The Difference Against The Saints
December 27th, 2010
You are now free to move about the cabin ...
Right now Joe’s obsessed with watching the Falcons take out the Saints tonight, which is why Joe’s offering to buy you beer and join him in watching the game.
However, Joe is very much dialed into Sunday’s rematch with the Saints.
As Joe wrote yesterday, yeah, the Saints sealclubbed the Bucs 31-6 in Tampa in October. It was ugly. Raheem Morris’ defense was completely outcoached and outplayed, and the offense was anemic.
But in that game some guy named Blount was standing on the sidelines inactive because the Bucs braintrust didn’t think he was worthy of a helmet. Imagine that!
Now the Saints’ 26th-ranked run defense (before facing Michael Turner tonight) will have LeGarrette Blount to deal with Sunday. My how the landscape has changed.
Joe’s not about to think the Bucs’ defense won’t get carved up like a Christmas ham in New Orleans, but Joe believes the Bucs have the firepower to outscore the Saints.
A short week and a physical game against the Falcons tonight won’t do the Saints any favors. Joe’s not one to wish injury on an opponent, but Joe wouldn’t cry if John Abraham temporarily disabled Drew Brees for a few weeks.
December 27th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
“the Bucs braintrust didn’t think [Blount] was worthy of a helmet. Imagine that!”
It took the Bucs 3 or 4 games to make Blount the feature back. How long did Graham get shelved under Gruden? I don’t blame the coaching staff for bringing Blount along, the way they did. He still has ball control issues and picking up the blitz. Like I said after the Lions game, Joe, “there’s a difference between fumbles and fumbles lost”.
December 27th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
OK, so we know we could really use the Saints losing tonight.
Tell us, how meaningful is the Chicago game? Does Chicago lock up a bye with a philly loss tomorrow, renerding the packers/chicago game meaningless? We need Chicago to bring their A game sunday, because the Giants, despite how bad they are playing, are way better than the redskins.
December 27th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
The short week, and a physical battle should help tampa. The falcons have not lost at home in forever. All of tampa will be rooting for them tonight.
As far as picking up the blitz goes, a good running game is a strong hedge against the blitz.
No one wants a 250 lb Beast loose in their defensive secondary from a missed gap caused by blitzing stunts. I was at the Steelers vs Tampa game when Blount made his “debut”.
I had binoculars, and could see the Steelers looking at each other as Blount drug them down the field saying “WTF” ?
As we all know, this is what a big power back does for a team. Olsen’s offense was not as effective before Blount.
December 27th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Guys don’t forget that we would like the Eagles to lose to the Vikings on Tuesday.
December 27th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Next week, in addition to being a Bucs fan, I’m going to be a Rex Grossman and Jay Cutler fan
December 27th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Joe, I like the way you think.
December 27th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Haha temporarily disabled…..love it! I would’nt mind seeing the big mouth R.White hung out over the middle for Sharper either.
December 27th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
The Bucs could win that game if the defense plays like they just did AND they feed the ball to Blount 25 times
December 27th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
All else aside, I want the picture of Blount hurdling Malloy in poster form!
December 27th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I sure hope the Falcons win tonight. I want to see a no holds barred steel cage match in the dome. Obviously, the Bucs offense will have to win it, but I think it can be done.
December 27th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
I agree that the bucs offense will have to have many big plays, and likely have to score more than 28 to win. A couple of big turnovers and a runback on special teams would also help.
I like the bucs chances. They are young, mean and lean. The Saints are still a little fat and happy after their Super Bowl last year.
December 27th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
@Patrick, the Eagles losing, to the Vikings ? I think Tampa has a better chance of Atlanta beating the Saints.
Even with Brett Favre, I can’t see the eagles losing to minnesota.
Besides, the eagles already clinched their division, so what is the reason they must lose ?
December 27th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
@ Apple roof cleaning & patrick.
I would argue that we need philly to win, only so that pressure is put on Chicago to win next week.
December 27th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I have to favor the Buc making the playoffs. This team has some sort of unbelievable blind luck going for it.
After a schedule full of second, third, fourth string qb’s, Sunday, after Hasselback drives the Hawks downfield like he was playing against air for a TD, he somehow gets hurt and in comes what may be the worst of all the qb’s this team has faced this year. Charlie “the worst” Whitehurst.
He and his brilliant 50 passer rating quickly lead the Hwks into three quarters of ineptitude and the Bucs win again. What an amazing year? Nine wins and they havent beat anyone worth a damn, I don’t know if they are that much better or not at this point. If they win 6 games next year I dont know if I can argue it is a step backward.
I sure hope that the streak continues and Brees is unable to play, because: that will be the only determinative DIFFERENCE!
December 27th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
@ thomas 2.1
What do you want? We won the game by over 3 touchdowns and your still bitching about we played a week schedule and the teams we played have not won this season. We have won 9 times! At the end of each 60 minute game we had more points on the board than the other team did. Just how is that not a good thing? Or do you know of another way to “win” a game? Please feel free to show us your knowledge.
December 27th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
how about a MNF Chat Joe?
December 27th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
@Thomas 2.1
Ask the Jags and Chargers about playing teams with losing records…
December 27th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
thomas 2.1
Cmon man, lets face it. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most wrong, we have been about a nine concerning the bucs this year.
Who knows what the future holds. Next year they may fall back or get better. If they fall back then they will be deserving of bashing.
But what the heck, they can only play the schedule they are given and nine wins in the NFl is very hard to get.
At this moment one can only credible make one evaluation of Rah and Dom – Great Job in 2010.
December 27th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Eric:
Who are you, and what have you done with the REAL Eric?
😉
December 27th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
@JOE: Just did some research and Freeman is the only QB to throw 5 TD passes in a game this season!!!!
December 27th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
eric +1
December 27th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
That picture of Blount hurtling Lawyer Miloi is a CLASSIC!!
December 28th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Falcons d scored yeah!!!!!! Come on birds win this game.
December 28th, 2010 at 12:02 am
LOL, Gav…Wish we had a chat up for this one!
December 28th, 2010 at 12:08 am
ANOTHER Int!!!!!!
Miracles DO happen.
December 28th, 2010 at 12:09 am
It would be awesome If we could but it’s too much work for Joe. But I’m rooting with all I got!
December 28th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Even if the Bucs don’t make the playoffs I would love for a chance to knock the saints out of the playoffs as well. 😀
December 28th, 2010 at 12:20 am
GO FALCONS!!
December 28th, 2010 at 12:46 am
Falcons lose dammit!!!!! Chances just got paper thin small
December 28th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Damn you Mike Smith you stupid dumb***!!!! Why the hell did you punt the stinkin ball?!?!?!?
Whenever we need a team to lose, it never happens!!!!
December 28th, 2010 at 12:54 am
I’m starting to like this “new Eric”.
December 28th, 2010 at 12:56 am
all bucs need is a win next week against the saints and a packer loss to get in
December 28th, 2010 at 12:57 am
I think the Giants have to lose also.
December 28th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Josh, Giants have to lose as well against the Skins. We lose tie breaks to both Packers and Giants, so both have to lose if we win. Cool thing is we have the early game, they both have the late game, so if we win, we’ll be able to keep an eye on both those other games late to see if we’re in or not.
December 28th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Chances that Rex Grossman will lead the Deadskins to victory over the Giants are slim. But it needs to happen for us to make the playoffs.
The Bears are a good team so there’s a good chance that the Packers can lose that game. But the Redskins beating the Giants- not very likely.
Oh, and f*** the Seahawks for being 6-9 and still alive for a playoff berth. Especially after the @$$ whoopin we gave them yesterday. f*** the whole NFC West!!!!
December 28th, 2010 at 1:05 am
I thought this season was going to be a ‘rebuilding year’ for my ulcers and heart issues. Apparently not.
December 28th, 2010 at 1:05 am
We have to get a W against the saints first who could maybe be resting Brees
December 28th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Or Philly could lose out…
December 28th, 2010 at 1:12 am
@Gavster
No way in hell philly already clinched playoff spot
December 28th, 2010 at 1:22 am
If Philly and the Bucs both finished 10-6, I think the Bucs would have the tiebreaker.
So maybe we should root for the Giants to win the division??
December 28th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Philly didn’t clinch lol they can clinch with a win problem is rey play vikings and Dallas so way out there but hey… Any given Tuesday
December 28th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Dallas can beat Philly, but I don’t think the Vikings can. Ever since Dallas fired Wade Phillips, they’ve been looking like the team they should’ve been all along
December 28th, 2010 at 1:38 am
Stephen McGee would start ehh….
December 28th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Philly already clinched the East. That’s because the best the Giants can do is tie them (with 2 Philly losses and a NYG win, they both end up 10-6), but Philly swept them head-to-head.
There’s only one path to the playoffs for the Bucs:
Bucs beat NO, AND
Was beats NYG, AND
Chi beats GB.
I’d put the odds that all that happens at about 1 in 10. (If they were all 50-50 coin flips, odds would be 1 in 8).
As pissed as I am about the Falcons screwing up and losing (only an IDIOT punts the ball away to a team that just needs to run out the clock), I’m super-pumped about next week’s game. That game will feel like the playoffs, which is great experience for this young team no matter what happens in the other games.
Oh, and I’m rooting for the Eagles tomorrow night. If the Eagles lose, then the Bears clinch the 2nd seed and have nothing to play for against GB.
December 28th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Well I guess something good could come out of this win by the Saints. Maybe they’ll sit their starters next week.
December 28th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Go Bucs
December 28th, 2010 at 9:49 am
as if the game didn’t piss me off enough. while being interviewed after the game brees makes the comment that they hope for help from the panthers so they’ll win the division and be the 1 seed. no mention (respect?) for the game they have in stopping the bucs. screw drew and his receding hairline.