Michael Scott
I believe that Oakland will win because their offense is just that good. The Raiders will just pass their way down the field and there will be nothing that Jon Gruden's defense can do about it.
Oakland is ready for this game after playing a tougher schedule as well. The Raiders play in the toughest division in football, and had to beat two quality opponents to get to the big dance. Tampa Bay beats up on the NFC South, beat a soft San Francisco team, and a ridiculously overrated Philadelphia team.
Raiders win, 31-17.
Number one offense versus number one defense in Pirate Bowl makes for an interesting match-up. I still believe that offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. Now that Tampa Bay has found some offense success, against Philadelphia no less, I doubt Oakland will be able to stop the Bucs' offense as many times as the Tampa defense will smother the Raiders' aerial attack.
Buccaneers win the turnover battle, hit Gannon early and often, and Johnson (Brad) leads the offense to a couple of scores with good field position, compliments and Warren Sapp and Co. to take this one 24-13.
Like the Phil Collins song, Rob Johnson has "been waiting for this moment all his life." With starting quarterback Brad Johnson going down in the first quarter of the Super Bowl with a back injury, Rob comes in and leads the Buccaneers to a 73-2 victory while throwing seven touchdown passes ... Okay, seriously, I'm not that delusional. But I still do think that Tampa Bay is going to defeat Oakland.
The Bucs' number one defense is too much of a weapon for coach Jon Gruden to use against his former team's offense, which I'm sure he knows all the intricacies of. Just like Patriots coach Bill Belicheck picked apart his former QB Drew Bledsoe this year, Gruden will be able to derail the Oakland Raiders' offense enough for his own Buccaneers' offense (which is coming on strong) to put up enough points to win. Like Rick said, offense gets the glory, but defense wins championships. You can count on the fact that Warren Sapp, Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice and the rest of the Tampa defense are licking their chops at the chance to show up the Raiders' No. 1 offense in a game the world will be watching.
Buccaneers over the Raiders, 27-17.
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
