TAMPA, FL. – The Buccaneers and Eagles have met four times in the playoffs. The first meeting marked the first-ever playoff game in Bucs history and their most recent meeting was the last-ever Eagles game at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium.
On Sunday afternoon (1:00, Fox) at Raymond James Stadium, the teams will meet for the fifth time in the postseason. Here is a look at each of the previous four playoff encounters between the teams.
December 29, 1979: Bucs 24, Eagles 17 (Divisional)
The Bucs, who earned a first-round bye, played their first playoff game in their fourth season and less than two years removed from halting a 26-game losing streak. The Lee Roy Selmon-led Tampa Bay defense held the Eagles’ Wilbert Montgomery, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher, to 35 yards on 13 carries while limiting the visitors to a total of 227 yards. Meanwhile, Ricky Bell churned out 142 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries. Both of Bell’s TDs came in the first half with his second one giving the Bucs a 17-0 lead in what would be a 24-17 win in front of 72,126 at Tampa Stadium on an afternoon when the temperature was 60 degrees at kickoff.
December 31, 2000: Eagles 21, Bucs 3 (Wild Card)
The Bucs could only muster 11 first downs and 199 yards in front of 65,813 at Veterans Stadium. Shaun King was sacked four times on a day in which Tampa Bay converted only three of 13 third downs. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bucs broke the ice courtesy of a 29-yard field goal by Martin Gramatica five minutes into the second quarter. The Eagles scored twice in the final 3:21 of the half to take a 14-3 lead at the break, and added touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Donovan McNabb accounted for all three Philadelphia touchdowns, including two through the air.
January 12, 2002: Eagles 31, Bucs 9 (Wild Card)
After the teams exchanged field goals in the opening quarter, the Eagles took the lead for good three minutes into the second quarter when Donovan McNabb connected with tight end Chad Lewis for a 17-yard touchdown. Still, it was only 17-9 at the half before the Eagles opened it up in the second half thanks to intercepting four Brad Johnson passes. Three of Johnson’s picks were on the Philadelphia side of the field with Damon Moore returning the final INT 59 yards for a touchdown with 2:08 to play and sending 65,847 at the Vet into delirium. It was Moore’s second pick of the game.
January 19, 2003: Bucs 27, Eagles 10 (NFC Championship)
The teams met in the postseason for a third straight season. After defeating the 49ers in a divisional playoff at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs played spoiler in front of 66,713 in the final Eagles game at Veterans Stadium. Brad Johnson’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson with 2:28 remaining in the first half gave the Bucs the lead for good at 17-10. With the Bucs leading 20-10 in the fourth quarter and the Eagles driving, Ronde Barber picked off a Donovan McNabb pass and went 92 yards to paydirt with 3:12 remaining to seal Tampa Bay’s trip to its first Super Bowl. After throwing four interceptions against the Eagles the year before, Johnson threw for 259 yards, one touchdown and one pick.
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