A: So I take it then you have promoted the Redskins to be as good as the Bucs?  Very possible, and considering it is a road game, it will be a tough game for the Bucs.

SH: Ayuh...reread my last post.  I think the Bucs and Skins are a pretty similar match.  They have a better lead tailback for sure, but no more down the field passing than Bucs. Defenses seem pretty similar strength.  A bit of a hat tip to the Redskins placekicker who for the moment seems more reliable than Matt Bryant.

Agree with your analysis of Saints and why they should be the favorite now for NFC South.  Actually, outside of Weeks 4-6, the Saints have in fact been the Vegas favorite for this division since preseason.

OKAY...lest I seem to always be the harbinger for Bucs doom, I’ll pose this provocative scenario

DALLAS, NYG, GB DET appear to have a pretty solid setup after first half of season.

If they played through, two would win divisions and two would be WCs.

Note that Dallas must go to NY

Det still plays GB twice (plus Dallas and NYG), which I believe puts them in tough spot. But I still see them as WC

TB pulls out South by beating Saints straight up and getting tiebreaker.

SEA staggers out of the West.

FIRST ROUND

TB plays Detroti and WINS

The second WC (NYG or DAL) beats SEA

SECOND ROUND

TB gets GB
NYG and DAL (however they placed) face each other

This gives Bucs legit shot to go to NFC Championship, where they would be at (seemingly) stern disadvantage playing the survivor of the DAL/NYG

OR THEY go 7-9 and we all look forward to next year’s 15th pick in the draft.....heh

I don’t think we disagree about the Redskins - we both think they are about equal with the Bucs.  The Skins do have one problem in that their QB is still an area of concern for them and if you stop them from running, they are in trouble.  The Bucs have other problems that more than offset that issue.

I have to say, the scenario you drew up would exceed my wildest expectations.  As the Saints don’t have much of a schedule, neither do the Bucs from here on out.  Houston is 4-5, Atl is 2-6, Carolina is 4-4 as is New Orleans, Washington is 5-3, San Fran is 2-6.  Not saying these are not tough games, as Houston surprises people, Washington is quite competitive, New Orleans found their offense (while defense stays lost), and the Bucs always have problems out west no matter who is the coach. 

I guess if I am honestly assessing this, I hope the Bucs can win the division but beating out the Saints will be very tough at this point.  I discount Carolina becuase although they have played the Colts and Tenn (and lost to both) they still have teams like Dallas on the schedule and probably will not survive much longer.

Washington’s two stud recievers have been injured. Interchaning one healthy for one hurt one (Randle El And Moss) but recently BOTH are injured and up till this past week, neither (nor any other reciever) had caught a touchdown pass all season. Their advantage is the two headed monster of Portis and Betts, but if we stuff 8 in the box, it should’nt be a problem that we can’t overcome. Thats a W with Washington. San Francisco is NOT going to beat the bucs, whether there or here, Alaska, or the Bahamas, bad weather and time zone doesn’t win games for terrible teams. Carolina and New Orleans have been inconsistent, and we’ve already proven once that we can beat them both, so that should’nt be a problem. We still get Atlanta twice more, which could allow us an undefeated record in yes, a very very weak NFC south this year. Assuming we get the favorable matchup of Detroit as was stated, then we would advance and I, ever the optimistic, think we could surprise Dallas or NY. Tough game, yes, but even with a loss at either, playoffs and division title add up to this : successful season. Jon gruden’s job security.

SteveInClearwater - 24 October 2007 03:48 PM

If the TBay Bucs win ten games, I’ll state now that I’ll be rather astonished.

SH: gulp....

SteveInClearwater - 24 October 2007 03:54 PM

If we’re going to rank the NFC Teams, it’s likely the Bucs could rate no better than ninth.

Only SF, ATL, STL appear to be destined to finish lower than the Bucs.

SH: gulp gulp

And not sure into which thread I posted my Hot Sports Opinion that, “The Saints will win the NFC South”....but in fond memory, we’ll today note

GULP GULP GULP

That crow-flavored koolaid is NASTY.....

Thank goodness I stopped making investments in Bucs games after the Jags beat em.

I was off at the start of the season thinking a good year and best case was 9-7.  The win today was impressive and it appears the Bucs can do far better than that.  McCown was quite impressive in his first start since 2004 for Cleveland.  He put those bad days behind with a very good performance.  For essentially a rookie starter, he played almost as well as Garcia did in week two.  No doubt with Gradkowski the result here would have been different.  McCown still has to learn how to throw the ball away a little better, but besides that his play was amazing for a guy on the bench all year.  At least the Bucs now have it appears a viable guy on the bench behind Garcia - and there is no need to rush him back since McCown did lead the team to a near record 466 yards of offense today.  Get rid of the end zone sack and the miscommuncation between him and Galloway and you have a near perfect performance.

Allen and Gruden deserve congratulations.  Their job is not done this year, but they have already done a lot to save their jobs.  Overcoming 12 on Injured Reserve with a third string RB and QB, a second string Full Back, and a slew of new players , the team is winning games.  For only the second time since realignment, the Bucs are in position to sweep the NFC South with a win against Atlanta at home and Carolina on the road.