TAMPA, Fla. – The Bucs made two trips to Giants Stadium in the space of three Sundays toward the end of the 1997 season. They defeated the Giants, 20-8, in the first Meadowlands matchup to improve to 9-4 and put themselves in great shape for a playoff spot with three weeks remaining.
Tampa Bay lost the return trip to the Jets, 31-0. Thanks to Green Bay defeating Carolina that afternoon, the Bucs were in the postseason for the first time since 1982. Tony Dungy’s team would finish 10-6, second in the NFC Central and host division rival Detroit in a wild-card matchup.
Monte Kiffin’s defense ensured Barry Sanders did not heat up on a late-December afternoon when the temperature at kickoff was 49 degrees in Tampa.
Read: Dwight Eisenhower Was In Office When Detroit Lions Last Won Two Playoff Games In A Season
The great running back was held to 65 yards on 18 carries, and the Bucs’ offense did enough in a 20-10 win, the franchise’s first playoff victory in 18 years and second all-time. Played in front of 73,361, it was the last NFL game played at Houlihan’s Stadium, formerly Tampa Stadium.
Tampa Bay took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter when Trent Dilfer connected with Horace Copeland on a nine-yard touchdown. That capped a drive that was a thing of beauty: 17 plays and 89 yards that consumed 8:50. The yardage represented a good chunk of the Bucs’ 316 on the day.
While the Bucs contained Sanders, Mike Alstott, and Warrick Dunn combined to rush for 140 yards, Alstott’s 31-yard touchdown run four minutes into the third quarter gave Tampa Bay a 20-0 lead.
Bobby Ross’ Lions came to life after Frank Reich replaced the concussed Scott Mitchell late in the third quarter, but they would come no closer than the 10-point final margin.
The Buccaneers traveled to Green Bay for a division-round matchup, which the NFC Central champ Packers won, 21-7.
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