On a side note, Shaun King needs to shut the f%^$ up. He said that it was about time that Gruden got fired. Shut up Shaun. You suck. You have no room to talk. You're a failure. Deal with it. The same goes for Michael Clayton. You're a failure too. Deal with it you little whiny bastard.

What an offseason this is going to be.

What the fuck where the Buccaneers thinking?

Jon Gruden went 60-57 in 7 seasons with the Bucs (including playoffs), and is the winningest head coach in Tampa history. He led them to their only Super Bowl, and has won 3 division titles in 7 years. He is the only coach in NFC South history to have back-to-back winning seasons. Everyone is going to point to the collapse at the end of the season, but give him more credit than that. He has had enough success in Tampa to be forgiven for one little collapse. Let's just say that nobody saw this coming.

Bruce Allen has done a great job in his time with the Bucs. Allen has drafted some great players, and has brought in great players (Jeff Garcia, Cato June, Antonio Bryant). Quite frankly, I can't see why he lost his job.

I'm so pissed off over this whole ordeal, and quite frankly, my anger has lead me near tears. Neither man deserved this fate. Who is going to come in and do the job that these men did? While I'll try not to hold any animosity towards the new hires, it will take me a while to get over this. The Glazers better have a damn good reason, and I better not hear one word about the collapse.

Good luck to both men. I'll always hold a special place in my heart for Gruden. After all, I didn't think that the Bucs would be making a head coaching change for a long time.

The Oakland Raiders have turned themselves around from last season, and won't finish at the bottom of their division. They've lost 3 of their last 4 games, but they looked good in last weeks victory. Their team is led by second year man JaMarcus Russell, who ranks dead last (32nd) in passing. They have a pretty potent rushing game, which is ranked 10th in the nation, and is led by Justin Fargas and rookie Darren McFadden. Russell's top target is Zach Miller, who leads the team in receiving yards by over 400 yards. Combined, their offense ranks 30th in points per game, and 29th in total yards. Their defense is ranked 26th in points allowed per game, 27th in total yards, 31st in rushing yards per game, and 9th against the pass.

Key Matchup:
Buccaneers vs. Cowboys
Oakland doesn't really have one standout player, one difference maker. Therefore, I believe that the one thing the Bucs have to watch out for is the Cowboys. Their season hinges on what the Cowboys can do. The Cowboys beat the Eagles earlier in the season, and the Eagles are coming off of a loss. The Cowboys haven't looked fantastic in recent weeks, as they've had their struggles and controversies. This week there has been more whining and complaining from the Cowboys and their management. The Eagles are a good team, but if anything is going to stop Dallas, it will be their own troubles. The controversy didn't keep them from winning a couple of weeks ago, but they lost this past week. The Bucs need to rely on the Cowboys to lose, and it appears a self-destruction would be the only way for the 'Boys to lose.
The only thing the Bucs can do this week is win. They will have to rely on Philadelphia to do the rest, so that part is out of their hands. Oakland is not that good of a team, so the Bucs should really have no problem dispatching them. Of course, the team that they have to worry about first is Oakland. If they can't beat them, than the season is over. The outcome of the Dallas game is important, but Oakland comes first and foremost. The Bucs need to focus on what is ahead of them before worrying about what comes after that.

This week could be the last week for a couple of Buccaneers, as they are going to become free agents at the end of the season. This could be the last game as a Buc for Jeff Garcia, Michael Clayton, Jerramy Stevens, and Antonio Bryant. If it is, than let's just hope they go out on top. The offense hasn't been looking great, and their rankings show it. They are ranked 18th in the league in points per game, 14th in total yards, 15th in rushing yards, and 12th in passing yards. They also rank 9th in total rushing plays, 6th in total passing plays, 6th in fourth down conversions, and 4th in total offensive plays. The defense was embarrassed last week, but they are still pretty strong. They are ranked 7th in the league in points allowed per game, 9th in total yards allowed, 18th in rushing yards allowed, and 5th in passing yards allowed. Their defense is ranked 4th in defensive touchdowns and 4th in interceptions.

If the Bucs win tomorrow, they will improve on their 9-7 season last year. Even if they don't make the playoffs, this season will be considered an improvement. This could very well be the last game for Monte Kiffin, who will move on to Tennessee after the season. If the Bucs don't advance, this will be his last game. It was announced on Thursday that Raheem Morris, the defensive backs coach, will be his replacement next season. If this is Monte's last game, than nothing would be better than a 49-0 blowout. That would be nice either way, but especially if this is Kiffin's last game. The Bucs might also be keeping an eye on the Detroit Lions, who, if they lose, will join the 1976 Buccaneers as the only two teams in NFL history to go winless throughout an entire season. But most importantly, the Bucs will focus on a victory, and pray for a Dallas Cowboys loss.

Where Are You?
The defense has seemingly disappeared. After two bad weeks, everything culminated in yesterday's travesty. You have never seen a performance this bad in Tampa Bay. You may never see one again. The Bucs allowed the Chargers to score 41 points, which is the most any team has scored against the Bucs at home in 15 years. Philip Rivers threw for 4 touchdowns, which is a career high for him. The Chargers had 21 first downs, and were 7-for-13 on third down conversions. They gained 370 total yards, and Rivers was only subjected to one sack. The offense gained almost 7 yards per play. When it wasn't the offense getting it done, it was the special teams. The Chargers average starting position for 11 drives was their own 40-yard line. In the past 3 weeks, the Bucs have allowed 1,207 total yards, given up 92 points, and are allowing their opponents to have a 57% third down conversion rate. The defense never looks this bad, and it is especially disheartening, considering that Monte Kiffin has a minimum of one game left with Tampa. In his final games, his defense is looking worse than it has in a long time. The defense is their rock, and without good play, the Bucs are subject to crumble.

Heed My Warning
In my game preview, I said that Philip Rivers would be the X-factor in this game. It's times like this that I would have preferred being wrong. Rivers was 21/31 for 287 yards and a career high 4 touchdowns. In the past 5 weeks, Rivers has thrown 11 touchdowns to only 1 interception. He completed passes to 7 different receivers, and 3 different receivers scored. Rivers averaged 9.3 yards per pass, and wasn't pressured very often. He was sacked once, and had only 3 passes batted down. LaDainian Tomlinson had only 90 rushing yards, giving the defense a break from getting run over. It was Rivers, however, that kept the Chargers rolling. San Diego may be only 7-8 this year, but what Rivers is doing is certainly not reflective of their standings. The Bucs haven't really had much trouble against the passing game this year, but in their recent downfalls, everything is changing.

Some Needed Praise
I have not sent a lot of love Antonio Bryant's way. I wasn't sure about him coming into the season, but he has done nothing but impress me. Bryant was once again the leading receiver yesterday, grabbing 6 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. He was averaging an astonishing 21.2 yards per catch. Despite his fumble, Bryant really shined as the star on this team. His touchdown catch was 71 yards, and it had to be a bobbled pass, because it just couldn't be that perfect for him. Bryant has done everything right this season, especially replacing the void left by Joey Galloway. As long as he keeps his nose clean, Bryant is someone that I would like to see stick with the Bucs for a long time.

Game Notes:

• Jimmy Wilkerson recorded his 5th sack of the season. He had one sack in his previous five seasons.
• Matt Bryant's 49-yard field goal tied his longest of the season, and left him one field goal behind Martin Gramatica for the most field goals in a single season in Buccaneers history.
• Jeff Garcia's 7-yard rushing touchdown was the 26th of his career.
• The Bucs had a drive lasting 7:19, making it the longest drive in terms of time off the clock for the Bucs this season.
• The Bucs have scored 337 points this season, which is the third best mark in team history. They scored 388 points in 2000, and 346 points in 2002, a mark they could break next week.
• Since the NFL realigned to eight four-team divisions in 2002, all of the 36 teams that started the season 8-3 or better went on to make the playoffs.
• The 41 points allowed by the Buccaneers yesterday is the most points given up at home since 1993.

We all know what needs to happen this week. The Cowboys need to lose, and the Bucs need to win. They are facing the Raiders, so it seems like a victory should be inevitable. In any case, the Raiders have been playing better as of late, and we know what has been going on with the Bucs. The most important thing is that the Cowboys need to lose. If they lose, then the Bucs can control their own destiny. If the Bucs lose, then the Cowboys or Eagles are in. If Dallas wins, then Tampa is immediately out. I can't say that it's not exciting watching the season go down to the final game, but I don't know if I have another heart attack in me.

The Chargers have definitely disappointed this year. Once Super Bowl favorites, they are out of the playoffs and two games under .500. They may be underachieving, but they are still very much a dangerous team. They are led largely by Philip Rivers, who has had an extraordinary season. The passing game is ranked 7th in the league. Then there's LaDainian Tomlinson, who has had a rough year. The rushing game is ranked 27th in the league, but Tomlinson is poised to break out at any time. Rivers biggest target is Vincent Jackson, who is closing in on 1,000 yards this year, but is questionable this week with a concussion. Combined, their offense ranks 7th in the league in points per game, and 14th in total yards. Their biggest problem has been their defense, which is ranked 16th in points allowed, 25th in total yards, and is ranked 12th against the rush, and 31st against the pass. They have faced some tough competition, but they have also lost against lesser opponents.

Key Matchup:
Bucs Defense vs. Philip Rivers
The easy way to go here would be to say that LaDainian Tomlinson is the biggest threat for the Bucs. They've had a few tough weeks against the run, and LT is LT. But Tomlinson hasn't been the X-Factor that he once was. Instead, Rivers has taken control of this team. Rivers is one of the top QB's in the league in passing yards and touchdowns. He has 28 touchdowns this year, which is a career best. He also has a career best in passing yards. In the past four games, Rivers has thrown 7 touchdowns to only 1 interception. Rivers has never played against the Bucs, but has a 99.5 quarterback rating against the NFC South, and has thrown 6 touchdowns to 1 interception against them in 4 career games. Rivers doesn't crack under pressure, and has the ability to make the big play when it matters.
The Bucs haven't really had a problem against the pass this year. They haven't allowed anyone to pass for 300 yards or more against them. They've faced some good quarterbacks, and they've held the majority of them in check. Philip Rivers is a man who led his team to the AFC Championship game last year, and could have won, had it not been for a torn ACL. Rivers is now healed, and is playing some of the best football of his career. While they will be putting a lot of focus on Tomlinson, it is Rivers that they need to worry about. Every game that they have won, they have won because of Rivers. It's not fair to say that every game they've lost they've lost because of him, but his play certainly affected the outcome. Nevertheless, Rivers is one dangerous player. The Bucs ego is probably still hurting from the past two weeks, so they could be vulnerable. Either that, or they are royally pissed from what they've had to go through. One way or another, Rivers is going to be a big part of the outcome of this game.

The Bucs offensive rankings have really fallen over the past two weeks. They rank 19th in points per game, 13th in total yards, 13th in rushing yards, and 12th in passing yards. The offense also ranks 10th in first downs passing, 9th in fourth down conversions, 7th in total passing plays, and 5th in total offensive plays. Jeff Garcia's status for this week is still uncertain. The Bucs are not a bad offensive team, but last week they couldn't get anything going. The defense, while still good, has also taken a little bit of a hit. They are ranked 5th in points per game allowed and 9th in total yards allowed. They are a dismal 20th against the run, but are a fantastic 3rd against the pass, which looks good for this week. They also rank 4th in defensive touchdowns, and 3rd in interceptions.

If I keep talking about how important this game is, I would feel long-winded. I want to keep this short and sweet. The Bucs need to win. That's it. The Bucs have to win out the rest of the season in order to make the playoffs. Yes, other teams need to lose, but the most important thing is that the Bucs have to win. At this point, they control their own destiny. It's that simple. Win, and you're in. Lose, and you're probably going home. The Bucs have two lesser opponents in the coming weeks, but anything can happen. No win is ever guaranteed.

Not Enough Offense
Brian Griese was the man that propelled the Bucs in the early stages of the season. In fact, he led them to a victory over Atlanta in Week 2. If anyone could beat Atlanta, it would be him, right? Let's get this straight. Griese had a good game. He threw for 269 yards and a score. You really couldn't have asked for much more. Unfortunately, they needed more. Cadillac Williams had a big day, as did Antonio Bryant. Their big days simply weren't enough. The Bucs had 19 first downs, but were only 3-for-14 on third downs. They punted the ball 9 times, and committed 11 penalties. Griese was sacked 4 times, and threw an interception. With the turnovers and failed opportunities, it's kind of hard for the offense to get going. 11 of the Buccaneers 13 drives either ended with a punt, interception, or missed field goal. The Bucs gained 99 total rushing yards, and have still not had a 100-yard rusher since Earnest Graham went on the injured reserve. Brian Griese did what he could to lead this team, but he too, is out of magic.

Still Can't Stop the Run
Once again, the Buccaneers gave up a rushing touchdown and a 100-yard rusher. Michael Turner blew by the Bucs for 152 yards and a touchdown. In all, the Falcons ran for 175 yards. This is statistically a vast improvement from last week, but it still hurts. Had the Bucs held Turner in check, this would have been a different game. Without Turner's touchdown, the Falcons would have been down 10-3. If not for Turner's big run in overtime, the drive might have ended, and the Bucs could have gotten the ball back. The defense couldn't stop Turner when it mattered, which ultimately proved the difference in the outcome. Matt Ryan threw 2 interceptions, and a punt was blocked, so it is hard to see how the Bucs lost. Turner's big game kept several Atlanta drives alive, eating away time on the clock. As mentioned, it was Turner who kept the Falcons alive in overtime. The Bucs, who had been so good against the run, have now lost two straight games because of it.

Looking Better
After last week, the Bucs defense had a lot to prove. When you count out the running game, they did their job. The Bucs held the Falcons to only 13 points in over 4 quarters of play. Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib both grabbed interceptions. Tanard Jackson sacked Matt Ryan. He also forced a fumble, as did Jermaine Phillips and Kevin Carter. Phillip Buchanon recovered one of the fumbles. Brian Clark even blocked a punt. Ultimately, the defense looked good. Matt Ryan was held to only 206 yards passing, putting together a 57.5 quarterback rating. The Bucs held the Falcons to 6 third down conversions, and forced them to punt 6 times. 9 of the Falcons 13 drives ended with a punt or a turnover. The loss may not look good, but the defense really did. Had they controlled the running game better, this game probably would have turned out different.

Game Notes:

• Warrick Dunn became the 6th player in NFL history to have 10,000 rushing yards and 500 receptions in his career.
• Ronde Barber has 4 interceptions in the past 4 games. His 37 career interceptions is the most in team history.
• Chris Hovan missed Sunday's game, marking the first time he has missed a game in his career. He had played in 45 straight games since joining the Bucs in 2005.
• The Bucs gave up a rushing touchdown and a 100-yard rusher in consecutive games for the first time this season.
• Brian Clark blocked his first punt of the season.
• The Bucs lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

With their playoff chances hanging in the balance, the Bucs desperately need to win their next two games. New York, Carolina, Dallas and Atlanta are the teams that will help decide the Bucs fate this season. New York needs to beat Carolina to wrap up the top seed in the playoffs. With a Carolina loss, the Bucs can move up a game in the division. With losses by Atlanta and Dallas, the Bucs will be the top team in the wild card race. The Bucs can get one of two wild card spots, which are currently occupied by the latter two teams. Last season, the Bucs had already secured a playoff spot, and they rested their starters for the final two games of the season, losing both. This year, they have to win their remaining games. They should have it easy, facing San Diego and Oakland as the season ends. If they lose one game, their playoff chances are more than likely shot. Monte Kiffin has a minimum of two games left with the team. If he wants to be around longer, than he needs to get his defense to the top of its game if he wants the season to continue beyond Oakland.

The Falcons are a vastly different team than they were in Week 2. They've matured into one tough team. After suffering through a non-existent offense last year, they are fully benefiting from their rebuilding phase. Their offense ranks 9th in the league in points per game. The offense is led by rookie Matt Ryan, who has thrown for almost 3,000 yards in his first year. He will most certainly eclipse that mark this week, as he needs only 60 yards to do so. Even so, the passing game is ranked 13th in the league. Along with Ryan, there is the other first year Falcon, Michael Turner, making all the difference. Turner has rushed for over 1,200 yards in his first full season as a starter. He leads a running game ranked 2nd in the league. Ryan's top target, Roddy White, has over 1,200 receiving yards this year. Their offense is ranked 5th in total yards per game. Their defense isn't overwhelming, but they still get the job done. They are ranked 11th in points allowed, 22nd in total yards allowed, 22nd in rushing yards, and 23rd in passing yards allowed.

Key Matchup:
Bucs Defense vs. Michael Turner
We all know what happened last week with the Bucs. There is really no reason to go over it all. The only thing I can say is that the defense is now more vulnerable than ever. In comes Michael Turner, who is second in the league in rushing yards. He even has more yards than the man he sat behind all those years in San Diego. Obviously, this has been a career year for Turner. 300 carries is a career high. So is 1,269 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He is averaging 97.6 yards per game, which is a scary foreshadowing for the Bucs. Another scary game about Turner is his numbers at home. 672 yards and 12 touchdowns, as opposed to 2 touchdowns on the road. 13 of his 14 touchdowns come in domes. He's also very prolific against the division this year, averaging almost 75 yards per game, scoring 6 touchdowns in those matchups, none of which, came against the Bucs.
If there is anything for the Bucs to look forward to, it is the fact that they held Turner to only 42 rushing yards in their last meeting. He averaged an abysmal 3.0 yards per carry on 14 carries. The biggest question surrounding the team now is whether or not they can shake off Monday's loss. They absolutely need to, and they need to do it immediately. Turner has rushed for over 100 yards in two of his last four games, scoring 7 touchdowns in that span. He only ran for 61 yards last week, but still scored a touchdown. We all know that the Bucs have it in them to stop this guy. They did it in Week 2, and they can do it again. Unfortunately, that's what they thought about the Panthers running backs. The Bucs will be looking for revenge, and they will smash anybody in their way. I just hope that Michael Turner is the first of their victims.

The Bucs offense wasn't bad last week, but their rankings took a huge drop. They fell to 17th in points per game. They are ranked 12th in total yards, 13th in rushing yards, and 12th in passing yards. The offense is ranked 9th in third down conversions, 8th in fourth down conversions, 8th in total passing plays, and 6th in total offensive plays. Now the big question is about Jeff Garcia's status for Sunday. He has been limited in practice with a bad calf, and it is unknown whether he will play or not. It appears that Luke McCown would get the start if Garcia can't go. McCown hasn't played since last season, and if he were to start, despair would be more relevant than ever. Even with the offense reeling, the defense is still one of the best out there. Forget last week's embarrassment. Forget their dropping in the rankings. This defense is still as good as any one out there. Even after allowing 38 points last week, the defense still ranks 5th in the league in points allowed. They are ranked 9th in total yards allowed. They took a huge hit with their running game ranking, dropping to a lowly 19th against the run. They are still okay with the passing game, ranking 4th against the pass. They are also ranked 3rd in the league in interceptions and defensive touchdowns.

Even if the Bucs don't win this week, they can still make the playoffs with losses by Dallas and Philadelphia. No team should ever have to rely on another to get them into the playoffs. The Bucs need to win this week to keep their playoff hopes alive. They also need to win to ensure that they still have a shot at winning the division. Stopping the run will be detrimental to the Bucs chances of victory. The season is not over yet, but this game now eclipses last week's game as the most important of the season. The Panthers won, which means that the Bucs need to finish the season without a blemish if they still have hopes of winning the NFC South. Unfortunately, they have to rely on the Panthers to lose. With a loss this week, the season may not be over, but the Bucs just might be too deflated to continue on.

Can't Stop the Run
It was exactly what I was afraid of. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart made the Bucs look downright stupid. The Bucs hadn't given up 200 rushing yards in a single game this season. Only one player had a rushing touchdown and a 100-yard rushing game against them. This fierce, vaunted defense made it impossible for running backs to do what they do best. Adrian Peterson, Ryan Grant, Michael Turner, Matt Forte. These are some of the backs the Bucs have faced, and not one of them even passed the century mark in rushing yards while playing them. If only it had stayed that way. The Bucs had given up 1 rushing touchdown all season, leading the league in that category. Last night, they gave up four. They had allowed only one 100-yard rusher on the season. Last night, they allowed both Williams and Stewart to rush for over 100 yards. Perhaps the most embarrassing statistic is the Panthers total rushing yards: 299. It has been a long time since someone has rushed for almost 300 yards against a Monte Kiffin defense. It had to happen in a year when the defense was once again so good, so revered.

Choking In the Spotlight
The loss, the rushing yards allowed, the fact that they fell to second in the division. These are things that hurt when I think about last night. But perhaps the thing that hurts the most is that the Bucs looked pathetic on national television. The Bucs don't get these opportunities all the time. Sure, they have two Sunday Night games this year, but those are the first Sunday Night games the Bucs have ever played. Last night was their first Monday Night game in two seasons. They were 9-3, and one of the least respected teams in the league. They deserved some attention. What they got, however, was negative attention. The Bucs didn't look focused, and their defense shamed their own name. It appears they all took the night off, sans Barrett Ruud and Sabby Piscitelli, who both played extremely hard all night. With last night's debacle, the Bucs aren't going to be looked at as an elite team. Nobody payed attention to them before, and nobody will pay attention to them now, even though they still deserve it.

Bright Spots
If there was anything good to come out of last night's game, it was the performances of Antonio Bryant and Cadillac Williams. Bryant had a career day, catching 9 passes for 200 yards, becoming only the second Buccaneer receiver to have 200 receiving yards in a single game. He made plenty of big plays, including two touchdown catches, and one that set them up at the goal line. While other receivers were catching little dropoff's, Bryant was making the Panthers secondary miss him time and time again. Then there is Cadillac Williams. Yes, he only ran the ball 9 times for 22 yards, but it was the simple things that made him shine. Williams showed an explosiveness that some feared had been lost. No, he is not back to his rookie status, but he showed that the Cadillac inside him is still there. Then there was the touchdown. Yes, it was a touchdown, but it was so much more than that. It was on that field, one year ago, that Williams suffered his potentially career-ending injury. He never gave up hope, and he fought his way back into the league. Last night, he took the ball into the end zone on the field that had nearly ruined his life. His will and spirit can give hope to anyone.

Game Notes:

• Antonio Bryant became only the second Buccaneer ever to have more than 200 receiving yards in a single game. The single-game record is 212 yards, held by Mark Carrier.
• Ronde Barber's second quarter interception extended his streak of interceptions to three games.
• The 52-yard pass to Antonio Bryant was the Bucs longest pass play of the year.
• With passes of 52 and 50 yards, the Bucs now have three passing plays of over 40 yards this season.
• The Bucs are now 6-2 in games where their opponent has scored first.
• The Bucs have not scored an offensive touchdown in the first quarter since Week 7.
• Antonio Bryant's 200 receiving yards was a career high.

With the Carolina victory, the Panthers move to 10-3, and are the top team in the division. The Bucs will play Atlanta next week, which, now, more than ever, is an extremely important game. The Bucs beat Atlanta last time, but the Falcons are a different team than before. All is not yet lost for the Bucs. Carolina has a tougher schedule ahead of them, which includes the New York Giants. The Bucs will get San Diego and Oakland after Carolina. A division championship for the Bucs is still conceivable, but one thing has to happen first. The Panthers have to lose. The Bucs need to go 3-0 for the rest of the season, and Carolina needs to suffer at least one loss. Three losses would be nice, but we need to be realistic. This season is going down to the wire for the Bucs. Let's just hope they can handle the pressure.

The Panthers have had some easy opponents to deal with this year, but they are no slouch. Jake Delhomme has made a resurgence this year, and leads a passing game ranked 22nd in the league. What Delhomme lacks, his running game makes up for it. DeAngelo Williams, fueled by a 4-touchdown performance last week, leads a running game ranked 7th in the league. There is also Delhomme's multi-talented weapon in Steve Smith, who is less than 50 receiving yards away from 1,000 on the season. With these two aspects combined, the Panthers rank 14th in the league in points per game, and 17th in total yards. Their defense has also benefited from the resurgent offense. They rank 7th in points allowed, 11th in total yards per game, 18th against the run, and 12th against the pass. Unfortunately for them, they are having to deal with injuries to several defensive players.

Key Matchup:
Bucs Defense vs. DeAngelo Williams
We all know that the Bucs have given up only one 100-yard rusher on the season. No, it wasn't DeAngelo Williams in Week 6 of this season. His 4-touchdown game last week wasn't a fluke. In fact, he has rushed for over 100 yards in 4 of his last 5 games, and has scored a touchdown in 5 straight games. He has reached the 100-yard mark in 5 games, and has scored a touchdown in 6 of them. He didn't really show up until Week 5, but quickly fell back to earth against the Bucs. His worst game of the season was in fact, against Tampa, where he ran for only 27 yards. In 5 career games against the Bucs, Williams has run for only 171 yards and 2 touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Bucs, Williams is just as good at home as he is on the road. While he has more rushing yards at home, he has one more touchdown on the road, thanks in large part to last week. He is also playing his best football in November, running for more yards and touchdowns (8) than in the previous two months.
The Bucs have already faced some of the top running backs in the league, shutting down all of them. While they've faced Williams once this season, he is clearly a different back than before. While that one game still lingers in their mind, the Bucs defense should feel confident about what they've done. Adrian Peterson didn't gain 100 yards against them, nor did he score a touchdown. Michael Turner didn't run for 100 yards or a touchdown. Reggie Bush, Matt Forte, Marion Barber and Julius Jones are among other running backs who failed to accomplish this feat. The Bucs are hoping that the Chiefs game was just a fluke, and they've proven it so far. However, they have a few more tests this season, including LaDainian Tomlinson later on. With what Williams has been accomplishing, the Bucs have to be careful. Evidently, he is on a roll, and it looks as if there is no stopping him. Obviously, the Bucs hope otherwise.

While their rankings took a hit this week, the Bucs are still a good offensive team. They moved up to 17th in the league in points. They are ranked 14th in total yards, 11th in rushing yards, and 12th in passing yards. They are also ranked 10th in total rushing plays, 8th in fourth down conversions, 6th in total passing plays, and 4th in total offensive plays. The offense's numbers are down, but the defense, however, is continuing to look better and better. They are ranked 4th in the league in points allowed, 4th in total yards allowed, 9th in rushing yards allowed, and 3rd in passing yards allowed, moving down only one spot after allowing almost 300 yards last week. They are ranked 3rd in defensive touchdowns, and 3rd in interceptions.

If I keep restating the importance of this game, I might lose my mind. Then again, if the Bucs lose, I might lose it still. The division isn't a pushover like it was last year. This time, there are four very legitimate teams, three of which are still fighting. Two of those teams will lock up this week, and at that point, the division will be decided. This game is not only important for the status of the division, but since it's on national television, it could mean a lot more to the Bucs. They haven't been on MNF in 2 years, so their wait is well overdue. If they can produce in an important game, then America might notice. But if all else fails, then hopefully they just win the most important game of the season.

Containing The Brees
If the Bucs wanted to win yesterday, they knew that they had to stop NFL MVP-candidate Drew Brees. Yes, he threw for two touchdowns. Yes, he threw for 296 yards. But the Bucs, indeed, did stop him. Maybe it was the weather conditions, but I'd like to believe it was the defense pressuring Brees. Brees missed 22 passes, several of which were drops. He was also intercepted three times, including one in the final minutes that sealed a Buccaneers victory. Although the Saints had better numbers, it was the mistakes that cost them the game. The running game is not to blame. They carried the ball only 18 times the whole game. Therefore, the blame can be placed on Brees. While 14 of the Saints first downs came via the pass, it was the interceptions that were the most costly. Only one of the interceptions turned into points, but it was the game-winning field goal. The final interception is the one that ended the game for the Saints, when they could have potentially tied the game.

Saving The Running Game
With the loss of their top running back, the Bucs looked as if they might suffer in the running game. Fortunately, that has not been the case. After a big game last week, Warrick Dunn turned in another beautiful performance, carrying the ball 22 times for 74 yards. Surprisingly, Jeff Garcia was second on the team in rushing yards, carrying the ball 7 times for 42 yards. But the most endearing performance came in the part of Cadillac Williams. He carried the ball only 4 times, gaining only 20 yards, but it was what he did in the third quarter that stood out the most. The Bucs had a 1st-and-goal early in the third quarter. The call went to Williams, who ran the sideline 8 yards into the end zone. Not only did that touchdown put the Bucs up 13-10, but it spoke volumes for what Williams had been through. He had been out of football for over a year, and the 2005 Rookie of the Year was hearing rumors that he may never play again. After enduring months of intense rehab, Williams did the unthinkable and returned to the game. His first touchdown meant the world to what he's been through.

Still Commanding The Ship
It was a Week 1 loss against the Saints that found Jeff Garcia on the bench. After sitting for almost 4 games, Garcia was inserted back into the lineup as a starter. Since then, he has gone 6-1 as a starter, and has been leading the team ever since. Perhaps it took a game like this to remind us of what he means to the team. He was far from perfect, completing only 9 passes the entire game. His 119 passing yards don't jump off the stat sheet. Even his one touchdown is subject to criticism. But it was Garcia's leadership that led the Bucs on a rainy, windy Sunday. When the team needed a win, Garcia stepped up, and took control. The Bucs fell behind at halftime, but it didn't take long for Garcia to drive them down the field for a score. He then led the Bucs on two more scoring drives, including a 39-yard touchdown pass of his own. His 42 rushing yards kept the Bucs going as much as his passing yards did. A win over the team that caused his benching can mean complete vindication for Garcia. He's still here, and he's still leading his team.

Game Notes:

• For the 7th time this year, the Bucs have allowed their opponent to score first.
• The victory yesterday was the 100th of Jon Gruden's career. Gruden is the third-youngest head coach to reach 100 career wins.
• The Bucs 9-3 record matches the best start in team history. They were 9-3 in the 1979 season, and the 2002 Super Bowl season.
• Jon Gruden is the first coach ever in the NFC South to have consecutive winning seasons.
• Antonio Bryant led the team in receptions and receiving yards yesterday, marking the 7th time this season he has led or tied for the lead in both receptions and receiving yards.
• Tampa's 9th victory of the season has assured Jon Gruden of his first back-to-back winning seasons as the Bucs coach.
• Tampa Bay is 3-0 when Antonio Bryant scores a touchdown.
• Cato June recorded his first interception of the season, his second as a Buccaneer, and the 12th of his career.

The Bucs won their first of three very important games. Next week is Carolina, which is an absolute must win game for the Bucs. Green Bay almost knocked them off, but Carolina came back for the victory. The Panthers and the Bucs share the same record, but the Bucs own the tie-breaker. While they beat the Panthers 27-3 in their last meeting, I don't see such a one-sided affair for this week. America will get to watch this battle live, as the Bucs get to enjoy their second primetime game of the season, this time on Monday Night Football. This is a premier opportunity for the Bucs to show America just what they're made of. Another beat down of their rival would look good, but let's just focus on a victory. Their season relies on this game.

The Saints have their troubles, but really boast a terrific offense. The Saints are led by one of the better quarterbacks in the game in Drew Brees, who leads the top-ranked passing game in the league. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas lead a 27th ranked rushing game, and are more valuable than their numbers suggest. Brees' top receiver, Lance Moore, has 7 receiving touchdowns. Combined, the Saints are ranked 3rd in the league in points per game, averaging almost 29 per game. They are ranked 1st in total yards, averaging almost 412 total yards per game. As good as their offense is, it is their defense that gives them troubles. They are ranked 24th in points allowed, 22nd in total yards allowed, 18th in rushing yards allowed, and 24th in passing yards allowed. They look better than they were last year, but giving up big numbers is negating the big numbers their offense gets.

Key Matchup:
Bucs Defense vs. Drew Brees
Drew Brees is easily one of the better quarterbacks in the game. He leads the league in passing yards and passing yards per game. He is still on pace for breaking the single-season passing yards record. At this point, Brees has 3,574 passing yards, and has 22 touchdowns passes to compliment him. This season alone, Brees has gone over 300 yards passing in 6 games, including one against the Bucs. He also has 2 games where he's thrown for more than 400 yards. His season-high was 422 yards, coming against Atlanta just a few weeks ago. He has passed for less than 300 yards only 3 times this season, with his season-low being 216 yards. Not only does he have good numbers this season, but he has good numbers against the Buccaneers. In the 6 times he's played the Bucs in his career, Brees has accumulated a 104.7 passer rating, completed 68.4% of his passes, has thrown for 1,487 yards, and has 12 touchdowns to only 4 interceptions. In his last game against the Bucs, he threw for 343 yards. It was the first loss of the season for the Bucs, and one of only three this year. Drew Brees is going to be the catalyst in this game. It is up to the defense to slow him down, if they want a shot at a win.
The Saints have been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde all season long. The Bucs defense, has not. If they want to see the bad side of the Saints, then they will mess with Drew Brees. The defense has been very solid against the passing game all year long. With every victory, it has been the elimination of the passing and running game that has propelled the Bucs. The defense has held their opponents to under 200 passing yards in 7 games this season. That includes a game where they held their opponent to only 73 yards passing. Only four times have they allowed more than 200 passing yards. One of those games, they gave up a season-high 343 passing yards. That game was Week 1 of the season, to none other than Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. If the Bucs want to win this game, then they surely know the importance of stopping Brees. The Saints aren't loaded with talent at the receiver position, but Brees can make a Pro Bowler out of nobody. In order to stop the Saints, the Bucs need to get to Brees and make him make mistakes.

Even though their numbers and rankings are down, you can't underestimate the Bucs. Their offense has taken a hit, but they still rank 16th in points per game, 12th in total yards, 13th in rushing yards, and 11th in passing yards. They are also 6th in total passing plays, 7th in total offensive plays, 8th in first downs passing, and 9th in third down conversions. The defense continues to look as good as ever, ranking 3rd in the league in points allowed per game, allowing only 16 points per game. They are 4th in total yards allowed, holding teams to an average of 274.7 total yards per game. They are ranked 13th against the run, but we all know that numbers can be deceiving. The defense has moved up to a ranking of 2nd in the league against the pass, allowing only 175 passing yards per game. They are also ranked 7th in interceptions and 2nd in defensive touchdowns.

The Bucs know that this game is as important as they come. At 8-3, they have a chance to match their win total for all of 2007 in Week 13 of this season. This game is important for the Bucs, as the division is a tight one this year. The Saints sit at the bottom of the NFC South, but they are still not a team to be counted out. Although their most important game is against Carolina, the Bucs need 2 victories heading into that game to keep in contention. At this point, the Bucs hold the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. There is no underestimating this game and its importance. It can't be stressed enough. The Bucs will have a tough game ahead of them, and a win is the only thing that can be tolerated in their situation.

The Backup Becomes the Starter
After losing Earnest Graham for the season, the Bucs turned to Warrick Dunn, the former Buccaneer and Falcon. Dunn answered the call, running the ball 14 times for 90yards and a touchdown, and also catching 5 passes for 37 yards. While his numbers aren't eye-popping, it was one of his better performances of the season, in a time when the Bucs needed him to come through. What his performance says about him, is that he can still be a leader for this team. After spending 6 years in Atlanta, Dunn returned to a team that wasn't in dire need of a running back. Dunn had to prove himself worthy of a spot on the team, and in doing so, also regained the respect of his teammates. Dunn kept the offense going when they needed him too. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry, and even took one 40 yards. When he was catching passes, he was averaging 7.4 yards per catch. When the Bucs needed to milk the clock in the second half, Dunn did his job, earning 48 of his 90 yards in the second half. Dunn was also responsible for converting a key third down on a drive that led to a Tampa touchdown.

The Performance of Heroes
This game in particular stood out for some Buccaneers heroes. Not only did Warrick Dunn have a masterful game, but yesterday saw the return of Cadillac Williams, who carried the ball for the first time in over a year. After suffering a potentially career-ending knee injury, Williams defied the odds, and returned to the field. His performance wasn't mind-boggling, but he did carry the ball 16 times for 27 yards, which is a huge testament to what he has had to go through to get to this point. Then there is Clifton Smith, the kid from nowhere. He continued to bedazzle the Bucs return game, returning 4 punts for 90 yards, and 5 kickoffs for 142 yards. In the first quarter, Smith returned a kick for 49 yards, setting up an eventual Buccaneers touchdown. Then, in the third quarter, Smith took one 70 yards to pay dirt. It took the Bucs 32 years to get one kickoff return for a touchdown, and Smith has taken back two this season in a matter of three games. The kid they call Peanut is starting to make people pay attention to the Bucs special teams.

That Defense of Ours
As a Tampa fan, how could you not be proud of this defense? Okay, so they allowed 20 points to a hapless Lions team, but that was about the only downside to yesterday's game. They allowed 17 points in the first quarter, and held the Lions to only a field goal the rest of the game. They held the Lions to 207 total yards and only 9 first downs. The Lions were only 4-for-14 on third downs. The defense forced two fumbles, recovering one. Ronde Barber had 2 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. The defense was also responsible for 4 sacks, two by rising star Jimmy Wilkerson, one by Greg White, and one by Gaines Adams. The defense even held the Lions to 76 yards of total offense in the second half. Numbers like this keep piling up for the defense, and one star after another emerges. It's not just that the Detroit offense is bad. The Buccaneers defense continues to improve week after week, taking down everyone in their path.

Game Notes:

• Tampa Bay's 21-point second quarter is tied for the third-most points scored in a quarter in franchise history.
• The 38 points scored by the Bucs matches the most points for a Bucs team in a road game in their history.
• The 17-point deficit that the Bucs overcame is tied for the second largest ever erased by the Bucs in a victory. The record, 21 points, was accomplished earlier this season against Kansas City.
• Jeff Garcia's 165 passing yards moved him into 7th place on the Bucs all-time passing list.
• Ronde Barber has 11 career regular-season touchdowns on fumble/interception returns, which is the most among active players, and third most in NFL history.
• With a punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, Clifton Smith became the first Buccaneer to ever return a kickoff and a punt return for a touchdown, not just in one season, but in franchise history.
• Warrick Dunn's 40-yard run in the third quarter was his longest run since rejoining the Buccaneers.
• Yesterday was Ronde Barber's 6th career multi-interception game.
• Jimmy Wilkerson's two sacks yesterday give him three on the season, a career-high.

With a Carolina loss yesterday, the Bucs moved into a tie for first place in the division. The Bucs will spend the next three weeks facing their division, all must win games. New Orleans will come next week, which will be an interesting matchup for the Bucs. The Saints beat them in the first game of the season, but they have been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ever since. They look good one week, and then fall apart the next. The Bucs will need to win all three games in order to win the division. With a tight conference, it might be hard for the Bucs to get a wild-card spot, even though they are the second best team in the NFC right now.