Dilfer keys late offensive revival
Hubert Mizell, The St.Petersburg Times, published 19 October 1998

For three quarters I was thinking about leaving this note for Billy Graham: "Next weekend, when you play Raymond James Stadium, please pray for the Bucs offense."

Lordy, they've been a sinful 11. For six weeks, scoring zero first-half offensive TDs. This time, against winless Carolina, well- booed shortfall also damned Tampa Bay's third quarter, when the net gain was a woeful 4 yards. Water into wine Eventually, as if touched by an NFL angel, the sons of Ray-J would belatedly deliver a wealth of heavenly plays. Fortune would become their ally. Taunts would fade. Hurrahs would shake the ballpark. Still, how total is forgiveness?

Trent Dilfer, harassed as a goat by frustrated parishioners, took on the mentality of a quarterback working exclusively on behalf of his inner circle. "Motivated by the negatives," he said. Driving the Bucs to two late TDs. Running for one, throwing for the other. Pitching a 16-13 comeback win. Ignoring the hoots almost.

Dilfer has 20/20 hearing. He couldn't miss it when Ray-J patrons initiated a "We want Scott (Milanovich)!" chant, pleading for coach Tony Dungy to opt for his third-stringer. Dungy paid no attention. Dilfer used it as fuel.

On as flawless a QB keeper as NFL Films will ever record, Dilfer walked an unmolested yard into the end zone, a TD that brought the Bucs within 13-10 of the Panthers. He violently spiked, as if trying to shove the football to Beijing, and vociferously pointed at the stands. Asked about his emotional explosion, Dilfer said, "I'm going to pass on that." About hearing the boos: "I'll also pass on that." His non-commentary spoke loudly about what boiled within an occasionally cheered, oft-tormented athlete.

Tampa Bay soon scored again, on a well-lofted Dilfer pass of 29 yards to Karl Williams. Ray-J roared. A transgression would follow, Michael Husted blowing the extra point. Instead of being up four points with 99 seconds to play, the lead was a far-shakier three. But, in the game of NFL losing, the Panthers have become more adept. At the end, John Kasay's chance for a tying field goal went wide left.

Nice finish. Happy result for the Bucs. "A win is a win," Dungy said. Amen! Owning a 3-3 record is eons better than 2-4. Tampa Bay resurfaces among realistic playoff pursuers. In a mangled first half, the Bucs had a 224-96 yardage edge. They had the ball 19 1/2 minutes and should've been bossing by 17 or 20 points. They were highly booable Bucs. Due to their sins, it was 3- all.

Statistics can be weird. At one point Dilfer had completed 10 of 13 passes for 111 yards. Hot numbers. But everybody saw, when Dave Moore and then Bert Emanuel got well behind all 11 Carolina defenders, No. 12 badly overthrow his receiver each time. Boos were beginning.

Soon, there was the most odious possession of all. With the Panthers ahead 3-nil, Tampa Bay motored to Carolina's 11. Jorge Diaz, a guard who leads the NFL in holding calls, did it again. Ten-yard penalty. Dilfer almost atoned, scrambling 17 yards to the 4. But more Bucs breakdowns were coming. They got flagged for delay. Strike two. Dilfer's next act was to fumble away a snap. Strike three. Another dandy TD opportunity was flushed. Yada, yada, yada . . .

Much later, as the Ray-J clock ran down to triple zeroes, the Bucs had become celebrants. Extremely late, they had achieved just enough. Tampa Bay remains unbeaten and untied in its fancy new stadium. Some of us might also say unsure. Dungy's reaction to Dilfer misfires on the Moore and Emanuel breakaways: "Those throws have to be made." Even so, Dungy thought his quarterback "played a lot better."

Dilfer, after admitting "I've had a very bumpy year," bulged with hope for weeks to come. Emanuel, a savvy and gifted receiver just back from injury, was an obvious part of what fueled the QB's zeal. "I've never believed, more than now, that we're going to put it all together," Dilfer said. "Bert had 'POISE' written on his wrist tape. We had that in the fourth quarter. He's such a solid pro. As for the quarterback, my team believes in me. That is what really matters."

Re his critics, including Sunday's singers for a Milanovich move, the Dilfer message: "I don't have anything to say to those people."

Dilfer completed two passes and scrambled for 17 yards before his fumble ended a 10-play drive at the Panthers 8-yard line. Carolina took advantage of the turnover and went ahead 3-0 on John Kasay's 53- yard field goal.