LAST GAME
NFL - Week 17
Tampa Bay 35, Cincinatti 0
Game Summary: BUCS ROUT BENGALS, BUT FALL SHORT OF PLAYOFFS
source: NFL.com
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CINCINNATI (Dec. 27, 1998) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won, and then
watched as their playoff hopes were dashed.
Tampa Bay took care of its own business,
routing the Cincinnati Bengals, 35-0, before
turning its attention to the scoreboard with
dreams of a second consecutive playoff berth.
But those visions were wiped out when Chris Jacke's 52-yard field goal on the
final play lifted the Arizona Cardinals to a 16-13 victory over San Diego, earning
Arizona the NFC's last postseason berth.
For the Buccaneers to make the playoffs, they needed to win, have the New York
Giants beat Philadelphia, and have Arizona lose to San Diego. The Giants
cooperated with a 20-10 win over Philadelphia. Only a three-way tie between the
Bucs, Giants and Cardinals would have gotten Tampa Bay into the NFL's second
season.
"We don't know if five in a row would have been good enough," said Buccaneers
coach Tony Dungy, following the Bucs' victory. "But at least we can feel good
enough about the way we finished. If we don't make the playoffs, its our own fault.
We played sub-.500 teams that we didn't beat. We're better now than at any point
during the season. One of the things I'm proud of is we didn't let Cincinnati hang
in the game. We haven't been good at that all season."
Dungy was referring to last week's 20-16 loss at Washington, a setback that
appeared fatal at the time. The Buccaneers had won three straight prior to the
setback.
Trent Dilfer set the tone with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Robb Thomas on the
game's first possession and Mike Alstott ran for three scores for Tampa Bay,
which rolled to its highest point total since a 38-21 victory over Detroit in Week 1
of the 1990 season.
"We learned that everything is not going to go our way," Alstott said of the
season. "You're going to fight back. I think that is what this team learned. That
we're going to overcome a lot of bad things that happened to us."
The Buccaneers also posted just the third shutout in franchise history and the
first since a 16-0 blanking of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. Cincinnati (3-13)
was shut out for the first time since 1992 and was held scoreless at Cinergy Field
for the first time since falling to the Cleveland Browns, 34-0, on Oct. 18, 1997.
"We just took care of business today," said Bucs All-Pro defensive tackle Warren
Sapp. "Once we got it (the shutout) going it was like a no-hitter, no body was
talking about it. But we wanted it and kept plugging."
"It's our first road shutout in franchise history and its a big deal for us," added
cornerback Ronde Barber.
The 35-point loss marks the worst shutout loss in Bengals history, surpassing
the setback to the Browns and a similar 34-0 defeat to Oakland in 1968.
"You can go ahead and stop with statistics," said Bengals coach Bruce Coslett.
"The statistic I saw was a blocked punt, a fumbled kickoff return and a muffed
snap and its 21-0. They made one play on us and then its 28-0. They are going to
run it 51 times and we have to throw when we don't want to throw."
With just 2:31 gone in the game, Dilfer dropped back and floated a pass down
field for Thomas, who hauled in the ball and dashed into the end zone for the
score. Doug Pelfrey missed a 40-yard field goal on the Bengals ensuing drive,
Cincinnati's best scoring opportunity of the game.
A bad punt snap late in the first quarter gave the Bucs the ball at the Cincinnati
8-yard line and they took advantage three plays later when Alstott barreled his
way for a 1-yard score. Things went from bad to worse for the Bengals moments
later when Eric Bieniemy fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the ball was recovered
by running back Jerry Ellison at the 31.
Warrick Dunn's 17-yard run moved the the Bucs to the 14 and Alstott's second
1-yard plunge made it 21-0 three seconds into the second quarter.
Dunn carried 19 times for 89 yards and Alstott added 69 yards on 20 attempts for
the Buccaneers, who probably owe some of their success to the weather. Tampa
Bay entered the contest 0-17 when the temperature falls under 40 degrees, but
thankfully for the Bucs it was a perfect 40 at kickoff.
The Buccaneers again used special teams to their advantage midway through the
second when linebacker Don Davis blocked Brad Costello's punt out of bounds at
the Bengals 4. Dilfer followed by hitting Reidel Anthony with a 4-yard TD.
Dilfer completed 10 of 16 passes for 111 yards for Tampa Bay, which would play
at Dallas next weekend if they sneak into the playoffs. Jacquez Green had 3
receptions for 23 yards for the Bucs.
After a scoreless third quarter, Alstott's three-yard scoring run with 9:20
remaining provided the final margin.
Corey Dillon totaled 70 yards on 14 carries for the Bengals, who dropped 10 of
their final 11 games to finish with their worst record since also going 3-13 in 1994.
Cincinnati was forced to play their third and fourth-string quarterbacks because
Neil O'Donnell and backup Jeff Blake were both sidelined with injuries. Paul Justin
started and was 4-of-10 for 74 yards but hurt his right wrist and was replaced to
begin the third quarter by Eric Kresser, who was 7-of-17 for 102 yards and 2
interceptions.
"We have quarterbacks that needed some sort of running game or a threat of a
running game," added Coslet. "That was the story."
Tight end Tony McGee caught 3 passes for 68 yards and Dillon added 51 yards
on 3 receptions for the Bengals.
Last Update: 12/27/98