Super Bowl fever grips US

A television audience of 800m will tune in to game

Super Bowl XXXVII
26 January, San Diego
Oakland Raiders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Live coverage on BBC Sport Online

A worldwide television audience of over 800 million is expected to tune in for Sunday's Super Bowl showdown between the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

San Diego will come to a standstill as the city prepares to host the contest - the world's biggest single-day sporting event.

Activities include a massive fireworks spectacular, the themed NFL Experience, plus culinary events, musical performances and cultural festivals.

Anything goes on a Sunday

Jon Gruden,
Tampa coach

With betting of over $6bn expected on the outcome of the game, Super Bowl XXXVII is sure to be a fiercely-contested battle.

Tampa Bay possess the NFL's best defence, having yielded the fewest yards and the fewest points in the league.

"We're good and I'm not afraid to say it," said Ronde Barber, whose 92-yard interception return completed their 27-10 NFC title win in Philadelphia.

Tampa's defensive stalwarts Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and John Lynch certainly know how to make life tough for opposing offences.

Photo Gallery: Super Bowl preparations

But Oakland's is one of the best in recent years, with quarterback Rich Gannon, the league's MVP, calling the shots to devastating effect.

The Raiders piled up 71 points in their two play-off victories, including a 41-24 win over Tennessee last Sunday for the AFC crown.

Gannon's record-breaking form has been nothing short of sensational this season, and many fans and pundits feel this is his year.

Gannon is in the form of his life

Another Super Bowl ring could also be the icing on the cake for Raiders' veteran wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Rice spent 16 seasons with San Francisco before crossing the bay to Oakland, is undoubtedly one of the game's greatest ever players.

But, at the age of 40, with four Super Bowl triumphs and 14 NFL records to his name, another win might tempt him to call it a day.

But Rice and Co will have to find a way past Tampa Bay first, and that will be no easy task.

The Bucs have come a long way since they entered the NFL in 1976 with a run of 26 consecutive losses.

Things only improved marginally during most of the 1980s and early 1990s, but Tampa have taken off in the last five years.

My relationship is very close and personal with Jon Gruden

Bill Callahan,
Oakland coach

Coach Jon Gruden's arrival could be the final piece of the jigsaw as they bid for glory in their first Super Bowl appearance.

The Buccaneers' head coach spent four seasons in charge of the Raiders, and it cost Tampa $8m and four draft picks to get him.

But he has been keen to play down the off-field hype ahead of kick-off on Sunday.

"Anything goes on a Sunday," said Gruden,

"It will be decided by the offensive and defensive lines. Execution, play making and how the ball bounces - sometimes you never know."

Oakland coach Bill Callahan admits that it will be hard for either coach to spring any surprises as they know each other so well.

Fans descend on San Diego

"My relationship is very close and personal with Jon Gruden," said Callahan.

"He and I collaborated on many things in terms of football.

"We share the same philosophies and ideologies and everything else that goes into friendships."

The Oakland franchise has won three Super Bowls - in 1977, 1981 and 1984 (as the LA Raiders).

The odds are in favour of them adding another NFL title to their collection... but Gruden may yet have the final say.