Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19 Arizona Cardinals 18
Sunday 28 September 1997 at Houlihan’s Stadium
SCORING
TB
6:53-1Q
Singleton recovered blocked punt in endzone (kick failed)
TB
5:46-2Q
Anthony 8 pass from Dilfer (2 pt conversion failed)
ARI
1:52-2Q
Moore 21 pass from Graham (Butler kick)
ARI
9:48-3Q
Butler FG37
ARI
0:26-3Q
Williams 42 interception return (Sanders pass from Graham)
TB
4:48-4Q
Williams 31 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
The Buccaneers equaled the best start in franchise history by winning their fifth straight game despite losing in
most statistical categories. Tampa Bay was outgained 364 to 147 total yards, but managed to sack QB Kent
Graham six times (three by DT Brad Culpepper) and intercept two of his passes. The Tampa special teams
opened the scoring when Alshermond Singleton blocked a punt and recovered it for his own score. The
Cardinals did have a late chance but Kevin Butler missed a 47-yard fieldgoal attempt.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
BUCS: Alstott 8-27, Dunn 10-27, Dilfer 2-0.
CARDINALS: McElroy 13-40, Johnson 5-21, Centers 4-4,
McKinnon 1-3, Graham 1-2, Swann 1-0.
PASSING
BUCS: Dilfer 24-12-110-1-2, Barnhardt 1-1-25-0-0.
CARDINALS: Graham 52-31-339-2-1.
RECEIVING
BUCS: Anthony 5-49, Harris 3-10, Dunn 2-10, Williams 1-31, Bouie
1-25, Copeland 1-10.
CARDINALS: Moore 8-147, Centers 8-58, Sanders 5-60, Edwards
3-27, Williams 2-15, McElroy 2-11, Gedney 1-17, Carter 1-4,
Johnson 1-0.
INTERCEPTIONS
BUCS: Abraham 1-0, Lynch 1-0.
CARDINALS: Williams 1-42.
KICK RETURNS
BUCS: Williams 2-43, Dunn 1-30.
CARDINALS: Williams 2-46.
PUNT RETURNS
BUCS: Williams 4-57.
CARDINALS: Williams 2-21.
SACKS
BUCS: Culpepper 3-19, Ahanotu 2-21, Sapp 1-5.
CARDINALS: Swann 2-12, Smith 1-10.
STARTERS
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
LT
74 Gruber
LDE
72 Ahanotu
LG
60 Pyne
DT
77 Culpepper
C
61 Mayberry
DT
99 Sapp
RG
64 Diaz
RDE
91 Upshaw
RT
70 Odom
WLB
55 Brooks
TE
80 Harris
MLB
56 Nickerson
WR
85 Anthony
SLB
50 Gooch
WR
88 Copeland
LCB
21 Abraham
QB
12 Dilfer
SS
47 Lynch
FB
40 Alstott
FS
25 Johnson
RB
28 Dunn
RCB
45 Legette
PLAYED
5 Husted, 6 Barnhardt, 20 Barber, 22 Mincy, 23 Bouie, 29 Gant,
31 Young, 37 Ellison, 51 Singleton, 52 Bellisari, 53 Quarles, 69
Pierson, 71 Wunsch, 73 Middleton, 78 Jones, 82 Hape, 83
Moore, 84 Thomas, 86 Williams, 94 White, 97 Jackson
DID NOT PLAY
4 Walsh, 32 Rhett
INACTIVES
13 Milanovich, 24 Robinson, 27 Parker, 59 Porter, 65 Dogins,
75 Curry, 87 Davis, 90 Maniecki
COMMENTARY CREW
Kenny Albert and Tim Green
GAME REPORTS
Rick Stroud reports on a shaky High 5 for the Buccaneers
Bucs recall past and then condemn it
It was ugly but who cares - it was a win
Ronde Barber's NFL debut is a real learning experience
Click here for the gamebook and the play-by-play
GAME HIGHLIGHTS Click on the boxes below to view the clips
Alshermond Singleton’s blocked punt was one of a series of big special teams plays
Tommy Barnhardt turned quarterback on this fake punt pass to Tony Bouie
Karl Williams’ fourth down scoring reception was the biggest play of the game