Buccaneers Maul Rudderless Raiders

It was billed as the closest-to-call Super Bowl in a decade: the NFL's best offense against its best defense. In the end, it was a rout.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers racked up a huge lead, survived a fouth-quarter wobble, and then came on strong in the game's dying embers to crush the Oakland Raiders 48-21.

Oakland, who had entered Super Bowl XXXVII as slight favourites, never got going. After taking an early 3-0 lead their much-vaunted offense fired blank after blank.

The Raiders' quarterback Rich Gannon, the league's most valuable player, threw five interceptions, while Jerry Rice, the best wide receiver in history, didn't make a catch until deep into the third quarter.

Tampa's swarming defense was simply too strong, too quick. Time after time they set up good field positions for their offense - or, even better, ran in Interceptions for touchdowns. Oakland had no answer as the Buccaneers racked up 34 unanswered points.

Late on, the Raiders mounted a belated comeback attempt which took the score to 34-21. But the impossible never looked on, and two touchdown interceptions in the final two minutes secured Tampa's first ever Super Bowl.

No wonder Buccaneers' coach Jon Gruden, who was in charge of the Raiders this time last year, relished his team's win.

"It's a credit to our players," he said. "We've got a great defensive club.

"We're going to get better. I can promise you that much. This is Tampa Bay's night and we're world champions. I'm going to enjoy it."

And with that, he and his team went into the San Diego night, their smiles as wide as their victory.