Brace For The “Signature Win” Baloney
October 19th, 2012
Joe’s not jumping the gun and declaring a Bucs victory against the Saints on Sunday. But Joe can guarantee two things will come if the Bucs do win and move to 3-3.
First, the national media magically will rediscover that the Bucs actually play in the NFL. Second, much of their chatter will focus on the Bucs not having beaten a good team and therefore are lacking the proverbial “signature win” to be considered a contender. Carolina, Kansas City and New Orleans are a combined 3-13 right now and the Chiefs have a bye this weekend.
Joe endured all the “signature-win” baloney in 2010, when media and legions of Bucs fans were convinced the Bucs got to 10-6 with smoke and mirrors and lots of luck because they didn’t beat good teams. Even the Saints (11-4) waving the white flag in Week 17 trailing the Bucs in the fourth quarter at the SuperDome was not good enough for these critics.
Joe was never one to buy the “signature-win” mentality. You beat who’s in front of you and every team is dangerous. Chucky’s 9-7 Bucs teams had their share of signature Ws and it didn’t mean much at the end of the day.
This is just a warning from Joe. Prepare yourself for very loud doubters if the Bucs pull off a victory Sunday.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
November 25 will be our signature win.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
How about Dec 2nd in the Mile High city? I will be there, it is my 12 wedding anniversary, can they make it a signature over Peyton?
October 19th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Yeah as a Bucs fan you have to learn how to deal with the lack of national attention this team gets. Few teams are worse off than us in that category.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
@ Colorado
I hope so, Peyton is undefeated so far against the Bucs.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
And his highest completion percentage is against the Bucs too. It would be nice to get the better of him for once.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
The potential difference between this year and 2010 is that when we played some top teams we got crushed. We’ve been in every game this year with a chance to win it (see Giants). We also have a lot more veterans on this team then 2010.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I’ll be at both of those games. How about us getting 2 signature wins?!
October 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
If our front four can get descent pressure, I think our defense will hold up just fine. This is a division game and we know them as well as they know us. All “typical” or “predictable” scenarios don’t apply.
As far as National Exposure – I like it when other people doubt us. Let’s fly under the radar as long as we can.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
@PatrickBucs – We played plenty of excellent teams in 2010 and just missed. That home game against the Falcons was a killer.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@Vic
True but this team definitely has more talent. In 2010 I felt we were over achieving a bit. This year I’m getting the feeling that we have been under achieving. Much more to look forward to now than in 2010.
October 19th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Hate to say it, but if the Bucs win Sunday all they’ll have proven is that they don’t suck.
The signature stuff is legitimate
October 19th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
The signature win for this year’s Bucs will come February 3rd.
October 19th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
In 2011 when the Bucs won against Saints, a legit good team, you could tell Saints lost more because of Drew Brees having an off day and Sean Payton getting injured on the sidelines. Even after committing 4 turnovers, Brees and Co were in the striking distance to win. That is the perfect example of a smoke and mirrors win. Same with the Panthers win this season. You cannot have a +3 turnover ratio in a game and still be in striking distance of your opponents.
October 19th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
No one ever talks about the Dolphins perfect season in these conversations. During that season, Miami beat like 1 team with a winning record, but NO ONE mentions that. We all remember they went undefeated though.
Doesn’t matter who you beat, this is the NFL and a win is a win. So win, baby!
October 19th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
My goodness I forgot how big Freeman used to be, he looks like a sumo wrestler in that photo. I’m so used to the lean Freeman now.
October 19th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
The longer people doubt us and give us no respect, the better for this team. I don’t want any hype about this team. Just let this team keep playing and smacking people around.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
After last year, any win is a signature win.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Seriously what good is a win that is not a Super Bowl win? other than a worse draft position, but that is not really a good thing is it…
October 19th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Papawill13, you beat me to it. The only signature win is the Superbowl…nothing else matters.
Easier games early on help build a young, inexperienced team’s confidence. And in the meantime their skills get better. By the time they play Peyton they might be ready for him. Certainly this is not a Bucs team like Peyton has ever faced before.
I think Schiano is building a better team than Dungy did. Speed was the big thing with the Dungy Bucs. With this incarnation we have speed and toughness. Real toughness.
The old team had a couple tough players…like Sapp…but now like this. Amazing how quickly Schiano is turning this team around.
October 20th, 2012 at 3:21 am
@Pete
It looks and feel similar to Dungys. Dungys D had speed like no other team. But we certainly did have toughness. Freindly fire anyone? I remeber Brooks up ending a Qb or two and Sapp as well…there were others…Barber?