Gameday Tampa Bay
December 17th, 2015
Game 14
Bucs (6-7) at Rams (5-8)
Kickoff: 8:25 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, WTSP-TV Channel 10)
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St. Petersburg region); SiriusXM Channel 83 (Bucs broadcast), SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel 88 (national broadcast).
Weather: The Rams play in a dome, one of the nicer domes Joe has ever been in as a fan (theater seats in the upper deck!), but not good enough for Rams owner Stan Kroenke who wants to move to Los Angeles. Not sure why anyone would tailgate outside since there is a casino across the street (yes, really) and many downtown watering holes nearby. But for the hardcore tailgating crowd, per AccuWeather.com, under clear skies the temperature should be right at 35 degrees. Temperatures will only be slightly cooler after the game with temperatures just above freezing at 33 degrees, all under clear skies.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Rams -2.5.
Outlook: This may be a game of wills. The Rams, hopefully well-distracted, have a decent defense that is a little beat up, but a total garbage offense. Take away RB Todd Gurley, and you have vagrant QB Case Keenum and a bunch of receivers who aren’t any better than a couple of undrafted rookie free agents (no, Joe is not smitten with WR Tavon Austin). But, oh, that defense. Rams chieftain Jeff Fisher always has a stingy defense and a punishing defense. This group is led by uber-defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who already is boasting how much he wants to plant America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, into the turf of the Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis. In Joe’s eyes, this game should be simple: If somehow the Bucs can manage 24 points on the Rams, they should win. If the Bucs can somehow get a two-touchdown lead it is over. There is no way Keenum should be able to lead any sort of comeback. If Keenum does mount a comeback, every defensive back for the Bucs ought to turn in their jock strap after the game and look for another line of work..
Nuggets: QB Jameis Winston needs 495 yards passing to overtake Steve DeBerg for the fifth-best season in Bucs history for passing yards thrown. … The Rams have the NFL’s third-best red zone defense, allowing a touchdown rate of 43.2 percent. … No team has given up fewer plays of 20 yards or more than the Bucs — 40 plays of 20-plus yards. … The Bucs are third in the NFC in average yards per play offensively, averaging 5.81 yards a play. … RB Doug Martin has 537 yards after contact, most in the NFL. … OLB Lavonte David leads all NFL linebackers in passes defended (12). … DT Gerald McCoy needs one more multi-sack game to tie Dave Logan for fifth-most in Bucs history. GMC currently has five multi-sack games. … No team has more sacks than the Rams since the beginning of the 2012 season (181). … Crunch time is RB Todd Gurley Time. the Rams rookie is second in the NFL in yards rushing in the fourth quarter (337). … DT Aaron Donald is one sack away from setting the Rams single-season mark for a defensive tackle. Donald currently has 11 sacks. … LB Mark Barron is expected to start his ninth straight game. He leads the Rams with 119 tackles. … Since 2009 only three linebackers have more picks that Rams MLB James Laurinaitis, who has 10.
December 17th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
one other nugget!!
Lovie must win out to “TIE” Coach Schaino’s win/loss record. One loss and and lovie will not be able to match who many called “the college coach”!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
December 17th, 2015 at 5:40 pm
I really dont know what to expect from this game.
December 17th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Burbon – check
Beer – check
Cigar – In process (why should it be dependant on victory)!
Ready to roll! Still almost 3 hours to wait, dang it!
December 17th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
“Nuggets: QB Jameis Winston needs 495 yards passing to overtake Steve DeBerg for the fifth-best season in Bucs history for passing yards thrown”
Yes Joe, but he’s no Mike Glennon.
tickdr
December 17th, 2015 at 6:19 pm
one other nugget!!
Greg Schiano REGRESSED and Lovie Smith has PROGRESSED!! Greg Schiano will NEVER BE as good as Lovie Smith is!! If you think that the Bucs losing tonight means that Greg Schiano is a better coach than Lovie Smith then you need to walk up to a mirror… Look at the idiot staring at you for 20 seconds.. Say 5 Hail Mary’s and then SLAP THE SH!T out of yourself for being possessed by the dummy dumb demon!!!
“You can fix a lot of things, but you can’t fix stupid!” – Ron White
All I want for Christmas is a smarter fan base!!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
December 17th, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Go Ketchup!!!
December 17th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
Those who want Lovie gone…FOOLS! the whole lot of you. You say Lovie is incompetent, really? Lovie doesn’t like to score, really? Then why take the ball out of #22 hands…2nd leading rusher? Put in the hands of the Franchise #3. It’s as simple as that. We know we can put up 28 pts per, he wants his defense to concentrate on TO. Awesome. Keep everything in front and play with a feast or famine mentality.
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
December 17th, 2015 at 6:42 pm
The Bucs are wearing all red… is this true? Now we are trying to make a fashion statement. I hope it works, need a win to pull this off. Maybe it’s just red jerseys. Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Lol Ketchup vs. Mustard Game.
December 17th, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Bff37 I think it’s the red on red. They look hot. OneLove that was too funny my man! Too funny! I think if he looked in the mirror it would crack into a thousand pieces. He’s probably got a face made for the internet.
December 17th, 2015 at 7:45 pm
WalkdaPlank ….Let’s hope the Bucs don’t have to play ketchup and the Rams don’t cut the mustard! 🙂
LOL silly.
December 17th, 2015 at 7:49 pm
Anyone know what channel the game is on in Orlando?
December 17th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Please look under “TV” category.
December 17th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
That woman in the photo looks like Howard’s type.
December 17th, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Does anyone know what channel the Oprah Network is on in Pasco County?
December 17th, 2015 at 11:13 pm
I wanna hear an Asian person who does not speak good English tell me this team “lacks discipline”. I fell like its the only thing that could make me feel better
December 17th, 2015 at 11:20 pm
Hard to watch football. ASJ is an assclown.