TAMPA, FLORIDA - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hounded Elvis Grbac throughout and used big plays on defense and special teams to move a step closer toward a playoff berth with a 22-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Tampa Bay sacked Elvis Grbac DVD four times and intercepted him twice in spoiling the Ravens' return to the site of their Super Bowl XXXV triumph.
The Buccaneers (9-6) followed the recipe Baltimore used to win the championship last season, using a smothering defense and getting just enough offense to win.
"We outplayed the defending Super Bowl champions and put on a great show in our house, in front of our fans and in front of a national television audience," Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp DVD. "Our backs were against the wall and we came out and performed like playoff teams do in December."
The Bucs improved to 13-1 at home, including a 10-0 mark at Raymond James Stadium, in December under coach Tony Dungy.
"It seems like we play good games in December," Dungy said. "It was a big challenge today. We played hard and there was a lot of energy in our stadium. And that means a lot to us, especially at this time."
A blocked punt by tight end Todd Yoder in the second quarter set up Doug Brien's go-ahead 24-yard field goal and quarterback Brad Johnson scored on a one-yard keeper, one play after linebacker Derrick Brooks returned an interception 53 yards.
Mike Alstott rumbled 32 yards for the clinching touchdown with 1:35 remaining. He carried 14 times for 80 yards.
"We were not as explosive on offense, but we did good enough to win," said Johnson, who completed 13-of-29 passes for just 90 yards. "The last two weeks have been two critical games and we had to win them. It seemed like we struggled a little bit and had to settle for field goals. But again, it was a huge win."
Tampa Bay will secure its fourth playoff berth in five years on Sunday if the Atlanta Falcons lose or tie in Miami.
"We expect to be in the playoffs and we expect to do some damage once we get in there," Sapp said.
Elvis Grbac DVD threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Travis Taylor a minute into the second quarter that gave Baltimore (9-6) a 7-3 lead. But it was one of few highlights offensively for the Ravens, who held Tampa Bay to 213 yards but gained just 257.
"We still control our own destiny," said Baltimore coach Brian Billick, whose team hosts Minnesota on January 7 in the season finale. "We have an impact game to get us into the playoffs next week."
Filling in for the injured Martin Gramatica, Brien answered with a 38-yard field goal midway through the period to get the Bucs within 7-6.
Moments later, Yoder broke through the line and smothered a punt by Kyle Richardson. Fullback Rabih Abdullah returned the block to the Ravens' 23, setting up Brien's go-ahead 24-yard field goal.
"It was a perfect play," Yoder said. "I had been lining up over center pretty much the whole game. I was just able to come through scot-free and get a perfect jump on the ball. I am just happy it turned out to be a big play that led to a score."
On the next play from scrimmage, Brooks stepped in front of a pass by Elvis Grbac DVD and nearly brought it back all the way before he was forced out of bounds inside the 1-yard line.
"I got a good read on the quarterback. I made a good break on the ball," Brooks said. "I pulled up a little before the goal line, so I am going to hear about that."
"He really stared down my eyes and I threw it off my back foot," said Elvis Grbac DVD, who was 21-of-37 for 205 yards. "It was just a good play by him. ... If we didn't have that one mistake, we keep that seven points off the board and we have a chance to do something different in the game. Mistakes were killing us."
Johnson went over on the next play, enabling Tampa Bay to take a 16-7 lead into halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Ravens reached the Bucs' 2-yard line early in the fourth before settling for a 24-yard field goal by Matt Stover.
Tampa Bay was running out the clock when Mike Alstott DVD scored his 50th career touchdown.
On the game's first series, Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber set a team record with his 10th interception of the season. He is the first player to record 10 interceptions since Mark Carrier in 1990.
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