The Buccaneers struck first midway through the quarter, marching 47 yards on six plays. Fullback Mike Alstott capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, leaping over the pile up the middle. The Redskins were able to move the ball, but Mark Brunell threw an interception that stalled a drive. Their only points came on a 33-yard field goal by John Hall.

The Buccaneers increased their lead to 14-3 when Alstott scored on a one-yard run for his second touchdown of the game. The Redskins answered right back with a 94-yard kickoff return by Ladell Betts to cut it to 14-10. Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway caught a 24-yard touchdown for a 21-10 advantage before Hall booted a 40-yard field goal for the quarter's final points.

The Redskins got into a rhythm on offense, scoring the first two touchdowns to take a 28-21 lead. The first came on a seven-yard pass from Mark Brunell to H-back Mike Sellers, and Brunell connected with Clinton Portis for the two-point conversion. Brunell then threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Betts. The Bucs answered with a four-yard touchdown pass from Chris Simms to wide receiver Ike Hilliard.

The Redskins took a 35-28 lead midway through the quarter on an eight-yard run by Portis. The Buccaneers answered with a touchdown when wide receiver Edell Shepherd caught a 30-yard pass from Simms with 58 seconds to play. After the Redskins were called for offside on the extra point attempt, Alstott carried up the middle for the decisive two-point conversion.