By Dave Goldberg
The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - How the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles match up in the NFC championship game.

WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL

This is where Tampa Bay has had problems at Veterans Stadium, with no offensive touchdowns in three consecutive losses. The offense has come on lately as long as Brad Johnson (14) has been at quarterback, although it still ranked 24th in yardage in a 32-team league.

Johnson was sacked six times when the teams played Oct. 20, a 20-10 Philadelphia win in which the Bucs' only TD came on a fumble return by linebacker Derrick Brooks (55). The Tampa Bay offensive line has improved since then. Left tackle Roman Oben (72) held down Hugh Douglas (53), the Eagles' Pro Bowl defensive end, in the first game, but the relatively immobile Johnson had trouble escaping the blitz. LB Carlos Emmons (51) got to him twice.

The main problem for Tampa Bay could be against the secondary. Three of the Eagles' four starters are Pro Bowlers: cornerbacks Troy Vincent (23) and Bobby Taylor (21), and free safety Brian Dawkins (20). The fourth DB, strong safety Blaine Bishop (24), is a savvy 10-year veteran.

The receivers, on the other hand, are big, but lack separation speed. The best (and loudest) is 6-foot-4 Keyshawn Johnson (19), with 6-1 Keenan McCardell (87) and 6-5 Joe Jurevicius (83) the other tall targets. The tight ends, Ken Dilger (85) and Rickey Dudley (88), could play major roles, especially Dudley, a talented receiver whose career has been hampered by drops.

Tampa Bay's running game lacks speed with the departure of Warrick Dunn as a free agent. Mike Alstott (40) is a Pro Bowl fullback, but is really a tailback, often used in a single-back set. Alstott remains one of the NFL's better power runners. He's rarely on the field at the same time as Michael Pittman (32), who replaced Dunn, but averaged just 3.5 yards a carry in leading the team with 718 yards rushing. He often runs behind FB Jameel Cook (43).

End Brandon Whiting (98), tackles Corey Simon (90) and Darwin Walker (97), and 300-pound middle linebacker Levon Kirkland (93) are solid run-stoppers and decent pass rushers. N.D. Kalu (94) is one of the NFL's better pass-rushing specialists. LB Shawn Barber (56) is an underrated defender against the run and as a blitzer.

One thing to watch: Alstott has a tendency to fumble.

WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL

Quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) will be making his second start since missing eight weeks with a broken right ankle. He ran for 19 yards on his second play against Atlanta last week, demonstrating his mobility, but will probably have less scrambling luck against the NFL's best and one of its quickest defenses.

Tackle Warren Sapp (99) is the anchor of that unit, but end Simeon Rice (97) led the NFC in sacks with 15 1/2. Brooks was voted the league's defensive player of the year and scored four touchdowns, including the only TD against the Eagles on a fumble return. Strong safety John Lynch (47) is another perennial Pro Bowler and is like a fourth linebacker against the run.

Even so, teams that have beaten the Bucs have run on them, especially with Sapp's inside partner, Anthony McFarland, hurt for most of the season. Chartric Darby (91), a second-year undrafted free agent, has replaced him. Duce Staley (22) ran for 152 yards against the Bucs in the first meeting and had 1,029 for the season after being limited by injuries for two years.

Staley, Dorsey Levens (25) and rookie Brian Westbrook (36) are good receivers, and Westbrook provides outside speed when the Eagles need it.

James Thrash (80) is the main deep threat, and Todd Pinkston (87) is coming on, leading the team with 60 catches. Veteran Antonio Freeman (86) and tight end Chad Lewis (89) are solid possession receivers.

But they'll be working against a tough secondary. Ronde Barber (20) led the league last season with 10 interceptions, so teams started throwing at Brian Kelly (25) on the other side. So Kelly tied for the NFL lead with eight interceptions.

The pressure exerted by Rice outside and Sapp inside will make McNabb hurry. Rice, Ellis Wyms (96) and Greg Spires (94) will rush at full speed, depending on Brooks, middle linebacker Shelton Quarles (53) and Alshermond Singleton (51) to contain any scrambles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Philadelphia's Brian Mitchell (30) holds most of the NFL's career return records and is one of the top special teamers ever. At 34, he's lost little. He'll return both punts and kickoffs, although Westbrook and Levens have limited his service as a third-down back. Karl Williams (86) handles punt return duties for Tampa Bay and Aaron Stecker (27) is the kickoff return man. Both are good, but not in a class with Mitchell.

The Eagles have two left-footed kickers: 41-year-old punter Lee Johnson (6) and David Akers (2), the NFC Pro Bowl placekicker. Akers is so consistent it was a shock when he missed a 36-yard attempt in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands in the final regular-season game. Johnson, who spent most of his career in Cincinnati, can't kick as long as he once did, but his experience will help avoid mistakes.

Tampa Bay has another veteran punter, Tom Tupa (9), who was once a starting quarterback for Cleveland and provides a good arm if the Bucs decide to fake. Kicker Martin Gramatica (7) has a lot of range, going 5-for-6 from 50 yards or more.

COACHING

Philadelphia's Andy Reid was coach of the year, in part for winning five of six after McNabb broke his ankle. He has a stolid personality, but the ability to motivate and to delegate to offensive coordinator Brad Childress and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Johnson, in particular, is one of the most respected assistants in the league - the only reason his name doesn't come up for head coaching spots is that he's 61.

The Bucs have a two-headed coaching staff.

Jon Gruden left Oakland to come to the Bucs at a high price - two first-round draft picks and two seconds - and has energized the offense. He is a former offensive coordinator with the Eagles and served with Reid under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay, a staff that has produced six NFL head coaches.

Gruden has left defense to Monte Kiffin, who had been the coordinator for Tony Dungy and provided continuity by staying. The Bucs allowed the fewest yards and the fewest points (196) in the NFL. The Eagles were second in points allowed (241) and fourth in yards allowed.

INTANGIBLES

The Bucs have been eliminated from the playoffs 21-3 and 31-9 at Veterans Stadium the last two seasons and lost there 20-10 on Oct. 20. And despite a win in Illinois in December, they're still 1-21 in cold weather, which is what they'll get on Sunday - forecasts are for temperatures in the 20s. The losses and the weather are as much a mental factor as a physical one. Gruden has been trying to defuse them by preaching for a month that his team is good enough to win anywhere.

It works the other way, too. The Eagles are supremely confident about playing at home. Not only do they seem to have the Bucs' number at the Vet, which is hosting its last NFL game. But they know other teams worry about the turf and noise and the sometimes-abusive fans. Atlanta coaches and players made a point of the problems with the hard and slippery turf after their loss last week.

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