Note to Bucs: playoff history proves third time can be a charm

For any chance of vanquishing the Saints’ recent dominance against them, the Bucs will have to set an early tone Sunday. They’ll also likely have to set the edge, perhaps even set a pace.

But they won’t have to set a precedent.

The Superdome surface hardly represents uncharted turf for what the Bucs, losers of both regular-season games to New Orleans, will try to accomplish in Sunday evening’s NFC divisional playoff. Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, seven of the more than 20 teams that twice lost to an opponent in the regular season have defeated that foe in the playoffs.

Here’s a look at all seven of them.

Giants 21, Cowboys 17 (Jan. 13, 2008)

1st regular-season meeting (away): Cowboys, 45-35, Sept. 9

2nd regular-season meeting (home): Cowboys, 31-20, Nov. 11

Dallas, the NFC’s top-seeded playoff team, entered this divisional playoff game with two weeks’ rest. Statistically, the Cowboys were dominant, controlling the ball more than 36 minutes and outgaining the Giants, 336-230. But they managed only three second-half points as the Giants defense successfully flustered Tony Romo, whose fourth-down pass was intercepted by R.W. McQuarters in the end zone with nine seconds remaining.

Vikings 31, Packers 17 (Jan. 9, 2005)

1st regular-season meeting (away): Packers, 34-31, Nov. 14

2nd regular-season meeting (home): Packers, 34-31, Dec. 24

The 8-8 Vikings sneaked into the playoffs despite winning only three of their last 10 games, yet their frigid stretch had nothing on the Lambeau Field thermometer (26 degrees). Still, Daunte Culpepper and Co. came out smoking. On the game’s third play, Culpepper lofted a pass over the middle to running back Moe Williams for a 68-yard touchdown. Less than nine minutes in, Minnesota led 17-0. Culpepper threw four touchdown passes. Brett Favre threw four picks.

Cardinals 20, Cowboys 7 (Jan. 2, 1999)

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1st regular-season meeting (away): Cowboys, 38-10, Sept. 6

2nd regular-season meeting (home): Cowboys, 35-28, Nov. 15

Football Outsiders called the Cardinals “one of the greatest fluke teams of all time.” Arizona had been outscored 378-325 in the regular season, and while the Cardinals had won six of their last nine games, all six had come against teams that finished 6-10 or worse. Yet on a surreal Saturday at Texas Stadium, the Cardinals validated themselves, holding Dallas scoreless until the fourth quarter. Jake Plummer passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the franchise to its first playoff victory since 1947. A crowd of roughly 8,000 greeted the Cardinals at the airport upon their return home.

Bears 35, Vikings 18 (Jan. 1, 1995)

1st regular-season meeting (home): Vikings, 42-14, Sept. 18

2nd regular-season meeting (away): Vikings, 33-27 (OT), Dec. 1

The Bears, under second-year coach Dave Wannstedt, lost three of their last four to end the regular season. Steve Walsh had replaced injured (and ineffective) starting quarterback Erik Kramer, while the 10-6 Vikings were led by eventual Hall of Famer Warren Moon. But on this New Year’s Day encounter, Walsh had a career afternoon (15-for-23, 221 yards, two TDs) while the defense forced four turnovers, intercepting Moon twice. “I can’t remember a lot of the particulars about that game,” Bears safety Shaun Gayle later told the Chicago Tribune, “but I remember that the overall sentiment among the guys on that team was that we believed in ourselves more than other people did.”

Chargers 17, Chiefs 0 (Jan. 2, 1993)

1st regular-season meeting (home): Chiefs, 24-10, Sept. 6

2nd regular-season meeting (away): Chiefs, 16-14, Nov. 8

After dropping their first four games, the Chargers won 11 of their last 12 en route to the AFC West title and first playoff appearance in 10 years. Kansas City, their regular season thorn, had no answer for a relentless defense that sacked Dave Krieg seven times. Chargers defensive end Leslie O’Neal had a career day (two sacks, interception, pass breakup, forced fumble), while quarterback Stan Humphries — playing with a separated left shoulder — finished 14-for-23 for 199 yards.

Steelers 26, Oilers 23 (OT) (Dec. 31, 1989)

1st regular-season meeting (away): Oilers, 27-0, Oct. 22

2nd regular-season meeting (home): Oilers, 23-16, Dec. 3

The rebuilding Steelers were outscored 92-10 in their first two games (vs. the Browns and Bengals) but won five of their last six to secure the AFC’s final playoff spot. In their third encounter against the Oilers — and Chuck Noll nemesis Jerry Glanville — the Steelers tied the score with an 82-yard fourth-quarter scoring drive highlighted by Dwight Stone’s 22-yard gain on a reverse. Rod Woodson then forced a fumble in overtime, setting up Gary Anderson’s game-winning 50-yard field goal. Even the normally stoic Noll participated in the ensuing celebration.

Raiders 30, Seahawks 14 (Jan. 8, 1984)

1st regular-season meeting (away): Seahawks, 38-36, Oct. 16

2nd regular-season meeting (home): Seahawks, 34-21, Oct. 30

Following their second regular-season loss to Seattle, the Raiders won five in a row and six of their last seven before embarking on one of the most dominant playoff runs in NFL lore. Behind Marcus Allen (25 carries, 154 yards) and a defense that recorded five interceptions and four sacks, the Raiders built a 27-0 lead in this lopsided AFC title game. Two weeks later, they would blast Washington, 38-9, in the first Super Bowl staged in Tampa.