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Joey Johnston, The Tampa Tribune, published 8 January 2006
The Bucs were robbed. No doubt about that. We know what you're thinking. Let's forget the Edell Shepherd touchdown/no-catch. We're talking defense here. Brilliant defense. Among the best a Tampa Bay team has ever played (and that's saying something). But what did it mean? "At this point, the what-if game means absolutely nothing to me," Ronde Barber said. "The only statistic that matters is the one we don't have."
A victory. What a heist. In what could go down as the most inappropriate fate for anybody's defense, the Bucs somehow lost an NFC playoff game Saturday night, 17-10 to the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins gained all of 120 total yards - the lowest figure for a winning team in the history of NFL postseason football (Saturday night's Patriots-Jaguars game was the league's 397th playoff game). "I've never been around something like that [allowing 120 yards in a loss] in my life," Chris Hovan said.
The Redskins scored touchdowns on a one-play, 6-yard drive (following an interception) and a fumble return, then added a 47-yard field goal off a 40-yard drive.
"We could've done a few more things," said Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, refusing to paint a woe-is-me picture. "We could've stopped them a few more times. We could've won the game 10-7."
Yeah, maybe. But here's Redskins quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, whose words told the story perfectly. "Monte pretty much crushed us."
And now comes the really hard part. It will never be exactly the same for this defense, which ranked No. 1 in the NFL. Who stays? Who goes? It would be a travesty for linebacker Derrick Brooks to finish his NFL career in anything other than red and pewter. In Saturday's locker room, a bitterly disappointed Brooks said they'd have to tear the uniform off his back. Can the Bucs afford defensive end Simeon Rice? Is Booger McFarland in the future plans? And what about the coaches? Even Kiffin wonders if defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin are moving on to bigger and better positions.
"It would be [devastating to lose them], no doubt about it," Kiffin said. "We have a great defense not because Monte Kiffin is the coordinator. Our staff is great. Rod can be a head coach. Mike's ready [for defensive coordinator]. Heck, [linebackers coach] Joe Barry is ready, but he's got another year on his contract. I don't know what's going to happen. Someone mentioned in the locker room [about some players not returning]. Coach [Jon] Gruden and Bruce [Allen, general manager] will address all of that in the offseason. I can't think about that now."
There was enough bad news to absorb. Saturday's game was an NFL postseason record - but not a Bucs' team record - for fewest yards surrendered in a defeat. The Bucs actually held the New York Giants to 107 yards (and four first downs) in a 17-13 loss to kick off the 1999 season. That defense also finished No. 1 in the NFL. But it rebounded by preparing for the following week.
For this version of the Bucs' defense, there isn't a next week. "It doesn't feel like our season is supposed to be over now," Brian Kelly said. "But it's time to go home."
It wasn't time to rationalize. "People will say, 'You only gave up [120] yards,' but sometimes you've got to do what's required to win, not just have great stats," McFarland said. "The Redskins are still playing and we're not, and that sucks," Hovan said. "I'm not going to lie to you. It sucks. I'm sick to my stomach right now."
Kiffin might have the sickest feeling of all. In training camp, the Bucs put up a sign at their hotel: "2000 New England Patriots 5-11 … 2001 New England Patriots 11-5 and Super Bowl champions … It can be done!" "We had 11 guys [of 25] and four coaches in our [meeting] room from 2002," Kiffin said. "I knew we were going to turn it up on defense. I knew it. We would've gone to Chicago - and I'm not taking anything away from Lovie [Smith] - but we would've given them all they wanted. Then send us to Seattle [for the NFC Championship Game]. Send us to the North Pole. I don't care."
Instead, this Bucs' defense has been sent to an earlier offseason than it deserved. "We knew we were humming and flying around the ball," Barber said. "This defense knows when it's playing good."
Saturday night, it played better than almost any other team in postseason history - and still lost. Robbery.
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