Gameday Tampa Bay
September 14th, 2014Game 2
St. Louis Lambs at Tampa Bay
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m.
TV: WTVT-TV Channel 13, DirecTV Channel 716.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St.Petersburg region); SiriusXM Channel 91.
Weather: Per Weather.com, kickoff temperature will be 88 degrees with a “feels-like” temperature of 95. There’s a 40 percent chance of rain at kickoff that is forecast to escalate to 50 percent during the game. Wind will be light (assuming there’s no storm) and temperatures will drop to 85 by game’s end.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Buccaneeers -5.5
Outlook: If there is such a thing as a “must-win” game in September, then this is it. You can’t lose two home games to start a season, against two conference opponents, against two backup quarterbacks, and have sane expectations for a good season. Frankly, Joe would almost be scared to watch the Bucs at the Falcons on Thursday night if Tampa Bay can’t pull out a win today. Just win. Find a way. That’s all the Bucs must do today.
Josh McCown really is the key against the Lambs, even more so than the committee of inexperienced edge rushers who will try and replace injured Michael Johnson (ankle) and Adrian Clayborn (biceps surgery). The Bucs’ defense will be ok against the likes of Rams backup Shaun Hill, or Austin Davis or Case Keenum. They’ll keep running back Zac Stacy from going wild. It’s McCown who has to play like a professional for four quarters. No more high school stunts trying to make plays because he was forcing the game.
Again, Joe’s not worried about the defense, but they still will need to force their first turnover of the season. Somebody not named Gerald McCoy, please step up and make a play. Especially on Derrick Brooks Ring of Honor Day and with a load of glory days Buccaneers in the house.
September 14th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
Joe,
Any news on Tedford?
September 14th, 2014 at 12:17 pm
Wow, how little does Vegas think of the Bucs to only be 2.5 point favourites against a Rams team who lost by 4 TDs last week with a total unknown QB? (note: Vegas historically always gives 3 points to the home team, so 5.5 is really 2.5). Anything less than a comfortable victory here is troubling, this should be a 24-6 win.
September 14th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
I really like this site Joe, but the picture in this post makes it difficult for me to discuss football. Wow.
September 14th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Yum @that hot MILF!!!!
Come on Bucs….need you playing the first quarter today like the last quarter you played last week!!!
September 14th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Doug Martin not playing today.
September 14th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
MadMax ™ Says:
September 14th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Yum @that hot MILF!!!!
_______________________
Back off!
She only loves me.
September 14th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Scotty
Even more chances to win then
September 14th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
I expect the home team to win. Even if they don’t, the fan anger reaction will be less than last week. It would be uncomfortably numb.
September 14th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
lol, its cool, she wont tell you or anyone about us….
September 14th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
I hope to see a lot of improvement from last week. And oh yeah, @that hot MILF Nice !
September 14th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
I look for Gholston to make the most of his start! He had three sacks in short order after Stupid Schiano finally let him start. I’m pulling for English too. If they both do well, Licht needs to cut Claiborne and bring in another promising DE with his slot on the roster. Josh needs to be throwing away if he is getting sacked. Hopefully Mankins will start playing better today to help Josh have a better day. No more Brown’s rejects on our line, WarFLOP! Licht, you need to cut Cousins and bring back Daniels and Lovie needs to insist on Johnson starting at RG, too. WarFLOP is one of the worst DL Coaches we have ever had. Lovie needs to tell him what to do before we lose another game to poor advice on who to dress or start by WarFLOP!!!
September 14th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
I love how the radio guy is bragging that we heard it from him that Martin was not playing. We all knew it a day or so ago, but he says he called it today.
I am hoping for a win. I would not call it a MUST WIN. Let’s be honest here. Everyone felt these would be the toughest games of the year. We all suspected they would be losses.
To me, winning in the first 4 games is icing.
Also, don’t forget….most of you claimed 7-9 for the season. Well, this is what you get when you go 7-9. Don’t act like it suddenly isn’t good enough (sic).
September 14th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Saints going down, falcons down and panthers win is far away!! Time to rise to the top of the division!!
September 14th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Nope.
September 14th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Owlykat Says
“Josh needs to be throwing away if he is getting sacked.”
That’s what he was trying to do, actually. The first time he screwed up, the second time it slipped out of his hand as he was trying to throw it away (or so he claimed).
I would rather him take the sack if he isn’t sure.
The problem is the offensive line. Fans are saying he holds onto the ball too long. Not true. (and besides, Glennon does it twice as long) The oline missed so many blocks last week that he was constantly taking hits. Those turnovers? Every time it happened there were guys with their hands on him.
He’s still at fault for what followed, but notice his play improved in the 4th quarter…when the oline actually blocked better. I assume that was because of the heat wearing down the opposing defensive line.
September 14th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Tedford is calling the plays from the box…according to wdae.
September 14th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
🙂
September 14th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
On Tedford
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/tedford-returns-to-work-full-time-will-call-plays-vs-rams/2196700
September 14th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
shutup bonzai….stop trying to tell us how to think :/
September 14th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Shutup MadMax…stop telling me how to talk. ;/
September 14th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
lol
September 14th, 2014 at 2:44 pm
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for players like English, Gholston and Bowers to step up and shine. The bucs have an open spot on the starting defensive line and if one of these three can step up and claim it. I read where English has an incentive clause in his contract if he is still on the roster by week 10. How much more inspiration does he need? And Bowers, if he goes out and lays an egg what is the point of keeping him around? Bowers and English have so much riding on this game. Gholston could step up and lay claim to the spot vacated by Claiborne, I cannot imagine him not stepping up for this game. GO BUCS!!!!
September 14th, 2014 at 2:48 pm
For those not in the market area to watch on tv…..hope this is ok Joe
[It is not. You may email links among yourselves but posting URLs of illegal streams will get one banned. — Joe]
September 14th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
My bad Joe…sorry man
September 14th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Speaking of streaming, MadMax, did you see where the FCC is going to vote against blackouts? It will be a little while, but maybe by next year there will be no more!
September 14th, 2014 at 3:12 pm
All I ask is that they look like they were prepared this week. No 3 of 4 quarters of crappy football. You can say its only one game all you want but watching on NFL total access last night they said out of the last 60 playoff teams only 1 has started 0-2 and made the playoffs. I expect playoffs and anything less is a disappointment. So far Lovie has been a major disappointment.
September 14th, 2014 at 3:14 pm
What’s the link fellas?
September 14th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Architek79@gmail.com
September 14th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Carolina complete shut down Detroit’s high powered offense in the first half. Perhaps some folks will now shut up about our offense and recognize that Carolia has the best defense in the league. It matters whose on the other side of the line.
September 14th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Carolina’s defense is not the problem. Carolina did not beat us last week. McCown was the best player on there team. His stupid turnovers cost us the game.
September 14th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Atlanta looks terrible in Cincy, New orleans does not look much better against Cleveland.
September 14th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I wonder if it would have made much difference in Carolina’s decision to deactivate hardy this week rather than last week.
September 14th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Wow. Wow. Wow… Joe, you have really outdone yourself with that pic!
September 14th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
Now that the season is over perhaps they put in Glennon and let him develop.