A True Home Field Advantage
December 1st, 2016
So how good is iconic Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers at home?
Well, let’s just say Rivers is better than Hall of Fame Chargers QB Dan Fouts was.
Since grabbing the starting job in San Diego back in 2006, Rivers is 61-32 on his home turf.
That’s mind-boggling data for Bucs fans, who are only starting to remember what a home field advantage is.
This year, the Chargers have beaten Jacksonville, Denver and Tennessee at home. That’s a couple of quality wins. Losses were to the Saints by a point and last Sunday to the 7-4 Dolphins by seven.
There’s division at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. One Joe sees Rivers as a future Hall of Famer, a surgeon still in his prime, the other Joe sees the Chargers as nothing special and a very beatable bunch on Sunday. Perhaps both Joes are correct.
December 1st, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Beatable? Yes.
Easily Done? Not at all.
Besides their homefield advantage, Chargers have been exceptional in December (last season was the only time Phillip Rivers had a losing record in December for a season).
Bucs players better not be overlooking this! It will be a huge challenge, but we can beat them. Go Bucs!
December 1st, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Bucs will have to play like they did against Seattle and pray Williams is out.
December 1st, 2016 at 1:18 pm
If Miami can beat them so can we I figure. Complimentary football boys let’s do it
December 1st, 2016 at 1:25 pm
They are beatable but they can’t make mistakes if they get a lead go for the curb stomp can’t let them hang around
December 1st, 2016 at 1:45 pm
bucs need to do a better job finishing drives than they have the last 2 weeks if they want to put the chargers away.
December 1st, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Phyllis Rivers ain’t no joke. He’s a bit ornery and not very mobile…but he can get hot in a hurry. This cross-country trek will be yet another test for The Bucs. Starting last week…I told myself to enjoy the next six weeks of a “playoff” type run. I didn’t realize how agnostic if not “dead inside” I had become to this franchise since, well, Monte announced he was joining his son Lame Kitten @ USC. 2010 was a blip that felt flimsy at best. Go Bucs…keep making us believers!
December 1st, 2016 at 2:07 pm
i always though that Rivers was an apt guy to compare Jameis to. One of the firiest competitors at a very competitive position, wears his heart on his sleeve, sneaky mobile in the pocket, doesn’t have beautiful mechanics but can sling it with the best of em and there isn’t a throw he’s afraid to make.
December 1st, 2016 at 2:12 pm
WE WON THE SUPER BOWL IN SAN DIEGO!!! We’re going to continue to build our new championship franchise with a win there on Sunday!!! GO BUCS!!!
December 1st, 2016 at 2:47 pm
They are a decent NFL team with a proven franchise QB. That alone makes them dangerous. It’s ok. We’re dangerous as well. We just need to hit on all 8 cylinders and we’ll leave with a win.
December 1st, 2016 at 2:58 pm
What? We have a game vs San Diego? Football game in a few days? Is it an important game?
But Ive been reading threads about Mike Glennon and Marcus Mariota all week. We actually have posters right now comparing Mike Glennon to Josh Mccown. I kid you not.
Isnt this Culture Club week? I was going to dress up like Boy George and go to a bar to watch the Dal/Minn Game? Believe it or not, I might be welcomed at the bar than this website.
Did Koetter the clown finally get out of the ice cream truck with GMC yet? Ive heard they were driving back and forth dale mabry hwy all week with the speakers blasting
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon…
December 1st, 2016 at 3:00 pm
If the Bucs D-line can generate the kind of pressure they did against Wilson and the Seahawks – we are likely to be celebrating another win come Sunday evening.
7-5 with 4 games to play would be quite the accomplishment for rookie HC Koetter and his young team. Especially considering how tough this year’s schedule is.
December 1st, 2016 at 3:02 pm
@JonBuc — I think many of us feel exactly the same way. The Bucs were 9-3 heading into Gruden’s last December, and that legendary defense crumbled after Monte Kiffin announced his resignation to go coach with his son. The Bucs crashed to a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs, which was Chucky’s demise.
I often wonder about how different the fortunes of the franchise would have been if Tennessee had not hired Lane Kiffin. Monte probably wouldn’t have resigned. The defense probably wouldn’t have crumbled. They probably would have won 11 or 12 games and hosted a divisional playoff game, with a really good chance of winning. Who knows, the Bucs may have even won another Super Bowl. One thing is for sure, I doubt the Glazers would have fired Chucky and kicked off this perpetual rebuilding cycle.
December 1st, 2016 at 3:08 pm
both joes are right…rivers is a great qb but the chargers can be beat….im looking for the run game to get back on track and the defense continuing to “bite”…..I think this is the week where we see mike and jameis connect on some deep balls and we cash in while we’re in the redzone….GO BUC!!!!
December 1st, 2016 at 3:11 pm
I used to have charger season tickets (my company bought them, I’m NOT a chargers fan) up until 2 years ago. Let me tell you, the chargers at home are a tough team to beat. With that said, if the bucs can get pressure on rivers up the gut and start knocking him around, they have a very good chance of beating them. I’ve seen the Chargers give up big leads after halftime to the Broncos and Texans and those are just ones off the top of my head. I’m sure there’s more. If bucs can keep bosa out of the backfield, I think Jameis can sling the ball around on them. I’m really excited for this game and I will be there in person to watch the bucs get a W!
December 1st, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Been a Bucs fan since 1977. I live in SD and cannot wait to see the Bucs win Sunday. I was in Frisco for that great game as well.
December 1st, 2016 at 4:01 pm
The biggest concern is that Jameis seems to struggle a little bit vs a 34 defense.
December 1st, 2016 at 4:22 pm
Phillip Rivers can indeed stink up a stadium. But when he’s on? The guy looks like the Greatest Of All Time. Pass rush is going to be KEY early on. Rivers can put up 3 or 4 TD’s in a matter of one qtr when he’s hot. I’ve noticed Rivers always gives that little extra effort when playing at home. Bucs better be ready .
December 1st, 2016 at 4:22 pm
If Bucs get similar pressure like they put on Russell Wilson, Rivers doesn’t have the same ability to escape pressure like Wilson did.
Melvin Gordon is pretty good so I expect a good game from him.
Jameis needs to get more touchdowns than he did vs Seattle and Martin has to be better than 3 yards per carry.
Defense carried them vs Seattle and KC, got a feeling this one will need more offense to get the upset.
Last time Bucs played in SAN Diego they were pretty impressive!
December 1st, 2016 at 5:06 pm
“Defense carried them vs Seattle and KC, got a feeling this one will need more offense to get the upset.”
Well we won’t be playing the #1 scoring defense in the league so that should help. San Diego is 26th in points allowed by comparison; and give up an extra 10 points per game on average compared to the hawks. They average about 8 points more per game on offense than Seattle though.
December 1st, 2016 at 5:12 pm
I’m not going to make any predictions on this game. I just hope its another enjoyable game, like the last few.
On September 6th, 2016 I gave us a 30% chance. I said:
“…the Bucs should have some swag buiilt up on Offense, Defense and possible Special Teams by this point. If they somehow manage to beat the Cardinals the week before, they might have the confidence to win this game.”
I next predicted a 65% chance of beating the chargers…but I’m not totally sure of that now, so I’ve decided to just sit back and enjoy the game.
December 1st, 2016 at 5:27 pm
I have liked the San Diego Chargers for decades. Recall them playing the Dolphins in the Orange Bowl back when Fouts was the QB, and Kellen Winslow Sr. was his HOF TE. The Chargers are unpredictable. They let Drew Brees go to the Saints as a FA cos they had drafted Rivers. If they are ‘ON,’ they are the scariest offense in the NFL. If not, forget it. They’ve got other issues: climate change–fires, etc. and the new stadium fight. Hopefully, we’ll play them when they’re ‘OFF.’ I have faith. Go Mighty Bucs!!
December 1st, 2016 at 5:59 pm
I seem to recall this same conversation about the KC Chiefs. And we all know how that turned out.
December 1st, 2016 at 6:14 pm
If we can pressure Rivers like we did to Seattle, we can beat any team.
December 1st, 2016 at 6:26 pm
Ga. Buc— SD has a wayyyyyyy better offense than KC.
We need another stellar performance from our D, and more points from the O to win this one.
December 1st, 2016 at 6:29 pm
If the Bucs can play with the building effort that showed over the past three games I don’t see any NFL team that can’t be beaten by our Buccaneers. If can go either way. I don’t believe the Bucs will lack needed effort.
December 1st, 2016 at 6:46 pm
I think Rivers will spend a good deal of time on his back Sunday. And when he is upright he will be in a hurry.
December 1st, 2016 at 7:36 pm
They are beatable if the O and D line play like last week or better.
December 1st, 2016 at 7:44 pm
I second that bigMacAttack!!!
December 1st, 2016 at 8:43 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai,
Way to own your predictions. I too will sit back and watch, I hope both Dline and Oline have their A game playing on Sunday.
I want to see how we run the ball, I do not just want to run the ball to run the ball to keep the Defense “honest”. I want to run the ball because they are not stopping it and we are getting good yardage with nearly every rush. I would also like to see all of our back get a series, mix it up with them. Make our Offensive film not be simply about 1 back. Lets use the different skill sets our Rb have to our best production. Yeah I know that is what Coach Kotter and Co. try to do every week. Pound the rock successfully, draw in the Defense to stop the run more, should open up the play action pass sections of our playbook. Tough team these chargers are no doubt and at home. I think we win a hard fought battle. 28-21 Think this is going to be a good game.
Hey Kobe, do do do do you really want to hurt us, do do do you want to just make us cry?
Exactly what good thing have the 2016 Buccaneers done to your liking this season? Anything? If your not enjoying this team, please just peace out.
Go Bucs!
December 1st, 2016 at 10:48 pm
Why does anyone pay attention to Kobe. He lost his bet to me and still came back AND he is always wrong. I just hope he doesn’t start saying we will win.
December 1st, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Did my post not make it cause there was an asterisk in my email address accidentally?
December 1st, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Yup I guess so.
Anyways why does anyone listen to Kobe anyway? He lost his bet to me And he is always wrong. I just hope he doesn’t start predicting Bucs’ wins
December 1st, 2016 at 11:03 pm
The article is wrong. San Diego came off their bye last Sunday, went on the road to beat Houston 21-13, and handing the Texans their first home loss of the season.
December 3rd, 2016 at 2:21 am
The key to getting rivers, or any QB discombobulated is by pressure. But more so for rivers considering how much of a hot head he can be. He’s a cry baby when things don’t go his way. Our dline needs to be on fire so he can start making mistakes. Last time we played him he was scrambling a lot and he made late game mistakes *que the int thrown right to Leonard johnson* our defense wasn’t as nearly as good as it is now. We just gotta get to him and fire on all cylinders!