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The Bucs were warned that the competition was about to get a lot tougher.
For the record, it happened right about 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.
The euphoria and 2002-here-we-go-again bravado created by the Bucs’ 4-0 start have slowly been replaced by the realities of a very average team trying to prove its relevance against superior competition in its own division.
The Bucs had a chance to validate themselves against one of the NFC’s purebreds, the Panthers, but instead were dominated in every phase of the game. In their own house.
Carolina absorbed the energy of a crowd desperate to see proof that these teams had more in common than 5-2 records, took the opening kick and had a field goal on the board before FOX’s Troy Aikman could even remind anyone once more of his glory days in Dallas.
Yet again, one glimmer of hope for the Bucs was provided by Joey Galloway, scoring on a deep throw in the first half when those in attendance hadn’t yet given much thought to how else they might spend their Sunday afternoons.
Clearly, the possibilities became more and more alluring to them as the outcome became more and more unavoidable.
The Bucs knew what they were up against: Steve Smith came in as the hottest receiver in the NFL, and stayed that way. Carolina’s running game was doing more than enough to keep Smith effective, and did so again. The Panther defense was built on toughness and turnovers, and used both to turn this supposed divisional “showdown” into little more than a novelty.
Whether Chris Simms is the answer for Tampa Bay or not doesn’t seem to matter anymore. The problem is that there may be too many questions in the first place.
Posted by Scott Martin, Vilseck, Germany on 11/09 at 10:41 AM
Our problem came years ago...when Dungy was disrespected and Gruden was bought at that incredible price. Then Dungy’s team took us to the big dance and we dominated the Raiders. It was Tony’s team.
Since that Super Bowl day...since the day Gruden started shaping this team, he has destroyed it. The worst defending SB winner in history...then another pathetic year. A bit of hope, we get Williams...then Gruden runs him to death. The Caddy’s season and ours season is over...thanks again to the coach.
BTW...Dungy’s team is undefeated and the favorite to end the season with a win. You know Tony is smiling...good for him.
Posted by rob, NYC, NY on 11/09 at 08:36 AM
This is a bad football team. The offense is abysmal. I think it is time for Rattay and the end for Gruden. He is a poor football coach. Can someone explain why we throw five yard outs on 3rd and 10.
Posted by Sean Bussey, Sicklerville, NJ on 11/08 at 11:03 AM
Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay, San Francisco, Buffalo, New York, Carolina
Miami..Six of the eight have the worse offenses in the NFL. Think the defense might be a tad bit overrated??? Speaks volumes when the team separates themselves on the bench from their starting QB. Way to show some leadership Mr. Brooks. You’re probably still wiping off the cleat marks Stephen Davis left on your face. Rhonde and the rest of the secondary,
way to let a 39 year old receiver beat you deep. Truth is, the the O line still can’t run block, nor pass block
and the defense is the least feared #1 unit in the history of the game. It’s de ja vu for the third year in a row…
Posted by Don Da Via, Port Charlotte FL on 11/08 at 08:52 AM
I’ve heard it said that Gruden doesn’t use Alstott because he doesn’t like him. Can that be true? Even if they don’t get along it makes no sense not to use the A Train, especially after Mike’s performance on Sunday. Hopefully we will see more of him against the Redskins. Maybe we can catch the Redskins in a down week and pull out a victory. We are due for a good game.
I believe the loss of McKay to Atlanta was huge. Another example of Gruden’s ego getting in the way of success.
We need to hang in there with Simms. He’s getting better each week. It’s too bad Gruden ran Cadilac so much when it wasn’t necessary causing the injuries to mount up. Another example of poor judgement.
A win this week and we will all be back on the band wagon....GO BUCS!!!!
Posted by Doug, NJ on 11/08 at 08:52 AM
Simms did not play bad ?????? Why because he was 10 of 13 in the 1st half ??? Then when he plays as bad as he did in the 2nd half all of a sudden he had no run support!!! Any QB should be decent with run support. It’s the good ones that come thru when the suport is not there. This is the same team that Griese played with and Simms is not gettng it done. He is what he is !! Mediocre and a back up QB. Remember in college he folded in all the big games. No other team, and or scout showed interest in him coming out of college except Gruden. Now you know why ...........
Posted by Daniel, Tampa on 11/07 at 11:28 PM
It’s funny how everyone gets down on the Bucs when they lose a game. Most of the fans left the stadium by the third quarter, even though we had more yards and more time of possesion. Obviously some costly turnovers cost us on the scoreboard, but the Panthers didn’t come to Tampa and blow the Bucs out. The Bucs handed them the game on a silver platter. There is enough blame to go around, my suggestion is to fine the players huge amounts of money for penalties. The most the union will allow. $10,000 for a false start, $15,000 for holding, $25,000 for a personal foul. Watch the penalties stop.
Posted by BMW530i, Edgewood MD on 11/07 at 09:15 PM
Hey we need a quarterback help and we need it bad.
Posted by Ruben, Odessa on 11/07 at 08:39 PM
Yes we fell into the 5-1 trap that was created against the bottom dwellers of the NFL. I actually feel the future was revealed with the loss to the Jets. The bright lights of NY and the return of a dinosaur, Testaverde, who given time and no pressure played just well enough to beat this team. Now with the loss of Griese and his experience you are looking at a mostly young team not strong enough or experienced to counter our aging veterans who cannot dominate the quality opposition we will be facing from here out. Having said that remember; the team with the least penalties and turnovers usually wins. The Bucs have been guilty of both of late and this team is simply not talented enough to overcome their own foibles.
Posted by Ray O'Hope, on 11/07 at 08:27 PM
Despite the embarassing loss to a very good Panthers Team, the Bucs can still
get enough wins in the weeks ahead IF
aggressive plays by both defense and offense are enacted.
I sulked at the lack of aggressiveness last Sunday by the Bucs...the only 2 aggressive plays were the 50yd TD pass to Galloway that came a couple of plays after the A-Train’s “I’m gonna get a first down no matter what” play, by tough Mike Alstott. Didn’t he looked great?! Why didn’t Gruden keep playing his best RB/FB that day? UGGG!!
Posted by JOE BLOW, SPRING HILL on 11/07 at 08:19 PM
HEY, WE ARE THE SUCCANEERS AGAIN!
GRUDEN SUX!
THE OFFENSE IS OFFENSIVE!
THE DEFENSIVE IS OVERATED!
NO SPECIAL IN SPECIAL TEAMS!!
Posted by Dean, New Port Richey on 11/07 at 07:55 PM
One of the biggest questions going through the mind of your average Bucs fan is, “Will Simms get better with time?”. My only hope is that we don’t end the season at 5-11 again this year only to find out that the answer to that question is “No”.
Posted by mike, tampa on 11/07 at 07:53 PM
Gruden has put this team in the tank. He was what the Bucs needed in 2002 just to give a shot of juice into the offense, but as far as being the coach of the future he just doesnt have it. Gruden is nothing but smoke and mirrors. The Glazers need to hire a new head coach and GM with some class and direction. Let us get back our identity as a class organization and give Tampa its team back.
Posted by CurtDog, Tampa on 11/07 at 07:02 PM
Face it. We lost. Did any of you think we would win? We lost to the Niners. No way we were going to beat Carolina. I don’t believe we will win any more games this year. Bucs stink. We should move to New Orleans when they leave for San Antonio.
Posted by GEORGE LAWSON, WINTER HAVEN, FL. on 11/07 at 06:49 PM
THE BUCS NEED IS 3 THINGS
1 GET RID OF GRUDEN HE IS NO BETTER THAN A 500 COACH
2 GET RID OF THE QUARTERBACK, HE IS A KID TRYING TO BE A MAN. HIGH SCHOOL BALL
2 GET A COACH WHO KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A TEAM A GOOD DEFENSE TEAM
Posted by Carolina Panthers Fan and PSL Owner, China Grove, North Carolina on 11/07 at 05:18 PM
Tampa Bay fans that left early really let the Bucs down. That is really pathetic and is totally unacceptable. Fans is short for FANATIC. FANATICS are supposed to rant and rave the entire game and never give up. The Bucs never gave up on Sunday against the Panthers on the field. If the bleachers had exhibited the same fight, courage, and character then maybe the score would have been closer or maybe your team could have pulled off one of the greatest comebacks ever. Remember, that anything is possible if there is still time on the clock. Just my take as I have seen the same in Carolina even as recently as earlier this year when we lost to a lesser team that I won’t name.
Posted by Rick McKnight, Ocala, Fl. on 11/07 at 04:28 PM
Why is it that I have this horrible nightmare every week that Leeman Bennett has come back to coach the offensive line? No wait, that can’t be, we have an offensive line guru coach that has been here for perhaps five years now. Surely he could develop a stellar line with all that time to build. There is no way with all of his ability and teaching expertise we would have holding penalties, multiple motion penalties, and 10(yes that’s 10) allowed sacks in just two games. Five of which came courtesy of the worst rated defense in the NFL. Could it be that this is the reason that Cadillac looks more like an Edsel than anything else? Alas I’m afraid this is not a bad dream. Perhaps Muir should do the weekly press conference maybe then he would feel the same kind of pressure our quarterbacks feel every week. Or better yet the pressure of not having a job.
Posted by Dave Braunschweig, Waterloo, WI on 11/07 at 03:44 PM
Hey Gruden you offensive genius/guru/expert do you need any tips on beating a pathetic team, just ask the old vet Coughlin. His Giants had no problem going into San Fran. Or maybe ask another old vet Gibbs on what it takes to get your team up for a big home game against an arch rivial. His Redskins found a way to win. What did your Bucs do Gruden? That’s right stunk up the field and were embarassed at home.
Posted by Dan Hamilton, Riverview on 11/07 at 02:10 PM
With the Bucs running game at a standstill why does Gruden still refuse to give the ball to Alstott? Each week Alstott has positive results as a receiver, yet Gruden refuses to hand him the ball. He can chose to ignore the fans and the media but the game film doesnt lie.
Posted by Steve, on 11/07 at 02:02 PM
The offensive line SUCKS !!!
Posted by Ozzie, Seffner on 11/07 at 12:21 PM
I’m annoyed about the whole game yesterday, but i’ve been a fan since 1978 and have seen worse.There are worst teams out there and no one says anything about them. It’s good to care about the Bucs and of course you are going to get upset when they loose, but remember how many fans came out of the woodworks when they won the super bowl?
GO BUCS!
Posted by Bob, Dunedin on 11/07 at 11:04 AM
Hey Fans-----WE GOT BEAT!!!!!!We just won a Superbowl 2 years ago!!!!!!! Have you forgotten the 20 straight years we watched the Orange get crushed?????????Quit whining and back a team that is still OUR team!!!
Posted by Kant B'lieve, Palm Harbor on 11/07 at 10:27 AM
In over 50 years of watching and studying the game of football, I couldn’t believe what I saw yesterday.
An offensive lineman made the same penalty three times in a row. I can not ever remember seeing the same penalty committed three consecutive times.by one player. And, KW has been penalty prone frequently in the past. These are bush errors and intolerable on a well coached team.
Our team’s talent and intelligence level seems to be deteriorating. Maybe a total house cleaning is in order, but it will take a long time to bring back a superior team.
Posted by Dwight, Tampa on 11/07 at 10:27 AM
Some people claim that those who want to see Alstott play more are just being sentimental.
After the last 3 games I think its pretty obvious that he can help us.
What the hell is wrong with Gruden? Almost every time Alstott was inserted into the game early on he made a good play, then he buried him on the bench. Why?
If he had given him more carries and wasn’t doing anything I’d understand, but from the little I’ve seen Mike play this season, Alstott has shown that he still can make a real contribution to the offense.We need all the help we can get. Doesn’t take “an offensive genius” to figure that out.
The longer Gruden is here the less I like him. Yes, I will always be grateful for the championship but since then he hasn’t shown anything in the play-calling department, in keeping the penalties down or in his substitutions.
If we finish out of the playoffs again then the Glazers should start looking for someone better and keep Monte. He is running out of excuses.
Posted by Mader, Saint Petersburg, FL on 11/07 at 09:58 AM
I think the whole game came down to the fact that we didn’t blitz the Panthers when we had them three and long. The turnovers didn’t help but every time we had them needing a first down Jake D had all day to sit back there and pick out an open Panther! Did Monte Kiffin have money on Carolina?? Why do you play great aggressive defense on the first two downs then sit back and let them do whatever they want on the third? Seeing Icky Phroel catch that long pass on us “again” made me want to break something! It wouldn’t of happened if we had bought a blitz. Did we even blitz once yesterday? Let’s all join the defense in sitting back and watching other teams go right by us.
Posted by Special Lady, wesley chapel,, fl on 11/10 at 12:48 PM
The fans would not be so upset at the losses if the team played good. All we want is a good game for our money and if there is a win all the better. To say we are disappointed in this team is an understatement. We have been fans since 1977 through the good years and bad. We cannot figure out why Cadillac always goes down the middle when the sides are wide open.