Back to Business It is an odd thing watching NFL action during a bye week, willing other teams in your division to lose is a given and thankfully The Twits (ha ha haaaa) and The Saints both obliged, but I find it almost a sterile sunday when watching a football day without the benefit of my own team suiting up. Thankfully participation in the wonderful world of the FFL means you’ve usually got some sort of an interest in most other games in any weekend, but I remain forever grateful when the bye week is over and done with. It's back to business we go this weekend, taking on The Falcons sans Michael Vick in their own back yard, and as health bodies start to trickle back into the fold, notably Michael Pittman and Michael Clayton to name a couple, things are starting to look up for us. We now hold a clear one game advantage and have beaten both of the teams directly below us; in short our destiny is now very much in our own hands though it does gnaw at me somewhat that we let two recent games needlessly slip away (thinks briefly about Detroit game and kicks nearest cat in local neighbourhood as a sign of continued frustration). Facing The Falcons shouldn’t hold the terrors it once did, as neither Byron Leftwich or Joey Harrington are a threat with their legs and both have a tendancy to throw the odd pick or two in a game; not to be confused of course with Donovan McNabb who has the tendancy to throw up passes to Ronde Barber, or just plain throw up. Head on the Block Time Last week 6-8 (season 84-59 ) How bad is that – a losing record for tipping, and out of three guarantees, two are incorrect; I should get a job in the Cabinet. Time to put the hoodoo on the following:- Buckos The Fudge Criminals Aints Peyton and his friends and by that I doubt mean San Diego's secondary Cheese Jags Vikes Iggles G-Men Stillers Romo’s Rams (honestly) Seahawks Cheats (lock of the week in the hope it will jinx them) Oilers. A few things I think 1. Speaking as a Buc fan I’d much rather The Falcons started Leftwich over Harrington this Sunday. I know the old saying “be careful what you wish for” but gauging recent performances and Byron’s mobility issues (ie he’s a fat bastard), I’d say we’d be better facing him and would have an easier job getting to him on a regular basis, coming off the surgery and all the donuts he’s no doubt eaten in the past three weeks. 2. John Fox, aka Keith Barron, must stay as Twit head coach. I might start the campaign pretty soon. 3. Shame The Twits and The Saints lost last week. Obviously I was gutted, as Im sure you can imagine, especially with The Twits loss coming inside the last minute – awwww. 4. TV coverage beckons again for us next week against The Skins, for the 5th time this year. How much beyond our wildest dreams is that given how little we were on last season? Come to think of it watching Bruce Gradkowski play QB in 2006 would be enough to set the game back about 50 years to the days when the completed forward pass was a novelty and The Borg were winning FFL Titles. 5. I see Simeon got another pink slip from Denver only to land another gig with the Colts. That’s some farewell tour of the NFL he’s having – who’s next I wonder, Detroit to reunite with Marinelli or Pittsburgh to meet up with his old bud Mike Tomlin? Watch this space. However you slice it and dice it, Gruden and Allen got this call spot on as there’s no tread left on the tyres. 6. I think I’d bet the mortgage that Earnest Graham would love to carry the ball 34 times a game if Gruden would let him. 7. Some interesting stats from Dennis on the Bucs after a Bye Week which doesn’t make good reading. Considering we are still the only NFL team I’ve ever seen who fail to get the play off and be called for a delay of game, after calling a timeout themselves, it appears extra time to prepare isn’t perhaps a Buccaneer strong point. That god we had the short week between the Championship game and the Super Bowl in 2002/3 – if we’d had the full two weeks we’d probably have played like the Dolphins. (circa 2007). 8. I think it’s about time we won another game on the road and Sunday represents about the best opportunity we will get this year. Don’t make a town halls of it Buckos. In a tight race such as the NFC South this year divisional games take on additional significance, and thus victory this weekend would add strength to our division record and help keep the pressure on those below us. We need to jump on this team early and crush their momentum from last week – I know they did only beat the Twits but still, a win is a win in the NFL. If we can get out front early, and get the running game going to control the clock and the tempo, then this one is right there for the taking. The Falcons give up over 120 yards a game on the ground so time for a hefty dose of Earnest Graham (who on earth thought we’d be saying that a few weeks ago) and Mr Bicep, fresh off the long lay-off. I’d also like to see Michael Bennett given more carries than his current change of pace role, as the guys got some wheels and can get from A to First Down marker in a heartbeat given any space to operate in. Indeed Pittman and his pass catching skills add even more balance to our RB trifecta, and it looks like Cadillac’s injury didn’t signal the knock-out punch for our offense that we perhaps feared too much, given that dreadful afternoon in Twitville; come to think of it, any afternoon spent in that stadium has to be a dreadful one. Our offense is a much different proposition with No.7 in the huddle calling the shots, and playing in a dome should only help Garcia’s mobility and quickness in evading the rush and making some plays on the ground for us. Given his penchant for taking off if the situation demands I’m surprised we haven’t seen a few more quarterback draws or naked bootlegs so far, and maybe that’s something we can look out for to take advantage of a mobile starter under centre. What’s clear is that we are now heading downhill and firmly into the business end of our schedule and games like this one we just have to have. No excuses, and no bloody turnovers thank you. The Falcons are down on their luck and it’s our job to stamp on them early and often. And we will, though just like Cherie Blair it might not be pretty but it will be effective – Bucs to win 17-13, with a Garcia TD on the ground to boot. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Ben Roethlisberger Did you see that TD run last week? The guys currently carrying my fantasy team on his back and making me realise he’s a hell of a better player than I thought. Get in the Real World Award - Roger Goodell for reinstating Ricky Williams and if you are keeping score at home that’s two re-instatements alone, to go with two bans. I doubt the aforementioned scoreboard will stay idle for too long. Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Anything referring to The Patriots. anything