The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were crowned Super Bowl champions for the first time after an impressive 48-21 victory over the often lacklustre Oakland Raiders. The game was as good as won after the second quarter when the Buccaneers led 20-3, and they stretched that advantage out to 34-9 at the end of the third.
Although Oakland started to show more in the fourth, it was too late. Keenan McCardell and Dwight Smith each had two TDs for Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay owner/president Malcolm Glazer said: "We've got the greatest players in the whole world. If you haven't heard about them, you've heard about them today."
Speaking about the wait to hire a coach before Jon Gruden's arrival, he added: "We were waiting for the right man and the right man came - Jon Gruden."
Delighted coach Gruden, the youngest ever coach to win a Super Bowl, added: "It's a credit to our players. We've got a great defensive club. We got more and more acclimatised as the season got on. 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."
The Buccs are captained by Irish American John Lynch, who is a member of Ballybunion Golf Club.
Filed by Johnny Proby
