SB 37: Bucs crush Raiders for 1st Super Bowl title

Super Bowl 37

Jan. 26, 2003

At San Diego-67,603

Oakland .3..0..6.12-21

Tampa Bay .3.17.14.14-48

Tampa Bay's defense dominated the Raiders in the first Super Bowl matchup of the NFL's best offense against the best defense.

MVP Dexter Jackson had two interceptions. Also with two was Dwight Smith, who returned both of his picks for touchdowns, including a 50-yarder to finish off the scoring with 2 seconds left. Derrick Brooks also returned an interception for a touchdown against league MVP Rich Gannon.

Simeon Rice had two of the Bucs' five sacks as Tampa romped to a 20-3 halftime lead, then scored two quick third-quarter touchdowns.

The Raiders had a touchdown on a blocked punt and a 48-yard TD pass from Gannon to Jerry Rice. But Gannon threw five interceptions.

Tampa Bay's offense did its part, too, led by Michael Pittman, who ran for 124 yards on 29 carries.

Oakland had been rocked the morning of the game by the absence of starting center Barrett Robbins, who was in a San Diego hospital after disappearing from the team's hotel the night before. He had gone on a drinking and drug binge in Tijuana, Mexico.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL