Twenty years ago, the Bucs broke out.
They opened the 1997 season with a stunning, tell-the-world 13-6 victory at home over Steve Young, Jerry Rice and the San Francisco 49ers.
What a day. Warren Sapp was a man on fire with 11 tackles and 21/2 of the Bucs' seven sacks. Both Young and Rice were knocked from the game.
Second-year Bucs coach Tony Dungy and his team made a statement that afternoon, one that carried over from a strong finish in 1996, and it led the Bucs to the playoffs for the first time since 1982.