Time To Keep Our Heads Well after nearly four hours of sheer agony, ecstasy, torture and finally joy I retreated from The Bucs Falcons game having experienced a new Buccaneer emotion when Matt Bryant made that 41 yarder – rather like Concorde going through your underpants with Jennifer Aniston in the cockpit. To say that game was draining would be an understatement, but we somehow survived having tried our level best to chuck it away and we are finally on the threshold of our second NFC South Division title; who on earth would have thought that back in July, certainly not me by any stretch. The epic that was last Saturdays match-up surely took years off our existences as Buc fans, but the outcome I imagine saved Christmas for many Bucs UK members and our partners in the Tampa area. If we’d dropped that game we’d be in a real thigh sweat of a situation, but thanks to Cadillac’s six-yard TD on a must-have fourth and one play, we forced OT. A few things I think 1) I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, for christ’s sake don’t waste any more time in your life looking at play-off permutations. If we keep up our side of the bargain our work is done and we are in, that’s all that matters. If we do cock it up on Sunday, then get the rule-book out and start praying by all means, but at this stage it’s all in our own hands. 2) I think I’d love the Falcons to do the decent thing this week and beat The Twits – my ideal scenario is to see them somehow miss out on the play-offs after their usual mouth and trousers act this season. Come on Mr Vick, time to put them to the sword. 3) I think any debate about the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year was rendered mute by Cadillac’s performance last week. A 150-yard day with a score on fourth down to boot, put to bed any questions on the issue. My hat is off to our prized Auburn rookie. 4) I think if you are looking for heroes and role models in life, the starting point of any discussion should be people like Tony Dungy. A respected and decent man who has shown incredible courage and grace in the face of unthinkable tragedy. Tony is a truly special one, and the respect in which he is held by his peers across the NFL demonstrates a man whose impact as a mentor and a man goes far behind the X’s and O’s in football. 5) I’d suspected Michael Clayton was playing under duress this year and his withdrawal this week, and possibly for the play-offs confirms all our grave suspicions. Get yourself well Michael, we will need you for many years to come. 6) I think the Czar of the Endzone was back in his rightful home last week. The Alstott leap which starts around the three-yard line will make many a highlight reel in our season review tapes. 7) I think we need to get a whole lot better on Special Teams and quickly too. Too many bad snaps, muffed kicks and fumbles this past week – I guarantee the point was hammered home over the last few days. Look for some improvement on Sunday. 8) I think I’d like to wish all the best to Paul and Geoff in the FFL Bowl this weekend – good luck fellas, I know you’ll be sweating on several games besides The Bucs-Saints match-up. 9) I think I’d like to wish a happy New Year and hopefully a play-off New Year to all Buc fans wherever they may be. Let’s hope the Wild card round of the play-offs brings us a home game with Dallas. Having reached that point and receiving the ball first you’d think the momentum would be with us, but that’s when the fun really began wasn’t it? You could write a novel on the Special Teams gaffes in that 5th quarter of play, but suffice to say it did establish what a big time player Cadillac Williams has become when the game is on the line, and also confirmed Matt Bryant has the balls to step up into the firing line when needed. I said last week how Chris Simms was growing on me, and despite a couple of turnovers Mr Laissez Fare continues to grow and orchestrate big-time scoring drives, especially late in games. A test of a young Quarterbacks mettle is his ability to lead his team from behind, and Simms is acing this one at the moment with guts and determination. I’ve also been banging on about getting Alex Smith involved in the offense again, and it was nice to see he became a key factor last week when Simms needed a safety valve on passing downs. Our victory coupled with The Twits heart-breaking loss for The Twits – I was gutted as you can imagine – meant all was well in the world in Week 16. We now face our RJS nemesis in The Saints this week who represent the biggest of golden opportunities for us, not only to lay their hoodoo over us at home, but also clinch a home play-off game. Those same sorry Saints that everyone is writing off, have had their way with us the past three years at RJS so we need to keep our eyes open and not start any victory parades until the job is done properly this Sunday. I’m sure The Chuckmeister won’t let this happen – we need to jump on them early, get the lead and shut out any glimmer of hope they have. That means Cadillac, Cadillac and an even bigger dose of Cadillac in my book. It’s no time for trick-plays or Hollywood stuff this week; simply put let’s run the ball, don’t turn it over and play some defense – if The Bucs apply themselves as they have for the past four months, then we will win this game. I don’t actually care how we do it, just get the W and we can wear the hats. The call here is 20-10 Bucs – lets go do it. Time for one last week of emotional turmoil, laughter and appreciation at Gene and Scott and another roller-coaster of an evening before our fate is decided. Nod of Acknowledgement To……Terry Glenn. Yes yes I know Peppers touched the ball on the missed Dallas kick, but I don’t give a monkey’s. Thanks Terry, you helped silence 70,000 of the great unwashed and made me laugh my sides off. Get in The Real World Award…..The 1972 Dolphins. How many times must we see a bunch of bitter old bastards celebrating when the last unbeaten falls in the NFL. For christ’s sake grow up – have a little smile to yourself in private if need be, but if I read another quote by Shula, Morris, Griese et al about how happy they are and how they will be celebrating I will puke.