Super Bowl 37 was billed as an epic struggle between the NFL's top-ranked offense and defense. On Sunday night, however, just one team made good on its reputation. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose perennial futility served as a pro sports punchline for two decades, emerged from the depths of mediocrity with a stunning 48-21 thrashing of the Oakland Raiders.Tampa's vaunted defense stifled grizzled veterans Jerry Rice, Charlie Garner and Tim Brown. A defensive line that includes All-Pros Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice (two sacks) harassed NFL Most Valuable Player Rich Gannon all afternoon, forcing the normally savvy playmaker out of his comfort zone and into the punishing arms of Tampa tacklers. Gannon was intercepted an astonishing five times, as eventual Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson returned two of those picks for Tampa touchdowns.

At the tender age of 39, Buccaneer Head Coach Jon Gruden became the youngest skipper ever to win a Super Bowl. It has been well publicized that Gruden coached the Raiders for four seasons before Tampa owner Malcolm Glazer obtained his rights from Oakland owner Al Davis for eight million dollars and a bevy of first and second-round draft choices.

"I want to thank Coach Gruden for what he did," said an elated Glazer during ABC's post-game trophy ceremony, "He came from heaven and he brought us to heaven. We were waiting for the right man and the right man came."

Aside from an early 3-0 deficit, the Bucs were in control throughout en route to the first NFL title in the franchise's largely forgetful 27-year existence.

Behind the powerful running of tailback Michael Pittman (29 carries for 124 yards) and fullback Mike Allstott, Tampa pounced on a Raider defense that looked winded well before halftime. NFL stalwarts Sam Adams and Bill Romanowski couldn't get sufficient pressure on Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson. Johnson, a journeyman QB who has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins since being drafted out of Florida State University, performed admirably. He threw two decisive touchdown passes to former Jacksonville Jaguar Keenan McCardell, the second of which was an 11-yarder that capped off an 89-yard Tampa drive that ate up almost eight minutes of the third quarter.

Comfortably ahead by 17 (20-3) at the half, the Bucs' special teams faltered in the second half, as Tom Tupa had a punt blocked for an Oakland touchdown and then botched the hold on what looked like a routine Martin Grammatica field goal attempt. With a dormant running attack, the Raiders were unable to capitalize; Gannon looked to the air where he found nothing but pewter jerseys.

Off the field, a brewing controversy clouded the Raiders' pre-Super Bowl weekend, as All-Pro center Barret Robbins was hospitalized with an unknown medical condition. Teammates said that Robbins, who has been treated for chronic depression, spent Saturday in Tijuana, Mexico.

While tests in the hospital showed no illegal drugs in Robbins' system, Raider players remain understandably disturbed by the disappearance of their teammate.

"He made the Pro Bowl because he played with four other great offensive linemen," said Raiders guard Frank Middleton, "I'm not interested in playing with him again. You can't be on a team that doesn't have trust in you and I've lost trust in him. So I'm not really interested in playing with him anymore."

On Monday night at 9 p.m., more than 65,000 Tampa loyalists packed Raymond James Stadium to honor their world champion Buccaneers. Gruden led the boisterous crowd in his now famous chant, "Pound that rock."

"I just want you to keep the party alive," said Tampa cornerback Ronde Barber, "We'll find a way to celebrate with you.