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Buccaneers best and worst: game 15

By Compiled by LAWRENCE HOLLYFIELD

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 17, 2000

BEST -- TAMPA BAY 29, GREEN BAY 10, DEC. 26, 1999: When is it not good to beat the Packers? This was particularly sweet, though, as the Bucs, 3-16 in their 19 previous games against Green Bay, celebrated a playoff spot by all-but-eliminating their nemesis from playoff contention. The Bucs allowed 12 yards rushing, the second-best effort in franchise history, and forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and a fumble recovery by Damien Robinson. The offense turned to Mike Alstott in the fourth quarter, as he scored on runs of 5 and 17 yards. Robinson was the multipurpose star on "the biggest night of my NFL life," also catching a 17-yard pass on a fake punt. "For so long, that was the team we were chasing," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "That was Tony's (Dungy) whole cry, that we've got to chase down the Packers, chase down the Packers. We had an opportunity today to bury them and we threw them in the grave ... and it feels good."

WORST -- NEW YORK JETS 31, TAMPA BAY 0, DEC. 14, 1997: And you panicked when the Bucs' net passing yardage was in the 50s and 60s? On a blustery day at the Meadowlands, Trent Dilfer and Steve Walsh finished 3 of 22 for 38 yards with three interceptions. With 17 yards lost on sacks, that net is 21. Dilfer, playing on a badly sprained ankle, completed two passes to Bucs and two to cornerback Otis Smith, who ran 45 and 51 yards for touchdowns. New York killed any Bucs hopes when Leon Johnson ran 101 yards with the opening kickoff of the second half. On the plane ride home, the Bucs were told they made the playoffs for the first time since 1982 when Carolina lost. "It's kind of bittersweet," Dungy said a day later. "Getting in the playoffs is the good news. But ... we embarrassed ourselves." OTHER LOSS OF NOTE: In 1979, the 9-5 Bucs lost 23-7 to the 1-13 49ers. Tampa Bay's first division title had to wait another week, but there was other history made on the field. It was the last home game for O.J. Simpson (six carries, 26 yards). 49ers rookie Joe Montana mopped up, completing 3 of 4 passes for 12 yards.

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