tennessee 14.

NOV. 15, AT JACKSONVILLE, 4:15 P.M.: CBS televises this Sports Illustrated Super Bowl XXXIII preview game. Former Bucs coach Sam Wyche is the color analyst. Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell runs for a touchdown in overtime to beat the Bucs. Wyche says there’s nothing wrong with being 7-dash-3. Jaguars 26, Bucs 20.

NOV. 22, DETROIT, 1 P.M.: The Lions revisit Tampa for the first time since their wild-card loss to the Bucs. A bad snap by center (and former Buc) Jim Pyne is recovered by Alshermond Singleton and returned for a touchdown. It is the second sweep by the Bucs in the NFC Central and they claim a one-game lead over the Packers for first place. Bucs 27, Lions 17.

NOV. 29, AT CHICAGO, 1 P.M.: Bucs return to Soldier Field, where they have won only twice, in ‘79 and ‘89. Although they are a year too early to keep that trend intact, the Bucs listen to the hit by the artist formerly known as Prince for motivation and Party Like It’s 1999. Bears coach Dave Wannstedt is fired after the game in the midst of a 2-10 start. Bucs 34, Bears 3.

DEC. 7, GREEN BAY, 8:20: Bucs host their first Monday Night Football game since ‘83. Tampa Bay clinches its first NFC Central title by beating the Packers. Unfortunately, 40,000 Cheeseheads cram Raymond James Stadium. Bucs owners vow that single-game tickets to next year’s game against the Packers will only be available to Florida residents. The line grows to 100 outside the stadium ticket window. Bucs 21, Packers 20.

DEC. 13, PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M.: Maybe there is something to that Monday Night Football jinx. Bucs suffer their second loss following the prime-time telecast. Steelers get revenge for the Hall of Fame preseason game loss with the help of free agent running back Leeland McElroy subbing for injured Jerome Bettis. Steelers 21, Bucs 20.

DEC. 19, AT WASHINGTON, 4 P.M.: Interim coach Russ Grim, who took over for Norv Turner after the Redskins’ poor start, watches his team suffer its fifth straight loss to Tampa Bay dating to ‘94. Dilfer reaches the 3,000-yard passing plateau for the first time in his career. Bucs 27, Redskins 10.

DEC. 27, AT CINCINNATI, 1 P.M.: Having clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC, Bucs pull their starters in the second quarter and still rout the Bengals behind the passing of backup Steve Walsh. Eight Tampa Bay players who were voted to the Pro Bowl help give coach Tony Dungy a Gatorade bath. Bucs announce that playoff tickets will only be available to season-ticket holders by telephone. At least 1,000 people line up at the stadium ticket window. Bucs 31, Bengals 20.