Fansided

Top 30 NFL teams in history

By Jarrett Bailey

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 9: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass as snow falls during a game against the Baltimore Colts at Three Rivers Stadium on December 9, 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Colts 35-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 9: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass as snow falls during a game against the Baltimore Colts at Three Rivers Stadium on December 9, 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Colts 35-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 30
Next
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ kicker Martin Gramatica (7) watches his field goal to put them ahead of the Detroit Lions with Rickey Dudley (88) and Tom Tupa during the forth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on 15 December 2002. The Buccaneers beat the Lions 23-20. AFP Photo/Jeff KOWALSKY (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ kicker Martin Gramatica (7) watches his field goal to put them ahead of the Detroit Lions with Rickey Dudley (88) and Tom Tupa during the forth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on 15 December 2002. The Buccaneers beat the Lions 23-20. AFP Photo/Jeff KOWALSKY (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images) /

27. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is a case of the offense not being anything great, but the defense was phenomenal.

Offensively, Tampa Bay was 18th in points and 24th in yards. Again, by no means is that anything to write home about, but the things their defense did were fantastic.

The Buccaneers defense ranked first in nearly every defensive statistical category. They allowed just 196 points all season, and the 4,044 yards they let up was the fewest in all of the NFL. Tampa Bay was also third in the NFL in takeaways and led the league with 31 interceptions.

In the NFC Championship Game, they were all but written off because the narrative around them was that they couldn’t play in cold weather. They changed that really quickly by beating the Eagles in the final game at Veterans Stadium. The Buccaneers advanced to the Super Bowl to face head coach Jon Gruden’s former team in Oakland. Gruden and the Bucs knew what the Raiders would do, and they intercepted Rich Gannon three times en route to a win.

Offensively, there was a lot to be desired with the Bucs, but their defense more than made up for their lack of offensive explosiveness.

Home/NFL