Week 5
Bucs at Bengals
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT Channel 13, DirecTV Channel 708. .
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, Cincinnati may be experimenting what the locals call “Indian Summer,” though it may be a bit early for that. Regardless, it will be summer-like in early October. Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 84 and is not expected to deviate from that much if at all throughout the game. Mild winds and virtually no humidity will make for a very, very, very pleasant day.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bengals -7.
Outlook: Joe is not as impressed with the Bengals as many seem to be. Attention-starved children Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens are past their prime. There may not be a more overrated quarterback in the NFL than Carson Palmer. Cedric Benson is, at best, inconsistent. Let’s be honest, the Bucs aren’t world-beaters either but the Bengals lost to the Browns (who the Bucs beat) for crying out loud so how can they be that great? The Bucs have to find running backs that not only can read the holes they are given by the offensive line, but hit those holes before the gaps are plugged by the linebackers, if not avoid tackles which Cadillac Williams has not been doing which is why the Bucs are scrambling, grasping for running backs. Can LeGarrette Blount and Kareem Huggins do that? Joe’s a “Show Me” kinda guy. Neither have shown Joe they can in an NFL regular season game outside of a handful of carries, so Joe is skeptical. While Joe mocks the children the Bengals have at wide receiver, look for them to test Cody Grimm early and often and why not? Until Grimm can demonstrate he is NFL starter-ready, teams will go after him. Hopefully with the bye week, the Bucs have figured out a way to mask the hole at safety.
Video: NFL Films has a preview of what to expect in today’s game.
Fun facts: Bengals cornerback Leon Hall has a three-game streak of an interception each game. … The Bucs have won five consecutive games at Cincinnati. … Kellen Winslow has at least five catches in his last four matchups again the Bengals. … Cincinnati has won five of its past six games against NFC teams.