Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34 Chicago Bears 19
Sunday 22 December 1996 at Tampa Stadium
SCORING
CHI
7:20-1Q
Harris 1 run (Jaeger kick)
TB
1:19-1Q
Moore 2 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
TB
13:25-2Q
Rhett 3 run (Husted kick)
TB
8:45-2Q
Williams 88 punt return (Husted kick)
TB
4:32-2Q
Hawkins 15 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
TB
0:00-2Q
Husted FG50
TB
13:40-4Q
Husted FG22
CHI
2:14-4Q
Engram 6 pass from Matthews (two-pt.attempt failed)
CHI
0:18-4Q
Matthews 2 run (two-pt. attempt failed)
GAME REPORTS
Rick Stroud's lead story from Houlihan's Stadium
Recommended off-season reading: Great Expectations
Bucs at 100: young and full of promise
Williams finally kicks punt return habit
Click here for the gamebook and the play-by-play
Turning in their finest all-around effort in recent memory, the Bucs controlled the ball offensively, defensively
and on special teams on the way to a 31-7 halftime lead. Though there were many Buc highlights, the most
significant moment may have been turned in by rookie Karl Williams, who returned a second-quarter punt 88
yards for a touchdown, only the second Buc kick return ever to find the end zone.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
BUCS: Rhett 14-44, Alstott 11-42, Brooks 2-2, Ellison 2-1, Dilfer 1-1,
Weldon 1-(-1).
BEARS: Salaam 7-35, Harris 9-26, Carter 1-3, Matthews 1-2, Krieg 1-1.
PASSING
BUCS: Dilfer 14-11-104-0-2.
BEARS: Krieg 26-17-139-1-0, Matthews 17-13-158-0-1.
RECEIVING
BUCS: Hawkins 4-55, Harper 2-21, Alstott 2-14, Moore 2-8, Harris 1-6.
BEARS: Conway 9-120, Harris 6-22, Wetnight 4-61, Timpson 4-35,
Engram 2-23, Cash 2-15, Salaam 1-8, Jackson 1-7, Carter 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS
BUCS: Mincy 1-26.
BEARS: none.
KICK RETURNS
BUCS: Williams 2-49.
BEARS: Jackson 5-88, Engram 1-19.
PUNT RETURNS
BUCS: Williams 2-100.
BEARS: Engram 0-0.
SACKS
BUCS: Nickerson 2-15, Upshaw 1-7, Sapp 1-3.
BEARS: Spellman 1-12.
STARTERS
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
LT
74 Gruber
DE
72 Ahanotu
LG
64 Diaz
DT
77 Culpepper
C
61 Mayberry
DT
99 Sapp
RG
62 Beckles
DE
73 Upshaw
RT
70 Odom
MLB
56 Nickerson
TE
81 Harris
RLB
55 Brooks
WR
80 Harper
DB
21 Abraham
WR
85 Hawkins
LCB
35 Mayhew
FB
40 Alstott
RCB
21 Abraham
RB
32 Rhett
SS
47 Lynch
QB
12 Dilfer
FS
25 Johnson
PLAYED
1 Marshall, 5 Husted, 6 Barnhardt, 11 Weldon, 22 Mincy, 23
Bouie, 29 Gant, 33 Staten, 37 Ellison, 41 Brooks, 45 Legette,
51 Marts, 57 Jones, 65 Dogins, 68 Crisman, 69 Pierson, 75
Curry, 78 Jones, 82 Tate, 83 Moore, 86 Williams, 93 DuBose,
94 White
INACTIVE
13 Milanovich, 27 Austin, 58 Williams, 67 Ingram, 84 Thomas,
87 Silvan, 90 Maniecki, 97 Jackson
COMMENTARY CREW
Thom Brennaman and Ron Pitts
