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NFL Fever 2003 Predicts Raiders 28 Buccaneers 17, After Forecasting the Exact Score of Last Year's Super Bowl Game
January 23, 2003—It's that time of year again. Across the country, sports fans are choosing sides—NFC or AFC—and getting ready for a Sunday of greasy eats, refreshing treats and a good, old-fashioned battle between the best of the best. It's also that time of year for Super Bowl Fever to make its end-of-the-season prediction. Last year, Fever correctly predicted the exact score for Super Bowl XXXVI (New England 20, St. Louis 17). This year, Fever has predicted that the Raiders will come away with the big win, 28–17. Will its forecast hold true again this year? Only Sunday will tell.
The Super Bowl Fever prediction is part of Playoff Fever on Xbox.com. Playoff Fever is a game summary, with simulated highlight reel and statistics, that appears every Friday on www.xbox.com, previewing upcoming NFL games. All games are played in incredibly realistic replicas of NFL stadiums, using Microsoft Game Studios' NFL Fever 2003 for Xbox.
After an entire Monday Night season and three weeks of Playoff action, Fever's record stands at an impressive 18–9. Dating back to last season, Fever holds an overall record of 35–16. In addition, NFL Fever 2003 has picked a winner in 17 of its last 24 game simulations.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders
After defeating the Eagles and therefore ending their 0–7 mark of losing playoff games on the road, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers advanced to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. First-year Coach Gruden led his team to a unique showdown with the team he coached just a year ago, the Oakland Raiders. The game, dubbed the "Gruden Bowl," matched the NFL's number-one-ranked defense, Tampa Bay, against the NFL's number-one-ranked offense, Oakland.
On the first possession of the game, Oakland hit Rice on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Bucs soon answered with an 82-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, the Buccaneers forced a fumble, which Quarles recovered. Then, Johnson hastily threw an ill-advised ball for an interception. Oakland couldn't capitalize on the turnover and punted after three and out. Tampa then orchestrated a 79-yard drive, culminating with a touchdown, putting Tampa Bay up 14–7.
In the third quarter, Gannon hit Brown on a 12-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 14–14. The Raiders' defense forced the Bucs to punt on their next possession. Gannon then completed a pass to Jolley for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Bucs unleashed a flurry of first-down completions, but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal after failing to reach the end zone on three consecutive, incomplete passes. With little more than five minutes to go, Oakland led 21–17.
The Raiders' plan was simple: Run the ball to eat up the clock. Garner picked up key first downs and forced Tampa to use up their timeouts. Adding to the drama, Garner was forced to throw on third and long from the Raiders' 45-yard line. With possibly the game's most important play, Tim Brown pulled down a leaping grab for 27 yards and a key Oakland first down. Crockett then scored on a four-yard touchdown run, sealing the championship game for the Raiders, 28–17. Oakland had succeeded in defeating their former coach and gave their rookie coach, Bill Callahan, his first NFL Championship.
Tim Brown was named MVP, finishing with six receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. The Super Bowl win was Oakland's first since 1984, when the then Los Angeles Raiders beat Washington 38–9 in NFL Championship XVIII.
January 23, 2003—It's that time of year again. Across the country, sports fans are choosing sides—NFC or AFC—and getting ready for a Sunday of greasy eats, refreshing treats and a good, old-fashioned battle between the best of the best. It's also that time of year for Super Bowl Fever to make its end-of-the-season prediction. Last year, Fever correctly predicted the exact score for Super Bowl XXXVI (New England 20, St. Louis 17). This year, Fever has predicted that the Raiders will come away with the big win, 28–17. Will its forecast hold true again this year? Only Sunday will tell.
The Super Bowl Fever prediction is part of Playoff Fever on Xbox.com. Playoff Fever is a game summary, with simulated highlight reel and statistics, that appears every Friday on www.xbox.com, previewing upcoming NFL games. All games are played in incredibly realistic replicas of NFL stadiums, using Microsoft Game Studios' NFL Fever 2003 for Xbox.
After an entire Monday Night season and three weeks of Playoff action, Fever's record stands at an impressive 18–9. Dating back to last season, Fever holds an overall record of 35–16. In addition, NFL Fever 2003 has picked a winner in 17 of its last 24 game simulations.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders
After defeating the Eagles and therefore ending their 0–7 mark of losing playoff games on the road, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers advanced to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. First-year Coach Gruden led his team to a unique showdown with the team he coached just a year ago, the Oakland Raiders. The game, dubbed the "Gruden Bowl," matched the NFL's number-one-ranked defense, Tampa Bay, against the NFL's number-one-ranked offense, Oakland.
On the first possession of the game, Oakland hit Rice on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Bucs soon answered with an 82-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, the Buccaneers forced a fumble, which Quarles recovered. Then, Johnson hastily threw an ill-advised ball for an interception. Oakland couldn't capitalize on the turnover and punted after three and out. Tampa then orchestrated a 79-yard drive, culminating with a touchdown, putting Tampa Bay up 14–7.
In the third quarter, Gannon hit Brown on a 12-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 14–14. The Raiders' defense forced the Bucs to punt on their next possession. Gannon then completed a pass to Jolley for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Bucs unleashed a flurry of first-down completions, but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal after failing to reach the end zone on three consecutive, incomplete passes. With little more than five minutes to go, Oakland led 21–17.
The Raiders' plan was simple: Run the ball to eat up the clock. Garner picked up key first downs and forced Tampa to use up their timeouts. Adding to the drama, Garner was forced to throw on third and long from the Raiders' 45-yard line. With possibly the game's most important play, Tim Brown pulled down a leaping grab for 27 yards and a key Oakland first down. Crockett then scored on a four-yard touchdown run, sealing the championship game for the Raiders, 28–17. Oakland had succeeded in defeating their former coach and gave their rookie coach, Bill Callahan, his first NFL Championship.
Tim Brown was named MVP, finishing with six receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. The Super Bowl win was Oakland's first since 1984, when the then Los Angeles Raiders beat Washington 38–9 in NFL Championship XVIII.
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