London Called… And it rained. A lot. Wembley saw my attending my very first NFL game, and I must say, the atmosphere made up for the lack of Bucs (or even ex-Bucs) on show. The crowd was alive, even with the prawn sandwich brigade permanently visible from our seats under a roof, although I use the term permanently loosely – true to form, they went their for their jollies and a few glasses of shampoo with their chums rather than to even give our sport a shot. That said, take away the brigade, the dude with the whistle, the idiots who started that bloody Mexican wave, the streaker (What a shame Strahan didn’t take care of him – would have brought a whole new meaning to “Mind the Gap”) and the extortionate ‘food’ prices, and you’d have yourself no real reasons not to return. Apart from the booing at the end. I mean seriously? Onwards and downwards, Tampa Bay. Guys, please, get a grip! You’re throwing the season down the tube (pun intended), Jeff is starting to get itchy, and our defense, as declared repeatedly in the press over the past few days, isn’t making those INTs stick, or making any fumbles. A one point loss, against a team generally considered our superior, on paper isn’t bad. When you look at the fact we threw an INT (and overthrew Ike) in the last minutes, when we needed another 10-15 yards, and our QB had been a human dynamo these past few weeks, an extra first down, at home, should result in success. As it is, we’re 4-4 – win our next three, which we can do, and we’re 7-4, potentially only two wins in five from making the post-season. Do I think we’ll do it? Yes – Arizona this week, then the bye. We give all our banged up players a further week to progress, and for our rookies to take a break. The fact our division isn’t particularly superb at the moment makes it easier for me to see us playing into January, but ONLY if we cut out the silly mistakes, ONLY if Jeff screws his head back on, ONLY if a 3rd receiver shows up, and ONLY if our defense makes the plays that they should know they can make. 9 TDs 5 years ago – let’s get to half of that this year guys – there’s your challenge, let’s see what you can do. As previously stated, Arizona this week. Their defense hasn’t particularly sent shockwaves through the NFL, but are at a higher level than in previous years. Offensively, aside from their $64,000 question at QB, they are a threat with the best WR tandem in the NFL (Harrison is banged up, Welker is a product of Brady, Ocho Cinco is somewhere in the Dawg Pound still), and the Edge has been welcomed back to the field after a one year absence. I expect “The Dinosaurs” to pick it up as a group this week, Bennett to see more of the ball, 2 INTs (One taken to the house) and the Bucs to win 38-17. And no, I’ve not been smoking anything. NFL Watch Colts – Pats. Please Please Please Please Please Please PLEASE Peyton, tear this arrogant, cheating, down-right irritating team apart. Also, please, someone, take out Brady for the season. (Sorry Phil, nothing personal) How are we still on the greatest ever season of the Quarterback carousel? I’m surprised Tom Brady hasn’t gone down yet… The Malicious Penguins win! Yes, 1-7 and no tribute to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Similarly, this means we will not be renamed The Borg prior to the final game… 11 out of 12 FFL owners want Brady to go down this week. Has anyone else noticed Cleveland are 4-3, only one game behind the Titans and Jaguars for the NFC Wildcard?? Every FFL ‘unbiased’ commissioner wants Tom Brady, QB for New England to be out for the season. Detroit 5-2? Kansas City atop the AFC West? Something is seriously freaky this season… Finally, to please our resident Centurion, Mr Lee Bromfield, and to reward him for 100 columns for Bucpower.com, can any Colt (or overhead camera?) please take out Tom Brady! Richard Lowe, November 2007