2000

Bills 17
Tampa Bay 31

Attendance: 65,546

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Warren Sapp should have opened his mouth sooner.  

"I let it go and went home and slept well," Sapp said. "I think I should have done it before now. But it's said now, and we move on."

Coach Tony Dungy called Sapp into his office because of the remarks about the flimsy state of the Bucs' playoff chances, but no players were offended.

"This team is right where it needs to be," Sapp said. "We're in position to get some things done, and I'll take my chances with this club once we get into the playoffs, and it's 60 minutes or go home."

Warrick Dunn became the first runner to gain 100 yards on the Bills (7-5) this season, rushing for 106 and two touchdowns, while Karl Williams scored on a 73-yard punt return and Derrick Brooks had 19 unassisted tackles for the Bucs (7-5).

Sapp had two of Tampa Bay's six sacks of Rob Johnson, giving the defensive tackle 13½ this season to break Lee Roy Selmon's franchise record of 13 set in 1977. The reigning NFL defensive player of the year was also penalized 15 yards for taunting the Bills' bench, helping Buffalo get into position to kick a 28-yard field goal that trimmed the Bucs' lead to 24-17 with 2:27 to go.

But with All-Pro Mike Alstott pacing the sideline on crutches after spraining his left knee last week, Dunn raced 39 yards untouched to put the game out of reach after Tampa Bay recovered an onside kick.

Buffalo hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 15 of last season against New England's Terry Allen.

"I knew it was going to be a difficult game with their backs to the wall," Buffalo coach Wade Phillips said. "I thought our whole team fought hard. We just made too many big mistakes."

Johnson threw touchdown passes of 4 yards to Jonathan Linton and 19 yards to NFL receptions leader Eric Moulds, finishing with 24 completions in 39 attempts for 262 yards and no interceptions.

Doug Flutie replaced Johnson for two plays on the drive that produced Steve Christie's field goal. The Bills starter was shaken up on a near sack by Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, returned for a third-down play before the field goal and then sat out Buffalo's final possession.

Sapp made critical remarks about offensive coordinator Les Steckel's system, hoping to light a fuse under his teammates after a dismal performance in a 13-10 loss at Chicago last week.

The defensive tackle said the offense lacked an identity, questioned Steckel's play-calling and asked why the Bucs haven't been able to get Keyshawn Johnson more involved in game plans.

"Thirty-one points is not too shabby," Sapp said, likening his trip to Dungy's office to visiting the principal in school. "(Steckel) was smart enough to know he had to put us in a better position in certain situations."

Despite winning by two touchdowns, Tampa Bay finished with just 180 yards in total offense to Buffalo's 433. Keyshawn Johnson had two catches for 15 yards, while Moulds had eight for 102 for the Bills.

"If 180 yards is going to win a football game, then give me 180 yards for 16 weeks and I'm fine with it," Keyshawn Johnson said. "If we can keep doing that, and winning football games, then that means we're one step closer to what we're trying to do, and that is get to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl."

King, who scored on a 2-yard, second-quarter run, finished 10-for-18 attempts for 106 yards and no interceptions.

The Bills had seven sacks, but played much of the day without linebacker Sam Cowart, who had 2½ sacks before leaving the game with a high ankle sprain that could sideline him for a month.

NOTES - The Bills also lost linebacker Sam Rogers (torn groin muscle) and safety Keion Carpenter (high ankle sprain). ... Tampa Bay's 49 sacks are a franchise record ... Marcellus Wiley had two sacks and Ted Washington 1½ for Buffalo.

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