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Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 16, 2000
FIRST QUARTER
-SLOW START: The teams struggled to move the ball early. Both went four-and-out on their first two possessions. The longest play during that sequence for either team was a 9-yard run by Warrick Dunn on second and 10.
-GETTING MOORE: Tampa Bay got the game's first 1st down on a Shaun King 15-yard pass to Dave Moore. It was the first gain picked up by a Bucs player other than Dunn or Alstott. Although the play put the Bucs in Washington territory, they were forced to punt four plays later.
-HELLO, GOODBYE: The Redskins didn't get into Bucs territory until near the end of the quarter. They didn't stay long, as the drive ended in a punt four plays later.
-NO GROUND GAME: The running game was nonexistent in the quarter, despite both teams trying repeatedly to establish it. The Bucs ended up with only 14 yards on ground and the Redskins had 20.
-CONNELL'S OPEN: WR Albert Connell was Washington's chief offensive weapon in the first half. He had four catches for 59 yards, including a key 19-yarder during the only scoring drive.
-ATONING: The first penalty of the game was on the Redskins early in the quarter, a holding call for 10 yards. They made up for it right away: On the next play, Johnson connected with Connell for 19 yards to get the first down.
-RIGHT SIDE WRONG: King had little luck throwing to the right side of the field. He was 1 for 10 on that side in the first half, with an 18-yarder to Green the only completion. It included several deep balls, most attempted in the closing moments of the half.
-ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: Brian Mitchell opened the half by scoring on a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was the longest kickoff return for a score in NFL playoff history.
-BACK TO FORM: After Mitchell's spectacular return, both teams reverted to their play at the start of the game. Tampa Bay and Washington each went four-and-out on each of their next possessions.
-COMING UP GREEN: After a 30-yard connection with Bert Emanuel to start the drive, the Bucs had trouble moving the ball on their second possession of the half. On third and 8, King threw a ball intended for one Green (Jacquez), but it was intercepted by another Green (Darrell). The turnover led to a 48-yard field goal for Washington, extending its lead to 13-0.
-BAD STREAK: Connell had only three passes in his direction. Sandwiched between two incompletions was John Lynch's interception in Bucs' territory.
-CRUCIAL CALL: Even though Lynch's pick set the Bucs up for what would be their first scoring play, it got off to a rough start. The first play was an Alstott run for a loss. Despite two big passing plays to Dunn and Moore, the key play was a 31-yard pass interference call for Dunn on Washington's Leomont Evans. With the ball spotted on the Redskins' 11, the Bucs scored two plays later.
-LEARNING FROM MISTAKES: The Redskins opened the quarter with a drive that was helped by a Shelton Quarles facemask penalty for 15 yards, placing the ball at the Washington 46. The Bucs defense quickly compensated for the gaffe, stuffing Stephen Davis for a 2-yard loss on the next play, and recovering a Brad Johnson fumble on the play after that.
-CONNELL'S CLOSED: After being the most effective offensive player for Washington in the first half, Connell was shut down after halftime. Not only did he not have any catches in the second half, there were no balls thrown his way in the fourth quarter.
-SAPPING STRENGTH: Warren Sapp took full advantage of teammate Steve White's quarterback sack by pouncing on Brad Johnson's fumble. The turnover gave Tampa Bay the ball on the Washington 32 and led to their second touchdown drive.
-KING'S CROWN: The Bucs game-winning drive started ominously with a sack of King for a 10-yard loss. He made up for it on the next play with a 17-yard throw to Emanuel. King would go 3-of-4 on the drive, capping it off with a 1-yard toss to TE John Davis into the end zone.