The Bucs look like major boobs in, or near, the red zone. It nearly cost them the game against the Vikings. ...Speaking of major boobs, Joe's a big fan a Robin Meade

Joe views the Bucs as a true Super Bowl contender. That’s what gets him excited in the morning, except when he’s watching Robin Meade on CNN.

So the Bucs failing miserably to win the Vikings game with its offense late in the fourth quarter made Joe want to vomit. That’s not how true contenders perform.

To reset the scenario, the Bucs started a drive with just 2:24 left in the game on the Vikings 27 yard line. That’s right, the Vikings’ 27. The Bucs led by six and needed a field goal and/or a first down to all but finish off the Vikings. And the Bucs got neither.

Here’s how the ugliness went down:

• 1st down – handoff to Dunn for four yards over right guard
• 2nd down- same play. Dunn loses one yard
• 3rd down – pitch to Dunn left loses four yards
• 4th down – Matt Bryant misses a 46-yarder, and the Bucs defense is forced to step up yet again

This late-game meltdown falls on Chucky’s fearful playcalling and the continued inability of the offensive line to establish a running attack. The Bucs attacked well vertically most of the game yet still couldn’t get a rhythm in the running game and averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. They were just beaten at the line of scrimmage.

It’s hard to be negative after such a big home win that kept the Bucs perfect at RJS and re-established their defense as a dominant force. But Joe is very worried by the offense’s inability to execute when it really has to get it done. That’s not going to cut it on the road against the Giants in the NFC Championship game.