Buccaneers Look Like the Real Thing

They’re not the stumbling, fumbling, bumbling Tampa Bay Buccaneers any more.

The Buccaneers ended their NFL-record streak of 14 consecutive losing seasons Sunday, and did it in convincing fashion with a 27-7 rout of the defending AFC champion New England Patriots.

The victory also lifted Tampa Bay into a tie for the NFC Central lead with Green Bay and Minnesota, which both lost to fall to 8-3.

However, second-year Coach Tony Dungy said the Buccaneers aren’t satisfied merely with guaranteeing themselves a break-even season.

“That’s not something we ever really focused on,” Dungy said. “I think our team had goals much higher than winning eight games. It’s nice. I know its great for the franchise. But it’s not an accomplishment.”

Trent Dilfer threw for 209 yards and one touchdown, Mike Alstott and Errict Rhett scored on one-yard runs and Michael Husted kicked two 44-yard field goals for Tampa Bay.

The Patriots (6-5), who started the day tied for first in the AFC East, were held to 16 yards and no first downs in the first half.

Drew Bledsoe was particularly ineffective, getting only 117 yards on 21-of-29 passing. He was sacked five times, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

The Patriots avoided a shutout on Scott Zolak’s six-yard touchdown pass to Lovett Purnell in the closing seconds.

“It was a pathetic performance, considering all the preparation and the time of year it is,” New England Coach Pete Carroll said. “It was disgusting in all phases, both offensively and defensively. The blame starts with me and works its way down.”

The victory was the third in a row for the Buccaneers, who are back on track after a 5-0 start was followed by three consecutive losses that raised questions about whether their best start in 18 years was a fluke.

“This shouldn’t have happened with the caliber team we have,” Patriot safety Lawyer Milloy said. “Hats off to Tampa. It’s not a fluke. They’re a scary team to play. I wish we were playing like them.”

Tampa Bay also started 8-3 in 1979 before finishing 10-6 and advancing to the NFC championship game. The Buccaneers were 9-7 in 1981 and last finished above .500 and made the playoffs during the strike-shortened 1982 season with a 5-4 record.

Despite losing two fumbles and scoring only 10 points in the first half, the Buccaneers were the sharpest they had been on offense in six games. They outgained the Patriots, 125-2, in the first quarter and had 253 yards and 14 first downs at halftime.

Rhett’s first touchdown of the season completed a 13-play, 80-yard drive of more than eight minutes in the first quarter. Another promising drive stalled at the Patriot one when Rhett was stopped for no gain on third down and Dilfer threw a fourth-down incompletion.

“I was furious at halftime that it was only 10-0 because I had never been in a game where we dominated so much in one half and came out with virtually nothing,” said Dilfer, who put the Buccaneers ahead, 17-0, in the third quarter with his 18th touchdown pass of the season, one more than his previous three seasons combined.