Beating Eagles Was Bucs’ Super Bowl
January 21st, 2010
Joe admits it and he’s not ashamed. He’s addicted to Sirius NFL Radio, specifically in the mornings and middays.
Part of that is the non-stop intelligent football talk 24/7. Part of that intelligent talk comes from none other than Bucs legend Derrick Brooks, who hosts a show each Friday from 1-3 p.m. with Ross Tucker.
Rarely does one of Brooks’ shows go by that someone doesn’t ask him about the Bucs, which stands to reason. One element of a quality show is that each time you tune in you learn something.
Last week, Joe learned something. In the minds of Brooks and many of his former teammates (so Brooks claims), the Bucs beating the Raiders for the franchise’s lone Super Bowl wasn’t all that special.
Sure, the players loved it and will never trade away those memories. But Brooks said that the game prior, the NFC Championship against Philadelphia was actually the Bucs’ Super Bowl.
A caller asked Brooks about beating the Raiders to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which sent Brooks down memory lane.
“During that game we were really focused on whatever we had to do to get a win,” Brooks said. “It was the Raiders and their No. 1 offense against our No. 1 defense. [Chucky] had been familiar with the Raiders offense which was an advantage.
“We went out there and overcame a turnover early and got back into the game and turned it around in our favor. After holding the Raiders to a field goal, that got the ball rolling.
“Our rushing offense was off the cliff. We were able to control the clock on the ground and our defense played big. Michael Pittman may have had his best game as a Bucs running back in the Super Bowl.
“But the measurement of how good our team was was when we went to Philadelphia and knocked the Eagles off. When we were able to overcome the Eagles, in our minds, that was our Super Bowl.”
January 21st, 2010 at 10:22 am
That was awesome. In Sarasota, there was dancing in the streets after the Eagles win.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:25 am
safety:
To this day Joe believes the fans reaction to the NFC championship was bigger than the Super Bowl. People literally freaked out after the Bucs beat the Eagles.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:31 am
Ahhhhh the good ol’days!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:31 am
I always felt the same way. As fun as it was to watch the Super Bowl, I didn’t get nearly as jacked up for any of those plays (and there were plenty that were made) as I was for the Barber pick-six to ice the Philly game or even the Jurevicios catch and run for about 60 yards that got the offense rolling that game.
I remember telling a friend of mine prior to the Championship games being played, that if we got past Philly, we shouldn’t have any problems with Oakland or Tennessee. That NFC Championship game is the best game I’ve ever watched as a Bucs fan.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:33 am
I remember driving home after the Eagles game and as i drove through my neighborhood I could see people jumping up and down inside their living rooms and out in the yards. That win and the week leading up to the Super Bowl was absolutely the most excitement I have ever witnessed around town.
I remember saying to a co-worker “I don’t know what it will be like if we win the Super Bowl but there is no way it can get any crazier around here than this.” And it wasn’t. As great as it was to win against the Raiders it was almost as if everyone was like… ok, now what do we do?
January 21st, 2010 at 10:34 am
i remember that january!! in colombia i have a cousin, fan of the packers, we made 2 bets, the first one was what team would have a better playoffs, obviously i won it, and later he bet me for the super bowl, i was just a kid, but win like 200 dollars in that time!! man that was crazy!!!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:36 am
good memories!!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:44 am
We never could get past the Eagles the years prior. I went crazy when Ronde sealed it. I bought two kegs after we beat the Eagles. And that was after drinking one!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:55 am
This makes me want to pull out my Superbowl DVD when i get home tonight.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:18 am
Joe seems to recall seeing much more fireworks after the win over the Eagles than the win over the Raiders.
Joe was at Fergs on the patio when Barber made his interception. It was like a bomb went off. An absolute explosion. People were running the length of the bar from left to right, as if they were blocking for Barber or trying to help push him downfield.
Joe doesn’t remember another play after that. The place was a complete and total madhouse. Bartenders were wrestling with patrons who were trying to climb on top of the bar to stage dive. They were not always successful.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:24 am
I agree Joe! I was lucky enough to be able to go to this game and took a lot of shit from Eagle fans most of the game. When Barber picked off McNabb I just turned around and smiled. One of the best days of my football life and one of the most awkward subway rides I have ever taken.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:28 am
joe: can u put a video of that game here?? just for the memories!!!
January 21st, 2010 at 11:49 am
A Bucs martyr!
January 21st, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Yes that game was great. I remember going to 49ers game before, the game where we all got the huge flags on a stick. After that play, not only did I go crazy in Orlando, which people thought I was a little weird, I ran out to my car, grabbed the flag, and ran back into the bar running aroound waving the flag. Then, I drove to the next bar and did the same thing. It was great.
Beating the Eagles was something Tony Dungy couldn’t do year after year. Which is why the Glazers traded everything and their mother for Gruden. Then Gruden gave the offense and the team the right chemistry at the right time and THAT (Gruden’s presence) is what put Tampa over the top. For all the jacks who say Gruden won it with Tony’s team… why couldn’t Tony Dungy beat the Eagles? You know damn well that wouldn’t have happended with Dungy and his lackluster offense. For ONCE, give Gruden a little credit. Jon Gruden: 3 Division titles (TD only had 1), more wins than any other Buc’s coach, and Tampa’s 1 and only Super Bowl.
January 21st, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I remember this moment well .. Once Ronde picked it off .. I knew he was gone and we were going to the SuperBowl .. I started jumping up and down with my friend like a bunch of 8 year old school girls that just made the cheerleading squad .. By the time we stopped . The extra point was already kicked .. I didnt even see the Run Back .,.. I just knew we were goin to the Big Show and it was a TD
January 21st, 2010 at 7:16 pm
B FROM O-TOWN SURE GRUDEN DESERVES CREDIT BUT SO DOES DUNGY AND SO DOES WYCHE FOR DRAFTING SAPP,BROOKS, AND LYNCH. ALL THREE COMBINED TO PUT THAT TEAM TOGETHER.. GRUDEN WAS ABLE TO GET THAT OFFENSE JUST ENOUGH BETTER MAKE THEM A TRUE CONTENDER THAT SEASON(NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OFF THE NEXT 6 YEARS THOUGH). AND AS FOR THE TOTAL WINS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY GRUDEN HAS 3 MORE THAN DUNGY AND COACHED THE BUCS 7 YEARS VS. DUNGY’S 6 AND IM SURE MANY WOULD AGREE GRUDEN INHERITED A MUCH BETTER TEAM HIS FIRST YEAR THAN WHAT DUNGY DID!!!
BUT AS GOR THAT NFC CHAMPIONSHIP, THAT WAS THE GREATEST WIN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY(I BELIEVE) IM PRETTY SURE I BLACKED OUT AFTER RONDE PICKED THAT PASS OFF!!!! AND AS FOR THE RAIDERS GAME I THINK MOST FANS WERE MORE CONFIDENT IN THE SUPERBOWL DUE TO GRUDEN’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE RAIDERS AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO ACHIEVE AFTER THAT GAME…
THAT EAGLES GAME WILL ALWAYS GO DOWN AS THE GREATEST BUCS WIN… AND I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT THE 11-6 LOSS TO THE RAMS WILL HAVE TO GO DOWN AS PROBABLY THE SECOND OR THIRD GREASTES GAME EVER PLAYED IN FRANCHISE HISTORY JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE SAID THERE WAS NO WAY ANY DEF. COULD SHUT DOWN THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF!!!! HECK IF WE WOULD OF HAD A BELOW AVG. OFF WE WOULD HAVE WON THAT GAME INSTEAD OF THE GOD AWFUL ONE THAT WE HAD THAT YEAR!!!!
GREAT MEMORIES!!!!HOPE WE HAVE SOME MORE SOONER THAT LATER!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:19 am
I was getting a divorce from my ex-wife, a South Philly native and diehard Eagles fan that winter. Dear God in heaven, that win was sweeter than most. Almost made the alimony worth it.
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:44 am
dwp288:
LOL!!!