MNF Thoughts: Panthers-Bucs

Here is All You Need To Know about this game. The Panthers ran the ball 35 times for 301 yards, with an 8.6 yards per carry average. The Bucs came into this one having given up just one touchdown on the ground all year; now, they have *five*. Both of the Panthers running backs broke 100 yards, both looked great, and both benefited from some godawful tackling from what is supposed to be a good Bucs' defense.

With the win, the Panthers move to 10-3, within hailing distance of the #1 seed in the NFC, and the Lemur crew jumped on the home team with all of their usual decorum. I'm surprised they haven't declared them the best team in football yet. I'm still convinced that they aren't as good as their record, just because I think they can be well and truly schemed against with the not very good Jake Delhomme as the triggerman, but 10-3 is 10-3. They're good.

For the Bucs... well, they really shouldn't lose when they get a 200 yard 2 TD game from a wideout (tonight, that was Antonio Bryant, who made a downright ridiculous catch for the second touchdown), and score 23 points on the road. 23 points on the road is downright explosive for a team without any good RBs (I pine for Earnest Graham, not that he's probably any good either), but when you can't stop the run at all, it's not going to be pretty.

The Bucs can still, amazingly, win this division. Carolina has the much harder schedule coming down the stretch, and even Atlanta and New Orleans are still live. And for all of the gaudy records here, I'm still not shaking with fear at the idea that any of these teams are going to go deep in the playoffs. Maybe I just need to watch them all some more. Or see any of them look as good on the road as they do at home...

Tonight's Only SNF Thought

How much did John Madden enjoy missing this 20-10 snoozefest, and will the existence of it -- and the likely brutal ratings that it got against Game 7 of the ALCS?

Seriously, NBC needs to have Flex Game Power every week of the year. There is no earthly reason why the nation needed to see Seneca Wallace play quarterback.

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.)

Bucs-Giants Quasi Live Blog, Third Quarter

We're back, and Spurlock starts the half by losing the ball on the return. Deadly. Blue starts inside the Buc 30. Jacobs runs for a good looking 7, then a solid 4. It gets harder on the third straight carry, and if Gruden's got a blitz in mind, might be the time for it... Manning has Boss wide open after the DL falls down, but misses. 3rd and long and a big play on a simple screen to Jacobs. The Bucs LBs have been terrible in this game, and it's first and goal.

An incompletion to Burress and a false start pushes it back to the 13. Manning hits Toomer again for a simple and easy short toss, and TB points out that the Bucs aren't punishing the receivers; I agree wholeheartedly. Third and goal from the 4, and ugliness is averted after a delay penalty. Coughlin wants those kids off his lawn. From the 9, Fredo looks mad, and Smith catches it at 6 and is tackled at the 8. It's figgie time. Tynes makes the figgie, and Blue's up 10.

Spurlock to the 30, and Garcia's got some work to do here, and fast. Nice six yard interior burst from Graham, who gets it to a half yard from the first down on second down. Curious to see if they still control the line here, as they did on obvious run plays in the first... and in a near fumble, Graham gets the first. This is why teams go by committee with the RBs.

Graham makes a guy miss for 5 on a screen, and 15 is tacked on when Giants DL Barry Cofield goes high on Garcia. Dumb all over. From the Blue 40, Graham piles up another 10 on a first down draw; nice call and execution by the RB, who has 14 for 53 and the touchdown. They give it to him again for 3, and then Garcia blows the drive with a bad throw in the end zone for Galloway, who isn't open anyway. Giants ball at the 20. Still miss him, Eagles Fans? Buck pours salt on the wound by noting that he has three picks today, four in the regular season.

Giants go three and out as Fredo has a bad series, made worse by a holding penalty. First time since the first quarter that you can say that. Feagles nails the punt, and the Bucs have it at their 33.

On third and 2 following the punt, Garcia has a clean pocket and hits TE Alex Smith for 15, his longest pass of the day. Fox continues to harangue the Bucs for not going deep, despite the QB not having an arm, the deep threat being hurt, and the coach not believing in long throws. But yes, go deep! It's positively Rexy right now. On third and 8 and critical, Garcia almost throws a horrible pick from heavy pressure, and its punting time again. Bucs defense is going to have to force a turnover, one suspects, to get something going right now.

A quick toss to Hedgecock for 4, followed up obvious offensive pass interference by Burress. I'd like the penalty for that to be a lot more severe, since the same call against the defense is usually devastating. Here, it's a whopping five yard loss. Jacobs goes for 4, and it's 3rd and 7 and a big play, given the amount of time and probable field position right now... and Manning avoids a bad pantomime of pressure to make an easy 11 yard toss to Toomer. Blue has the ball, a 10-poing lead, and everything going their way as the third quarter ends.

Bucs-Giants Quasi Live Blog, Second Quarter

In the time it took to post the first quarter, life has gotten better for Big Blue; a 3 and out after Garcia misses Galloway on a scramble toss, a short punt and a decent return, and Fredo's in business at his own 47. Then, Fredo finds Plex Burress (he's in this game!) for 4, and throws the exact same ball to Toomer, who benefits from jumped routes and bad tackling to make a big play. Giants are in field goal range at the 32, and Jacobs has his best carry of the day: three yards. Considering that they had -2 yards in the first quarter, this is Big Progress. A pump fake on 2nd and 7 and another safe throw underneath, this to Toomer, for the first down. I have to say, Fredo's success in road games this year has looked just like this; play terrible, then get an opportunity and stick around. I'm still not feeling it, because Jacobs has six carries for one yard, but they're just 18 yards away from tying this.

2nd and 9 and it's Steve Smith again (did Kevin Boss make the trip?) for no production. Blue has dropped 42 passes this year according to Fox, which leads the league... and it's another timeout that a non-Game Manager QB wouldn't have taken. The big play of the drive is another safe and easy throw to Toomer, setting up first and goal at the six. Jacobs then catches an ugly middle screen and scores, and it's Fredo Fellation time for Fox... but maybe this is just my Eagle Hate seeping through, but I'm not seeing how any of those throws were hard. The Bucs just didn't tackle on that drive, put pressure on the QB, or cover the short routes. Credit Toomer for making plays, not the QB that threw the ball all of 20 to 25 feet to him.

Very loud shouts of defense from the traveling New York army, and Strahan breaks through for a sack. Lo, how the fates have changed since the quarter change. It's three and out for the Bucs, and I'm starting to get how Blue was 7-1 on the road this year; they finally got to be in front of a supportive crowd. Fredo's got the ball on his own 35 with a song in his heart.

Two good quick plays and Blue's into Buc territory. Fredo looks confused, but hits Burress on back to back catches to set up a second and one. Oh boy, Tom Petty's playing the Super... yawn.... Bradshaw gives the Blue running game a much better look, but he fails to get the edge on a second and one. If this game is going to stay tied, the Bucs will need to come up big here, and they don't in a big way, as Smith finally makes a play, pulling down a legitimately good throw for 21. Fredo's looking frisky, all of a sudden, especially with a very clean pocket and easy underneath throws to wide-open receivers. Manning is suddenly 10 of 14 for 127 with a touchdown, and Jacobs goes in again. Man, what a change from the first quarter. Bucs need to answer with the next possession, or this is starting to look ugly the other way.

Spurlock gets the ball to the Bucs 26, and you have to admire his accomplishment in filming "Supersize Me" while also being an NFL player. On 3rd and 3, an absolutely critical play in the flow of the game, Garcia keeps it alive with a gain of 7 to Pittman. Bucs are having a hard time keeping Garcia clean right now; 10 hurries on 16 dropbacks. At the 2 minute warning, it's another 3rd and long, but at least the Bucs have taken some time off the clock. On 3rd and 8, Hilliard makes a great play but gets a bad spot, but gets the first down anyway. Just a huge play by the ex-Giant. 1:53 left, ball at midfield.

Smith for 4, and Garcia looks like he's got a little mojo back. Clock's running, though. Webster gets away with PI on Galloway on second down. On third, good protection is wasted on a bad ball to Hilliard, who lobbies for a call but doesn't get one. With 1:07 left, the Giants get it back inside the 20. It'll be curious to see how much Coughlin trusts Fredo here... and the answer is Not At All, as Jacobs takes an interior run and the Giants huddle up. They'll eat the timeouts and go into the half up 14-7. Coughlin played that only slightly more liberally than the Taliban, but he's the guy with the 7-1 road record and the 7-point lead at halftime, so what the hell do I know?

Bucs-Giants Quasi Live Blog, First Quarter

And we're back! On the first 3rd and 8 of the game, Fredo drops back, looks scared, and short hops a ball to the outlet back. Troy Aikman then throws him under the bus for having an open receiver. Are you feeling confident yet, Giants Fans?

Damn, Tampa looks sunny and warm. I miss being in a place that actually has nice weather. A lot.

The Bucs start with a quick pace and a couple of reasonable looking runs by Earnest Graham. If you can get reasonable runs in the first quarter, I think that's a good sign for all day.

On his first third down, Jeff Garcia bounces around like a Mario character and hits Galloway for the conversion. He's got to be just maddening for a defense. I know when he was an Eagle, I was scared every play. And making video game sounds in my head.

Wow, a Mark Clayton sighting! A quick screen goes well and recovers from a reverse to Galloway that tanked. On the 3rd and 1, Askew launches himself for an easy conversion, while Garcia fakes the toss sweep to Graham. Smart all over. You always know a Gruden offense; they put in those little touches that are just, well, cute.

At the 9:40 mark, Aikman is making excuses for Big Blue as being spent from the Patriots game. Joe Buck, of course, thinks it was a good idea. Meanwhile, the Bucs sputter and fail on incompletions and a delay penalty. Bidwill's punt dies inside the 15, and we're staring down the barrel of a Field Position Game.

The Giants counter with Brandon Jacobs, who despite size and speed does little to earn my trust, and a short pass to Steve Smith, who seems to be getting a lot of looks today. On the third and 1, Jacobs gets snowed under, and Big Blue is still looking for a first down today. Bucs should get decent field position, and is it racist of me to note that white guys celebrating defensive plays always look dorkier than black guys doing it? A short punt and immediate coverage gives the Bucs the ball at their own 45.

A miss to Galloway starts making me wonder if the Bucs will squander the field position... but then Graham breaks a tackle on a run and gets a first, followed by a a slant to Clayton for another, and then another solid gain for Graham to put them in field goal position. Graham's already at 4 for 24, and the Bucs are controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

On a 2nd and 9. Garcia makes another Mario play by pump-faking to Graham, then throwing to him anyway, to get the Bucs to the 5. Graham stumbles to the 1 on first down, and Fox runs a graphic that shows the yards in this game as 80 to 10. Graham makes it 81, and more importantly, 7-0. Cannons fire, flags wave, and Fredo's nuts have just moved a few more inches up into his body.

Fredo walking all over the place, and as Joe Buck starts talking about how they have to be able to run the ball.. Jacobs goes sideways and down for a five yard loss. It's Fredo Time, and I'm smelling a pick. Nope, take a very scared looking time out first... good grief. You know, anyone that ever wanted to talk about Peyton Manning's playoff problems, well, Fredo dwarfs those. Big time.

On 2nd and 14, the Bucs give Blue a five yard gift from the saliva throwing a DL offside. Maybe that brings Jacobs back into things; nope. Fredo uses a clean pocket and throws his best ball of the day, but Smith misses it. When did Smith become their only WR? On 3rd and 9, it's Sack City, and if this was a nature documentary, the Bucs D would be sharks and the Giants offense would be a bleeding sea cow. Hilliard takes the fair catch after the Giants third three and out at the Bucs 31... and if the Bucs can drive and score here, you might not be getting a whole lot of Entertaining Quasi Live Blog from this game. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, the entertaining is a reach.) 7-0 Bucs and we're into the commercial melee.

Epic Drop: Chris Simms Fears The Turk

Bring your playbook, Simms. And that note from Dad isn't going to help, either.

The Easiest Joke Of The Day

Word out of Tampa Bay is that fullback Mike Alstott is going to announce his retirement, and that the team is flying in Warrick Dunn to take the first 90% of his speech...