Bucs Winning Behind Backup QB Trent Dilfer
(November 22, 1999)

After seventy straight starts as the Buccaneers quarterback, head coach Tony Dungy replaced Trent Dilfer with Eric Zeier. When Zeier suffered a rib injury at the end of his first start, a 20-3 loss at Detroit, Dilfer regained his starting job. Maybe Dungy should have benched Trent Dilfer a long time ago.

The Bucs are currently on a three game winning streak and find themselves in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC Central Division. If the season were to end today, Tampa Bay would get a wild card playoff spot.

Trent Dilfer had two good outings, before struggling in the most recent victory. In his first start after being benched, a 31-16 victory at New Orleans, he completed 15 of 20 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. In a 17-10 win against Kansas City, Dilfer was intercepted once, but completed 17 of 27 for 270 yards and tossed a pair of TD passes. The passing numbers (15 of 31 for 142 yards with an INT) were not as impressive in a 19-10 win over Atlanta. Dilfer did make a couple of key third down runs to keep drives alive.

A look ahead at the schedule shows some tough games remaining. Next Sunday the Bucs play at 8-2 Seattle. The Buccaneers have not beaten the Seahawks in four tries. That game is not nearly as important as the two home games which follow. If the Bucs are to contend for the division title, a Monday night game with Minnesota and a game against Detroit may be the key. A trip to Oakland is followed by two more divisional games, Green Bay at RJS and at Chicago to close out the regular season.

The race in the NFC Central Division is incredibly tight. Three teams are tied for first and just a game and a half separates the top from the bottom. The Bucs play each team in the division before season's end and three of the four games are at home. The road game is at Chicago on January 2, so Tampa Bay may have to play well in cold weather.

Remember mid October, when the Bucs were 2-3 and things looked grim? Talk was that they would have to go 7-4 or better to make the post season. The Buccaneers have four of their last five games and the scenario has changed. Six games remain, none of them easy. Playing .500 would now put the Bucs in playoffs, winning four might give Tampa Bay a division crown.

As the Bucs hit the stretch run, Trent Dilfer has won his last four starts. He has looked good in two and the offense failed to score a touchdown in the other two. The saga continues for the beleaguered quarterback. Stay tuned.