Bucs 16, Falcons 13 — The “Signature Win”
September 25th, 2011
Bucs 16, Dixie Chicks 13
The Bucs finally got what loads of fans have been screaming for liked caged animals — the “signature win.”
No more can it be said that these Bucs are pretenders. Not that it made sense to say that previously after winning 10 games last year, but now there’s no debate, not even from the fringe radicals in the fan base.
The Bucs, who hardly played their best football today, spanked the hated Falcons on both sides of the ball.
Best of all, the ghost of Jim Bates never surfaced, a pass rush emerged, and the Bucs finished off the game driving LeGarrette Blount down the throat of the Dixie Chicks.
Stick with Joe through the night for all kinds of analysis and reaction from the Bucs locker room.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
The only surprise to me was that Billick EVER coached. All of his doomsday crap to end the game… “Freeman’s gonna HAVE to pass. And if he doesn’t get a completion it sets Atlanta up. But he’s gonna HAVE to pass.” BULL!
He didn’t pass, Brian. Guess there’s a reason you aren’t on the sidelines anymore.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
what a game, so pumped. Bring on MNF.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
We beat the chicks,no trolls,life is great.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Can’t wait to hear how Dan Silly-O spins this victory. He was so anti-Buc friday, predicting ATL to win by double digits. What a great “signature win”! Now it’s time to show the nation that we aren’t pretenders on MNF!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
GREAT WIN BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TAMPAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BAYYYYYYYYYYY. BRING ON MNF!! WILL BE THERE. BTW BILLICK IS A DUMBASS LMAO
September 25th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
This reminded me of Buc-ball circa 1997. Huge win for the franchise. Freeman didn’t look great today, but the kid is a winner. Nice attempt at committing to running game, now the OL needs to open up a few holes and get to the 2nd level. One could argue this was Raheem’s best called game as a D-coordinator and it certainly helps to get a pass-rush. Sean Jones is still a liability. At times Mason Foster really flashed. Dakota Watson too.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
WHERE U AT RAHEEM HATERS!!!?????? WHERE U AT????? BE A FAN YOU LOSER ASS DOPES. ROOT FOR THE TEAM TO ACTUALLY WIN.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I bow to the defense. Biggers practically gave me a heart attack in the last quarter, but the rest of them were great.
I didn’t think we would win this one. I thought it was too soon to expect our defense to do well against a great team. I was wrong, and I couldn’t be happier.
Last year, we beat the easy teams. But the shadow on last season was that we lost to the good teams. That losing streak is now broken.
When I calculated my 10 win season, I actually figured this would be a loss. WOW!
People…just like the youth did well on offense last year…I think we’re seeing it on defense this year. These players are developing faster than I thought humanly possible.
Big Win!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Another win I did not predict is against the Colts. But I assumed Manning would be playing. We don’t want to get careless, but I think we can win that game…making us 4-1 to start the season.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Sorry 3-1 to start the season.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
I don’t know why people are making such a big deal out of this win. Winning is always nice in the NFL, especially against a division rival, but the Falcons don’t look like a playoff team (neither do we). Their OL is arguably the worst in the league and their defense is average at best.
Freeman needs to get it together fast because our defense won’t bail us out of games like this every week.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
I wonder how this will affect ticket sales for the Monday game? How can it not sell out now?
I think I’ll buy a ticket again to help the sales.
BTW…Fox Sunday is saying the “elite” teams lost today…and included Atlanta in that (all of them predicted a Falcons win). Congrats Bucs Fans….we just beat an elite team!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Stop being a downer.
Atlanta, as Fox Sunday said, is an elite team. 11 wins last year, right?
You could not me more wrong, Brian. Take a few moments to enjoy this win.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
great win…its nice that free has a off game [even though he was 8 for 8 on td drive] and the defense and running game won it for us.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
This Bucs team is underrated, not overrated as the haters would have us believe. Turns out the Vikes aren’t pushovers after all, taking the Lions to OT today and barely losing, after taking both the Bucs and Chargers down to the wire as well. We lost by only a touchdown against the Lions and had a fair chance to tie or win the game in the 4th quarter.
This team is good, and a 10-6 record is VERY attainable. The beautiful thing is that because of the missed offseason they are only going to get better each & every week. Go Bucs!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Great Win…..we won not playing our best football….were going to be REALLY tough to beat if we can get everything going at the same time!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Brain- Your name is very ironic. If you think the Falcons have arguably the worst o-line in the league you are smoking crack. They were considered one of the absolute best lines last year and they returned all but one starter. Their starting center was out the first two weeks but was back in this game. They also played two of the absolute best d-lines in the league the first two weeks. They have a good line and the Bucs d-line simply won the battle. Give credit where credit is due. Or go root for the Patriots if you want to be a fan of a team that always dominates week in and week out. Oh wait the Patriots just got smoked by the freaking Bills!! Go root for the Bills then I guess dude!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Do you guys know what this win means? No Thomas for at least a week!!! That’s worth partying over!
September 25th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
TAMPAAAAAAA BBBBBAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!
Went to Minneapolis last week and almost had a heart attack…again this week almost a heart attack.
Sitting in my living room in Kentucky…watching the end and the sattelitte goes out due to storms and I’m FREAKING OUT!!!!!!
Great win BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But dang lets score in the red zone!!!!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Hey Thomas, STFU!!!
No one wants to hear your crap for the rest of the year
September 25th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Great win. Now they better destroy the Colts on NATIONAL TV and let everyone see it. Colts are terrible this year, so there’s no excuse
September 25th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Raheem and the defense won this game! D-line is improving every week and Mason Foster looks much better than Ruud ever did! Sucks about Grimm but Lynch seems like a very capable player. Biggest win so far for Rah’s regime!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Great win, but how in the heck did they get Biggers on White in the 4th quarter?!?!?! I thought that was Talib’s guy… hope that’s not a trend.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Billick worst quote “simple as a screwdriver”….DANG I HATE that one…
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I didn’t realize teams get to carry over and remain the same from the previous year. This Atlanta OL lost Harvey Dahl and just got McClure back from injury. They’ve been awful all season and they were awful against us. Did you guys not notice how we got about 20x as much pressure as we usually get? There is lots of change in the NFL and there are 6 new playoff teams on average every year IIRC. Just because the Dirtybirds were good last year and got hyped up all offseason doesn’t mean they’re actually a playoff team.
Again…I’m not a downer. Our whole team played very well except for 5 who was way off on a lot of throws and had an awful decision in the RZ. We can be a playoff team and get signature wins, but 5 needs to shake off the rust and Atlanta is not the signature opponent.
Jump over me all you want but I’m not gonna parade around the streets for barely surviving against a mediocre Falcons team. We need to beat the Saints still and that’ll be a real task…
September 25th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Great win, Bucs! I was very pleased with some of the pressure we were able to apply on Defense. McCoy got some good penetration, Price was a beast, Clayborn had some awesome splash plays! …Mason Foster was flying all over.
Glad we were able to stick with feeding Blount even though our Oline wasn’t opening sh!t for him. Our O-line needs to figure it out asap…
That sucks about Grimm. Lynch didn’t seem to be in the right spot several times. Biggers was lucky on a couple of missed catches by White. Hopefully Tanard can get in the groove asap.
We’re getting better, D! wOOOOOt!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
rickt: Talib can’t cover Julio Jones and Roddy White at the same time. He’s not superman.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
…if Tenard is allowed to come back that is…
September 25th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Brian, it seems to me you are very concerned with being right. Analyze tomorrow. Enjoy tonight. You can’t be negative all the time…Thomas already plays that role.
Consider this as well…each week, the defense is getting more experience and improving. As the season rolls on, teams will have a harder time against us.
As to Grimm…
Sucks. But I have two words: Tanard Jackson
September 25th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Very impressed by the play of the defense today. But how do you expect them to hold up forever when the offense wasn’t helping them at all in the second half. They eventually get tired.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
What happened to Grimm?? I didn’t see the entire game, so inform me.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Patrick: I think you meant the 4th quarter, not the entire 2nd half. The offense had a nice, long 8 minute drive in the 3rd quarter that allowed the defense a ton of rest. No need to exaggerate.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
What I meant is that the offense wasn’t getting any points. Extending the lead.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Patrick:
Took a helmet to the knee. Carted off.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Knee injury, Patrick. Lynch came in to replace him.
My big concern is Biggers…teams will pick us apart on his side now that they know he’s a weakness.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Thx FLBoyInDallas I just thought that Biggers would be on Julio.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
I really liked the way the d line played today holding turner to 20yds rushing and putting pressure on Ryan. It was something we haven’t seen for a long time and it was great to see. I saw Mccoy, Price, and Clayborn flash a number of times…looking forward to watching these guys play and improve this year!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
btw…on a side note…Jeff Dunham is premiering a new puppet at 9pm on comedy channel.
😛
September 25th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Pete:
Might want to be concerned with Talib then. A rookie roasted his rear end for over 100 yards today.
At least Biggers got burned by an All Pro.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
I forgot to mention that Dakota Watson looked pretty solid! I hope Chincy Black being out of the lineup is a permanent thing…
September 25th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Our D-line was the highlight of our defense today. Them and the way they held Turner to a ypc average of 1.8 yards. 1.8! Doesn’t sound familiar right? Here’s to hoping it keeps up.
As for our pass defense, it wasn’t very good today. Statistically, Matt Ryan actually had a good game, even though they didn’t score that much. However, our pass D line did enough to get us a W. It should be a lot better against 80 year old Kerry Collins next week lol
September 25th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Eesh, ugly… The only pretty part of the entire box score is the actual score… But stats are for losers!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
You know Brian I don’t understand people like you. We win against a division opponent which puts us #1 in the division and all you can worry about is how the other team is not as good as they should be. Last week when the Falcons beat Philly they were celebrated as an elite team because they beat the Vickless “Dream Team”. What is gonna take to finally give the Bucs some credit. I bet if we were by some reason fortunate enough to win the superbowl, you would still find something to complain about.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Not sure why Raheem didn’t send one LB blitz in the 4th quarter. It was working very well up to that point. That’s what frustrates me. The play calling on both sides gets too tight, too conservative, when they have a lead. I say continue riding the horses that brought you.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Great win for the Bucs! Excellent defense and solid running in the second half. As Blount kept running he kept dragging defenders with him. That has to be exhausting for a defender especially when he gets the first down. Hope Cody Grimm is ok because the defense suffered when he went down. Go Bucs!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Brain- Your a moron. M-O-R-O-N. Feel free to go drown yourself in your toilet bowl. Or maybe give the team you “allegedly” root for(you do root for them right? Thats why your commenting right?) some credit for completely smacking down one of the NFL’s best offenses(13-3 last year M-O-R-O-N) for 3.5 qtr’s.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Once Free finds his groove, things will really take off! He’s still working off a little rust. Very stoked about this win. Completely outplayed an “elite” division rival. At least that’s what all the experts were calling them leading up to the game.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Nice grammar Beckles. You’re getting pretty angry for someone who just saw his team beat a team that went 13-3 last year. I’m sure you remember us going 12-4, winning a SB and then going 7-9 the next year, right? Success 1 year doesn’t equal success another year, and this Falcons team doesn’t look playoff-caliber.
I credited the entire team (minus Free) by saying they played very well. I think this Bucs team will make the playoffs and have thought so since the offseason. I’m not, however, gonna get ecstatic over a closer-than-it-should’ve-been win over a mediocre team. I expect better from this team. Right now we have 60 points for and 60 against…the very definition of average. It’s gonna take more to beat the Saints and make the playoffs, and that’s square on Freeman’s shoulders to get us there. We need to be finishing drives and starting faster.
Sorry to rain on your guys’ parade with some realism. Some people just can’t handle honest criticism I guess.
September 25th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Tampa played awesome today in a 1/2 empty stadium. I sure hope we can sell some tickets now.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Those Colts aren’t looking so easily beatable, right now– at least their Defense isn’t.
Good Game. GO BUCS.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Hey Apple the stadium was not “half empty”. Did you attend the game?
September 25th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Brian, I see what you are saying, but I disagree. Atlanta has played two teams that are highly rated by most people, and went into today’s game with the #8 rushing offense and the #6 rusher: they left today with the #18 rushing offense and the #16 rusher.
You don’t play Philly and Chicago and come away with those numbers if your O-line is overrated. And you don’t play us that poorly if our defense didn’t step up.
As to your argument about the 2002 to 2003 “fall from grace”, it doesn’t hold up, either. Atlanta UPGRADED their offense by every measure and have had no major injuries so far. The 2003 Bucs lost JJ, Alstott and Me-shawn and Brian Kelly. The Falcon’s are rallied around their coach and their QB. The 2003 Bucs were dealing with a frustrated receiver causing locker room turmoil and distraction.
A more credible Falcons comparison would be to the Aikman led Cowboys, who were perpetually contenders. Under this coach and QB, those apple’s and these look a lot more alike than our oranges.