[NFL Week 4 - September 24, 2000 | Raymond James Stadium ]
[Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs New York Tigers]
The Tampa heat hit like a physical gut punch, nothing like the gloomy September weather back in New York, which was something between summer and winter. This was different the moment they stepped off the plane; they were met by the thick, humid blanket of Florida Gulf Coast air that made breathing feel like a sauna. Thomas Brady stood on the tarmac, adjusting his bag on his shoulder, watching the veterans and some of his rookie teammates move with confidence.
They had managed to contribute to the team in their last three matches, slowly carving out a place for themselves. He was QB3, third string on the depth chart, only an option in the event of an emergency. He knew that winning a position would be hard, but not this hard if he was being honest.
Dr Maria and Josh McDaniels had been putting him through the wringer in training, and he could feel himself improving. None of that seemed to matter to Head Coach Belichick, who had hardly glanced his way in the last three matchups. He was fine with that, mainly since he felt himself improve each week, but being unable to play made him feel antsy.
"First time in Tampa?" Josh McDaniels appeared beside him, the young quarterbacks coach barely older than some of the players he coached.
"First time anywhere as a professional," Brady admitted.
"Raymond James is loud, has quite the student body crowd. They'll get in your head if you let them." McDaniels studied him. "You won't play today. Probably won't play all season. But watch Vinny. Watch how he reads the defence, how he adjusts protection. Every snap is a film session if you're paying attention."
Brady nodded, resisting the urge to sigh as, despite knowing he won't play, he got hopeful each week. He'd been paying attention since August, watching Testaverde work, studying how the fourteen-year veteran commanded an offence, how he put receivers in open positions instead of waiting for them to get open.
~~~
[4:15 PM, Q1: 15:00]
Raymond James Stadium roared as 65,000 fans packed into the concrete bowl, most wearing Buccaneer red and pewter, waving flags with the pirate ship logo. The jumbotron flashed: BUCCANEERS 3-0 vs TIGERS 3-0. It was an early-season statement game that could derail the loser's season.
On the field, the official completed the final checks with the Buccaneers punt team setting up to boot the ball. The kick sailed high into the humid Florida air, and Leon Johnson fielded it at the Tigers' 18-yard line, returning it to the 31 before getting wrapped up by three Bucs defenders. The crowd noise swelled as Tampa Bay's defence jogged onto the field, led by Warren Sapp in the middle and linebacker Derrick Brooks prowling behind him.
Vinny Testaverde trotted out with the offence, his helmet already showing sweat stains despite the game just starting. He clapped his hands in the huddle, voice cutting through the din, gathering everyone's attention. "22 Iso Right on two. Let's establish something early."
Curtis Martin lined up in the I-formation behind Richie Anderson, the fullback who'd been opening holes all season. The ball snapped clean into Testaverde's hands, and he turned, handing off to Martin, who followed Anderson through the 3-hole. He pumped his feet, gaining four solid yards before being stopped on the 35.
Second down, Tampa Bay showed Cover 2, with the safeties sitting deep, daring them to take the underneath routes. Testaverde checked to a quick slant, caught Dedric Ward's eye, and delivered the ball the moment Ward broke inside, gaining the first down after an eight-yard drive.
"That's it!" Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis shouted from the sideline, his Boston accent carrying. "Move the chains!"
The drive continued methodically—Martin for six. Testaverde hit Laveranues Coles on a stop route for nine. Martin again for a three-yard drive. The Tigers pushed down to Tampa Bay's 38-yard line, chewing clock, making the Bucs' defence work in the heat.
[3&2]
Testaverde didn't hesitate stepping up under the centre, barking instructions as he adjusted the offence. The Tigers came off the ball low and fast, and Martin took the handoff, hitting the gap before Sapp could fully disengage—shoulders square, legs churning. Brooks met him at the line, but Martin fell forward, dragging red jerseys with him for a first down.
The Tigers stayed aggressive as Tampa rotated into a single-high look, corners pressing, daring Testaverde to test them. He did just that with a play-action play that froze the linebackers just long enough for Anthony Becht to slip behind. The throw came out on rhythm, Becht securing it at the twenty-four before being driven down hard.
The crowd noise dipped, replaced by a murmur of unease. Two plays later, the drive stalled inside the red zone. Tampa's front stiffened—Sapp collapsed the pocket on second down, Brooks stonewalled Martin on third. John Hall jogged on and drilled the kick cleanly.
[Tigers 3 – Buccaneers 0]
[Q1, 4:30]
The Buccaneers' offence took the field with Shaun King under centre, the young quarterback looking to fire back immediately. King handed off to Warrick Dunn on first down for a three-yard gain, the shifty running back nearly breaking it outside before Mo Lewis corralled him at the sideline.
Second down, King dropped back in shotgun formation, scanning the field. Until he found Second down, King dropped back, scanning the field. The Tampa sideline erupted, their crowd finding its voice again.
King kept his foot on the gas with a play-action that frozeBrian Urlacher for half a second—just enough for tight end Dave Moore to slip into the seam. King delivered a strike for eighteen yards before Damien Robinson closed hard, driving Moore out of bounds at the Tigers' 45. King kept working, handing off to Dunn for a four-yard gain. Johnson caught another on a slant route for seven, and another for a first down.
[1st & 10, Tigers 34]
King took the snap from shotgun, three receivers split wide. He had time—Jason Fabini and the offensive line remained solid. King pump-faked, freezing Aaron Glenn for just a fraction, then delivered a rope to Jacquez Green streaking down the right sideline. Green had a step on Coleman. The ball dropped perfectly into his hands at the fifteen, and he carried it to the eight before Victor Green came flying across to make the tackle.
Raymond James Stadium shook with the sheer madness of fans cheering for the play. "Defence! Hold them!" Rex Ryan bellowed from the sideline, his voice cutting through the noise as he gave instructions to Mo Lewis.
The Bucs lined up in the red zone, heavy formation with two tight ends. Dunn took the handoff on a toss sweep left, following his pulling guard, but Willie McGinest shed his block and met him at the line, driving him back for a one-yard loss.
Second down. King dropped back again, looking for Johnson in the corner of the end zone, but John Abraham came screaming off the edge—Machado got a hand on him but couldn't hold. King scrambled right, threw it away to avoid the sack.
Third and goal from the nine. The crowd stood, towels waving, noise cascading down from the upper decks. King took the snap, quick three-step drop, fired to Moore running a crossing route. The ball was there, but so was Urlacher—the rookie middle linebacker read it perfectly, stepping in front and nearly picking it off. Moore had to bat it down to prevent the interception.
Tampa settled for the field goal, with Martin Gramatica jogging onto the field to take it. He did not disappoint, as his kick split the uprights.
[Tigers 3 – Buccaneers 3]
~~~
[Q2, 13:21]
Testaverde brought the Tigers back out, his jersey soaked through with sweat. He'd been taking hits all game—Sapp had gotten pressure twice, and Brooks was everywhere in the middle of the field. But Vinny was a veteran and knew how to run the ground game when things got ugly out there.
Still, he chose to sling it on first down, hitting Coles on a quick screen. The rookie showed his speed, cutting upfield behind Richie Anderson's block and racing for twenty-two yards before Brooks ran him down from behind. The crowd groaned at the play, but the visitors did not care, celebrating the monstrous play with huge smiles.
Despite expecting a big play following that, Testaverde went back to Martin. The workhorse running back carried four straight times, pushing the pile, churning out tough yards until the Tigers were sitting at Tampa's 31-yard line.
[2nd & 6]
Testaverde retook the snap, calling for a play-action. This time, he had more time holding onto the ball, letting Martin rest. Dedric Ward ran a post, and Testaverde let it fly on the spin—the ball sailed over the middle linebacker's outstretched hands and into Ward's chest at the ten. Ward spun away from one defender and dove toward the pylon.
.
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To Be Continued...