Tampa Bay Bucs and Super Bowl XXXVII

In football, clever monikers are the order of the day. Everything must have a name, whether it is the Packers-Cowboys Ice Bowl or the label of Joe Cool to describe the great Joe Montana. Nicknames add a sense of familiarity to any person or event - and even plays - and nothing sums up any of those better than a colorful descriptive phrase. In a League with two teams that both proudly hoist the pirate emblem, it was almost inevitable that they would eventually meet in the biggest game of them all. The title "Pirate Bowl" seems to have been waiting to be used for that contest, and got its chance in Super Bowl XXXVII when the Buccaneers of Tampa Bay faced off against the Raiders of Oakland in January of 2003.

Trading for a coach

It seems now, in hindsight, that the game's origins can be found in the coaching trade prior to the 2002 season. The Buccaneers were eager to acquire the services of Jon Gruden - an offensive specialist - but could not openly recruit him as he was contractually obligated to the Raiders. Oakland did allow Tampa Bay to hire him, but only as part of a trade involving several draft choices. It was thought at the time that the Bucs had been taken for more than they received. They were, after all, exchanging part of their future for an uncertain present gain. So egregious was the decision that the NFL made the decision to prevent any other team from making such a trade in the future. For their part, the Buccaneers would soon find themselves benefiting immensely from the deal.

The King of the Pirates

Gruden's arrival in Tampa Bay left no time for celebration. Although the Buccaneers' previous coach, Tony Dungy, had left the team with one of the best defenses in the League, Tampa Bay's offense was dismal at best. And, as everyone knows, if you can't score, you can't win. Taking over the Bucs' ship and readying it for a campaign of plunder would first require Gruden and his staff to ensure that the ship's cannons were all in working order and that the crew could follow the plan of attack. He was successful in his efforts as the Bucs went on to dominate the NFC South division, posting the best record the team had ever enjoyed: twelve wins and only four losses. Behind their first in the NFL defensive unit, the Bucs stormed into the thirty-seventh Super Bowl.

A Pirate Bowl for the ages

Of course, the Raiders would find their way to the Super Bowl as well, having posted impressive numbers in the AFC in 2002. In fitting fashion, they would come into the game with the best offense in the League, behind the arm of Rich Gannon. In a duel between top offense and defense, most experts predicted the offense would win out. As it turned out, that Raiders offense was sunk by the Buccaneers' defense, and Tampa Bay won the game going away.

The mistake

What would a battle like this one have been if there had been no controversy? In this case, the talk was all about Gruden, whose time as the Raiders Coach gave him important insight into the team's style and strategies. He had no qualms about using that information either, and prepared his team perfectly for the game. Only later would it be revealed that the Raiders - despite knowing that Gruden knew their playbook inside and out - still refused to significantly alter their strategy in any meaningful way. That error is now recognized as perhaps the biggest mistake in the history of the game.