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The Pittsburgh Steelers have always had swagger on defense. Jack Lambert and Joe Greene weren’t afraid to punch you in the mouth if you popped off after they put you on your backside. In the 90’s, the Steelers employed one of the baddest men on the planet, Greg Lloyd. A third degree black belt at the time, Lloyd famously said that he would try to knock Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback, Dan Marino, “into next week” prior to a game in 1995.
That attitude didn’t change into the 21st century. In 2001, the Steelers played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an out of conference, Sunday, 1pm game in Tampa. It wasn’t a divisional game, a playoff game, or even a primetime game. Just a normal game. The Steelers would win a defensive slugfest 17-10 that saw Jerome Bettis throw a touchdown pass, and rush for 143 yards. Tampa’s defense was littered with Pro Bowlers, but the non-stop chatter from Bucs defensive lineman Warren Sapp had caught the Steelers attention. After the game, Steelers safety Lee Flowers let his emotions out to reporters:
Fast forward to 2002. The NFL schedule makers took advantage of Flowers’ comments. The Buccaneers and Steelers were set for another match up, this time on Monday Night Football. The Bucs were 11-4 and 4.5 point favorites to beat the Steelers.
Pittsburgh would win the toss and elect to receive. Quarterback Tommy Maddox would get to work from the Steelers own 19-yard line. On the very first play of the game, Maddox would find Plaxico Burress for 41 yards and the Steelers were in business. A few Bettis runs, and another reception by Burress put the Steelers at the Bucs 11-yard line. On the next play, Maddox would find Antwaan Randle El for an 11-yard touchdown and it was 7-0 Steelers.
Tommy Maddox finds Antwaan Randle El for an 11 yard touchdown
With Tampa Bay already locking up the NFC South crown, they decided to rest starting quarterback Rob Johnson who was nursing an injury. He would still dress and later enter the game for Shaun King who had a dismal day. King would throw for only 73 yards before Johnson would come into the game. Johnson would throw for only 124 yards himself and be sacked 5 times.
Now on Tampa’s first possession, King would drop back on second down and throw an interception right to Chad Scott. Scott would return it for a touchdown and it was 14-0 only four minutes into the game.
Chad Scott returns an interception 30 yards for the touchdown
The Steelers defense would force a three and out on Tampa’s next possession and they’d take over on their own 22 after the punt. Hines Ward would get the Steelers out near mid-field with a 20-yard catch, and he’d add a 12-yarder later in the drive to put the Steelers inside the redzone. Maddox would be sacked on third down and they’d be forced to settle for a Jeff Reed field goal. With that said, in the blink of an eye, it was 17-0 Steelers.
Tampa would get things going finally on their next drive. They’d take an 11-play drive into the second quarter that would put them at the Steelers 7-yard line. King would hand off to Mike Alstott who would be stripped by Casey Hampton. Aaron Smith would recover and the Steelers would continue their early shut out. Both teams would exchange punts before the Steelers would get their offense back in gear.
The Steelers would start near mid-field after Bucs punter Tom Tupa would shank a 25-yard punt. A few plays later, Sapp would be penalized for roughing the passer and the Steelers were inside the Bucs 20. Maddox would complete a swing pass to Amos Zereoue, but he’d fumble and Tampa would recover. With a chance to go up 24-0 at the half, the Steelers would blow it with the turnover.
Warren Sapp is penalized for hitting Tommy Maddox late in the knee
Mid-way through the third quarter, Johnson would enter for King. His first drive of the game, he would overcome three sacks by the Steelers defense to drive Tampa down to the Steelers 3-yard line. Johnson would drop back to pass and be strip-sacked by Hampton. Linebacker Kendrell Bell would recover and the Steelers would have their second turnover inside the redzone of the game.
Joey Porter would sack Johnson on the next Tampa possession to help force them to another three and out. Coach Bill Cowher would turn the game over to Jerome Bettis from there. Seven straight runs by Bettis on the next possession would run over five minutes off the clock. They’d eventually fail on a fourth down conversion and Tampa would take over. With the Steelers in prevent defense, Tampa would drive down the field for their only points of the game. Johnson would find big mouth Keyshawn Johnson for an 18-yard touchdown and it was 17-7.
Bettis would rush three more times, and a Maddox kneel down would end it.
The Steelers continued their smack talk after the game:
Ward would have further Flowers’ thoughts.
The feud would essentially end following this game as the two teams wouldn’t meet again until 2006 — another game in which the Steelers would win. Tampa would get the last laugh in 2002, though. They’d go on to win the Super Bowl and the Steelers would be eliminated by Tennessee in the Divisional Round.
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That attitude didn’t change into the 21st century. In 2001, the Steelers played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an out of conference, Sunday, 1pm game in Tampa. It wasn’t a divisional game, a playoff game, or even a primetime game. Just a normal game. The Steelers would win a defensive slugfest 17-10 that saw Jerome Bettis throw a touchdown pass, and rush for 143 yards. Tampa’s defense was littered with Pro Bowlers, but the non-stop chatter from Bucs defensive lineman Warren Sapp had caught the Steelers attention. After the game, Steelers safety Lee Flowers let his emotions out to reporters:
Fast forward to 2002. The NFL schedule makers took advantage of Flowers’ comments. The Buccaneers and Steelers were set for another match up, this time on Monday Night Football. The Bucs were 11-4 and 4.5 point favorites to beat the Steelers.
Pittsburgh would win the toss and elect to receive. Quarterback Tommy Maddox would get to work from the Steelers own 19-yard line. On the very first play of the game, Maddox would find Plaxico Burress for 41 yards and the Steelers were in business. A few Bettis runs, and another reception by Burress put the Steelers at the Bucs 11-yard line. On the next play, Maddox would find Antwaan Randle El for an 11-yard touchdown and it was 7-0 Steelers.
Tommy Maddox finds Antwaan Randle El for an 11 yard touchdown
With Tampa Bay already locking up the NFC South crown, they decided to rest starting quarterback Rob Johnson who was nursing an injury. He would still dress and later enter the game for Shaun King who had a dismal day. King would throw for only 73 yards before Johnson would come into the game. Johnson would throw for only 124 yards himself and be sacked 5 times.
Now on Tampa’s first possession, King would drop back on second down and throw an interception right to Chad Scott. Scott would return it for a touchdown and it was 14-0 only four minutes into the game.
Chad Scott returns an interception 30 yards for the touchdown
The Steelers defense would force a three and out on Tampa’s next possession and they’d take over on their own 22 after the punt. Hines Ward would get the Steelers out near mid-field with a 20-yard catch, and he’d add a 12-yarder later in the drive to put the Steelers inside the redzone. Maddox would be sacked on third down and they’d be forced to settle for a Jeff Reed field goal. With that said, in the blink of an eye, it was 17-0 Steelers.
Tampa would get things going finally on their next drive. They’d take an 11-play drive into the second quarter that would put them at the Steelers 7-yard line. King would hand off to Mike Alstott who would be stripped by Casey Hampton. Aaron Smith would recover and the Steelers would continue their early shut out. Both teams would exchange punts before the Steelers would get their offense back in gear.
The Steelers would start near mid-field after Bucs punter Tom Tupa would shank a 25-yard punt. A few plays later, Sapp would be penalized for roughing the passer and the Steelers were inside the Bucs 20. Maddox would complete a swing pass to Amos Zereoue, but he’d fumble and Tampa would recover. With a chance to go up 24-0 at the half, the Steelers would blow it with the turnover.
Warren Sapp is penalized for hitting Tommy Maddox late in the knee
Mid-way through the third quarter, Johnson would enter for King. His first drive of the game, he would overcome three sacks by the Steelers defense to drive Tampa down to the Steelers 3-yard line. Johnson would drop back to pass and be strip-sacked by Hampton. Linebacker Kendrell Bell would recover and the Steelers would have their second turnover inside the redzone of the game.
Joey Porter would sack Johnson on the next Tampa possession to help force them to another three and out. Coach Bill Cowher would turn the game over to Jerome Bettis from there. Seven straight runs by Bettis on the next possession would run over five minutes off the clock. They’d eventually fail on a fourth down conversion and Tampa would take over. With the Steelers in prevent defense, Tampa would drive down the field for their only points of the game. Johnson would find big mouth Keyshawn Johnson for an 18-yard touchdown and it was 17-7.
Bettis would rush three more times, and a Maddox kneel down would end it.
The Steelers continued their smack talk after the game:
Ward would have further Flowers’ thoughts.
The feud would essentially end following this game as the two teams wouldn’t meet again until 2006 — another game in which the Steelers would win. Tampa would get the last laugh in 2002, though. They’d go on to win the Super Bowl and the Steelers would be eliminated by Tennessee in the Divisional Round.
WATCH THE GAME HIGHLIGHTS BY CLICKING ON THE PHOTO BELOW:
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
