Bucs-Giants Quasi Live Blog, Fourth Quarter

Blue is threatening to make this game drama-free, and they look a lot better moving the ball with Bradshaw than Jacobs. In the three minutes it took me to post the third quarter, they've moved with ease to field goal range, and a touchdown would, you'd think, put this one out of reach. Fredo is 18 of 25 for 167 and a touchdown, and getting serviced from Joe Buck for a back shoulder throw to Burress for a first down. This one's just about over as we're 21 yards from paydirt, and Bradshaw is looking like the Blue Barry Sanders right now.

The drive is at 13 plays and 84 yards, with Kevin "Buddy Ryan Slapped Me" Gilbride getting kudos. On third and goal from inside the five, with a touchdown putting it completely out of reach, Fredo retires the nickname with a touchdown to Toomer, and it was another easy throw.

It's over, and for any Blue fans who are reading this, I'm officially retiring Fredo now. 21 unanswered points, a playoff win on the road, he didn't even look like he wanted to play squash today, and he's 8-1 on the road now. He's your quarterback for the next ten years now at least, and you're just going to love that you were patient. With Coughlin, too. And by the way, make sure that you refute any fondness you ever had for Tiki Barber, too. It was all his fault that Blue didn't win before this!

Can Garcia pull off his second utterly devastating playoff comeback at home against the Giants in his career? Unfortunately, he doesn't exactly have Terrell Owens in this game, and Galloway is now shut down for the day. A second down toss to Clayton is followed by a first down run by Graham, but every play is short, the clock is running, they need three scores... and it's hard to imagine that Garcia's keeping this job next year, given how many other options Gruden has.

The Bucs matriculate the ball to the red zone with a couple of big plays to Pittman and Clayton, and with 4:30 left, Garcia gets it to Hilliard, it's cannon time. Whoop De Damn Doo! On 2nd and 1, Pittman on a draw to the 6, but Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick... and they're still huddling up. Yeesh. Garcia to Smith at 3:25 for the touchdown to make it a 10-point game, and my dreams of at least making the Over cover are alive. (It was 39.5, and we're at 38 now.)

With 3:25 left, the Bucs, curiously, kick away. Giants get the ball and a first down or two would put this one in the books as a double loss -- but hope springs eternal. On first down, Bradshaw almost breaks it. On second, he gets little. 3rd and 3, and the Bucs call time. 2:25 left, and the Bucs stuff Bradshaw. Bucs call time with 2:19 left, Giants fans can be heard singing, and after the punt, the Bucs have it at their 27 with 2:10 left.

Pittman makes a nice catch over the middle to get it to the 44, and that's the 2 minute warning. The next play is a pass that brings rain and a near pick, because, well, Jeff Garcia is what he is. A booth review could ruin my dreams of an over cover... and it's not looking good. McQuarters gets the coup de grace here, and the Giants are on their way to Dallas... and while I don't like their chances, if the Cowboys don't have Owens, it doesn't look very daunting. Hard for one team to beat another three times in a season, and all...

And harder to imagine an outcome that's going to make me happy, as an Eagles fan. Nice to see 2008 match 2007!

(Oh, and 0-2 on the bets, which now makes me 2-4 for the post-season. I'm looking for a dog to kick.)