September 9, 2003

 BUCCANEERS DEFEAT EAGLES IN 2002 NFC TITLE GAME REMATCH

The defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the host Philadelphia Eagles 17-0 at the new Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night.  Tampa Bay won in similar fashion to its 2002 NFC Championship Game victory over the Eagles, with suffocating defense and timely offense.

In a first half dominated by both defenses, the Eagles looked to get on the scoreboard on their second drive with a first and goal at the Buccaneers one yard line.  The Bucs defense held the Eagles out of the endzone on three straight plays before Philadelphia failed on a fake field goal on fourth down.

Ahead 3-0 at halftime on a K MARTIN GRAMATICA 23-yard field goal, the Buccaneers offense got going in the second half with QB BRAD JOHNSON completing 13 of 14 passes after the intermission for 119 yards, including two touchdown strikes to WR JOE JUREVICIUS.

This was the first regular season NFL game played at Lincoln Financial Field and 67,772 fans filled the stadium to watch.