History & The Playoffs So that’s it – no more discussing the biggest gorilla on the back in sports (Not Norv making the FFL Super Bowl), this past Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, courtesy of #17 Micheal Spurlock and the biggest potato wedge in Buccaneer History took a kickoff all the way to the Pirate Ship. A 90-yard run that has taken over 31 years to complete has passed the finish line. It brings a whole new meaning to the tortoise and the hare… What else happened Sunday? In the furore over #17s TD, it may have escaped peoples’ attention, but the Bucs annihilated the Dirty Birds 37-3, restricting Chris Redman to merely FOUR completions, and saw Coach Gruden receive his 5th Gatorade Bath since taking over (three NFC South Titles, one NFC Championship, one Super Bowl) and a guaranteed playoff spot. Who’s on our shortlist? Who knows, although a divisional match-up could yet see a Bay Rivalry, with the Packers winning and the Cowboys losing – Offensively (as in based on our offense and their D), I’d rather take the Cowboys, Defensively, the Packers. The reality of the matter? It DOESN’T matter – next up is the 49ers, then the Twits. The Bucs can go 11-5, and based on last week – why not? Last week against the Falcons What did I write about our defense and 3rd downs? Sure, Atlantas’ offense is far from being the most awe-inspiring in the NFL, but by restricting a QB to 34 yards you send out a message to the rest of the league – we’re dangerous, serious, and, thanks to Ronde Barber, liable for a Pick-Six. NFL Watch J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets – you’re crap. Ok, Billy B probably wanted to bang in 100 points against his junior nemesis, but the rain prevented this. Bless. Three words you’d never have expected on NFL.com – Najeh Davenport Highlights. Miami win! Personally, and this might be controversial, I wanted them to go winless. Baltimore really are diabolical. Sorry Chris, but to have players wanting Troy Smith to start over once-saviour Boller says it all. Tiny Troy should move to RB now, and let the Ravens take Matt Ryan or Brian Brohm in the first round of the draft, seeing as they’ll be bordering on a top-10 pick. No Buccaneers in the Pro Bowl and a home game in the playoffs, with a realistic shot at making the Divisional Round where anything can happen? Suits me down to the ground that, I’ve never watched the Pro Bowl anyway! Finally, a Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this and their families – may your holidays be the most fulfilling yet! Our performance was phenomenal – I’ve never seen the Bucs play like that – sure, it was against a poor offense, sure they gave up over 100 yards on the ground. That said, the Falcons only attempted 15 passes, but they came out with a point to prove after the Texans debacle, and clearly delivered. Offensively, it was steady as she goes. Garcia completed 15 of 25 passes, Earnest barrelled forwards for yet another TD, Michael Bennett showed that he has something different to offer by his long break and runs, and Michael Pittman came back, showing that next year the Bucs could easily have four guys with 10 carries a game. I maintain we need a wideout or two, and proof of a mainstay at QB for the next few years, but that can wait till March! The offensive line was, yet again, outstanding – Penn, Sears, Wade, Joseph & Trueblood – aside from our center, all 25 or younger, all showing the ability to go up against the top D-Lines and give them a fight, all contributing to our best running game in years. What can they accomplish over the next 10 years? The sky is the limit. This week against the 49ers Make sure there’s at least one player spying on Shaun Hill incase he decides to break free, have Hovan and Haye keep Funtime Frankie in check, have the Corners play entirely in Zone coverage, and have Barmy Barrett not let VD (How unfortunate) out of his sight all game. Simple and easy keys to the game at Candlestick! Earnest Graham is looking like he could very well hit 1,000 yards on the season, which seeing as he missed the first four games and only fully came in when Pittman went down is remarkable – the fact that we have a running back who can literally do it all – run, catch and block, makes a highly pleasant change for the Bucs, insofar as we now have an offense AND defense that teams can fear. Richard Lowe, December 2007