Week 15
Lions at Bucs
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: Blacked out locally. Those living outside the Tampa/Orlando TV markets can watch the game on DirecTV 713. The game can be viewed for free on NFL.com at midnight via Game Rewind (free registration required).
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather: Per Accuweather.com, nice day but a little bit chilly. Jacket weather. Sunny all day with kickoff temperature expected to be 66 and will drop slightly at the end of the game. Little wind is anticipated.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -4.5.
Outlook: The Lions are garbage. Simply put, if the Bucs lose to this team today, the Bucs have no business in the playoffs. Of course, the Bucs have a gift for making nobodies at running back look like Tony Dorsett. So, as always, stopping the run will be and should be a concern for defensive coordinator/head coach Raheem Morris. Given the Bucs are basically putting a defense together with bailing wire and duct tape, this may be a challenge, even against the toothless Lions. One way to get around this would be, of course, light up the scoreboard offensively which the Bucs have the capability of doing. Arrelious Benn has really broken out of late and that cannot but help take heat off of fellow rookie wide receiver Mike Williams. Take pressure off of those two and looky here, Kellen Winslow is wide open. And, oh yeah, the defense forgot about LeGarrette Blount. In Joe’s eyes for the Bucs to get to the playoffs Greg Olson will have to throw caution to the wind (except on third-and-short) and punch the gas pedal. The Bucs have the horses to do that.
Video: The fine folks of NFL Films preview today’s game. … The Playbook crew of the NFL Network examine what makes the Bucs offense click. … The TBO gang looks at the Bucs playoff chances as well as how the Bucs continue to find a way to win. … Good guy Stephen Holder and Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times discuss how the Bucs will replace Gerald McCoy. … slur-hurling Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Mike Golic of BSPN make their predictions for today’s game.
Fun facts: Today could be an interesting day for both team’s tight ends. Kellen Winslow has at least three catches in 10 straight games while Detroit’s Brandon Pettigrew is second in the league with most catches for a tight end with 62 catches.