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SAN DIEGO (Jan. 23, 2003) -- Our eyes will be focused elsewhere. They always are.
We can't wait to see Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson throwing. We live for the sight of Jerry Rice and Keyshawn Johnson catching. We'll even tolerate a little bit of Mike Alstott and Charlie Garner running.
But as all of those plays unfold in Super Bowl XXXVII, it is likely that some equally compelling competition will escape our view. To find it, you must pull your attention away from the ball, away from all of the graceful elements of the game, and go down to where the dirty work takes place: The trenches.
It should be particularly interesting when the Oakland Raiders offense is on the field. On one side, you have as large an offensive line as there is in the NFL. On the other side is one of the league's quickest defensive fronts.
"It's definitely the biggest line we'll see this year," Buccaneers defensive end Greg Spires said. "When you've got guys like that in front of you, it's easier for [Gannon] to stand back there. You've got like a big old wall in front of you."
