NFL 2002

1. Derrick Brooks: He was the Defensive Player of the Year.

 

He guided the Bucs to their first Super Bowl with a clinching interception return for a touchdown.

He made his 6^th straight Pro Bowl and was a consensus All-Pro.

He also defensive Player of the Month in October.

The Bucs linebacker had 118 tackles, five picks, three returned for scores, and returned a fumble for TD.

He had at least 10+ tackles in four of the last seven games, to help get Tampa Bay to their fourth straight playoffs.

In the divisional round vs. the 49ers, Brooks had 7 tackles, ½ sack, and Int. as the Tampa pounded San Francisco 31-6.

In the NFC Championship game he posted seven more tackles.

The Bucs finished with NFL’s top defense allowing just 12 points per game, and gave up the league’s least amount of yards. They went 12-4 and won the NFC South.

They handled the Eagles 27-10 to win the NFC. Tampa Bay routed Oakland 48-21 in the Super Bowl.

2. Rich Gannon: Was the regular season MVP and first team All-Pro.

He led the NFL in competitions with a single season record of 418. He also topped the league in yards with 4,689.

The 37 year old QB was also 5^th in TD passes with 26, and 2^nd in rating (97.3) and competition percentage (67.6).

He had 10 300+ yard games.

Gannon help the Raiders get past the Jets for the 2^nd straight year in the playoffs. He tossed two second half TD passes, as Oakland outscored New York 20-0 in the second half.

He finished with 283 yards passing on the night.

In the AFC title game the Raider quarterback threw three first half TD passes to give Oakland a 24-17 lead on Tennessee. His TD scamper put Oakland in front by 10 in the fourth.

Gannon threw for 286 and ran for 41 as the Raiders pounded the Titans 41-24 to advance to their first Super Bowl in 19 years.

He threw two TDs and for 272 yards in the Super Bowl. He threw five picks, and three that were returned for scores.

Oakland went 11-5 and won the AFC West. They were second in the NFL averaging 28.1 points per game.

3. Terrell Owens:  Was consensus first team All-Pro for the 3^rd straight season.

He led the NFL in TD catches with 13 for the second straight year.

He was 4^th in the league with 100 receptions and 8^th in yards with 1300, and 2^nd in yards/game.

T.O had five multi-TD games including a famous Monday Night Football performance vs. Seattle.

Owens was a starting WR for the NFC Pro Bowl.

He carried San Francisco past the Giants in the classic wildcard win.

His 76 yard catch and run put the Niners up seven early.  He added another touchdown and a pair of two point conversions. He had 9 catches for 177 yards on the game.

The 49ers came back from a 24 point deficit in the 3^rd quarter in escape with a 39-38 win to advance to the divisional round.

The 49ers were 10-6 and NFC West champs. They would eventually fall to the champion Bucs in the divisional round.