September 26, 1997
A couple of years ago, the thought of not one but two of Florida's three NFL teams leading their respective divisions with unbeaten records four weeks into the season would certainly have raised some eyebrows. Add to that the fact that the Miami Dolphins are NOT one of those two teams, and the odds would have been staggering. Regardless, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-0) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-0) join the Denver Broncos and the
New England Patriots as the only undefeated teams in the NFL.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, in only their third season, defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-21, in Jacksonville's first ever Monday Night Football game. The New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens have also fallen to the Jags this season. Continuing their momentum from last year's Cinderella playoff performance - led by QB Mark Brunell, now back from the injured list, and the new-and-improved running back Natrone Means - the Jaguars are chosen by many including CNN/SI to take it all this year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans have waited a long time for a start like this one. The Bucs, who have not seen the post season since 1982, are now the only undefeated team in the NFC, and they are leading last year's Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers in the NFC Central. Behind second year coach Tony Dungy, the Bucs have produced impressive wins this season over San Francisco, Detroit, Minnesota and, yes, the Miami Dolphins.
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