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It looked like the old Bucs out there Sunday. Grind it out, wear the opponent down, punctuate the whole affair with decisive plays on defense.
Oh, wait. That was the other team doing that.
Well, anyway, it was certainly a traditional-type Tampa Bay game against Chicago at Raymond James, only they must have switched uniforms. The Bears played it safe, relying on a world-class defense and a quarterback instructed not to lose games rather than win them by himself.
The Bucs, meanwhile, seemed willing to put the outcome in Chris Simms’ hands, and while he can’t be blamed for the loss, one wonders if Jon Gruden would like a few of those plays wasted on incompletions back.
What he CERTAINLY would like back, are the kind words he showered upon Matt Bryant while contrasting him to the ever-erratic Martin Gramatica. Bryant will, naturally, get most of the abuse (and there will be plenty) from fans who felt 8-3 was a given coming into the weekend, and it’s true he’s part of an eccentric niche market of professionals paid very well for a unique skill.
But mistakes happen. Bryant has won games for the Bucs before and, given the chance, he’ll almost certainly do so again.
Perhaps the biggest mistake on the day, though, was the Bucs trying to become the un-Bucs. Leaving Simms to fend off the best defensive ends in football, rather than sticking to a running game that was reasonably effective, was a punt (after punt) waiting to happen. As good as Joey Galloway has been for Simms (and the Bucs), this is still a team built on ball control and defensive bullies.
That formula worked well again Sunday - just for someone else.
Posted by Lorraine, Riverview on 11/30 at 06:32 PM
I agree with some of you that say, Gruden does not have faith in Alstott, even though he has proven that he can get the job done. Third and two, we should of given it to the A-train, I believe we would of had much better results. Gruden is really ticking me off, actually been since he got rid of alot of our good players, Sapp, Lynch, Jurevicius, etc and limits the playing time of one of our best, Alstott.
Posted by Dan Robinson, Japan on 11/29 at 04:16 PM
Let’s all keep the game in perspective shall we? Yeah, Gruden might have made bad call on that 3&2 or yeah it’s the kicker’s fault for missing...how about looking at the game from the start..we’d probably kick the crap out of the bears if we had an offensive line that could throw a block..Simms and Gruden had their number all day..just couldn’t execute under fire constantly. How about our beloved Defense? 2nd and 16 and you give them the 1st down? not sure what is happening with our D but something needs to change or it’ll be short post season (if at all)..in short, mistakes were made all over the field starting with our O-Line..pick your poison after that 
Posted by Sean Bussey, New Jersey on 11/29 at 03:30 PM
It is me, or has anyone noticed how the Bears and Colts have quietly become to of the best tackling teams in the NFL. Did Dungy and Smith take the secret of hard hitting and being in position at all times, with them?
Or, has the defense declined so bad, that they’ve reduced to a shell of what they once were? There were some serious hits made by the Bears and Colts, this weekend. And not one time, was their a single defender out of position. I had to break out some game tapes from ‘97, ‘98, ‘99 - ‘02 so I could be reminded of what once was. It might be the decline of a legendary defense...but with what Simms has done the last few weeks...We’re seeing the birth of an NFL QB, right before our eyes. He sure reminded me of Kenny Stabler, with those deep drops and throwing the ball downfield. With Simms, Cadillac, Clayton, Smith and a young offensive line. We could be seeing a prolific offense, in the making...Give another season…
Posted by manny navarro, wahoo fl on 11/29 at 03:20 PM
NO OFFENSIVE GENIUS IN BUC LAND. JUST OFFENSIVE PLAYCALLING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
Posted by manny navarro, wahoo fl on 11/29 at 03:16 PM
i am just agreeing with everyone who watched the game . i think the fans know more about football then the tribune sports writers. hell what game did they watch.come on guys quit ass kissing gruden and write the facts. all you write about is gruden praising the players. hes trying to cover up his lack of coaching skills. old monte’s defense does not know when to blitz.beat again by a ragarm going nowhere quarterback .
Posted by Mike Kaufmann, Tampa on 11/29 at 01:55 PM
Our Bucs have just barely won more than one close game and appear to be less than driven and are VERY undisciplined. Gruden’s play calling and tremendous ego has sunk us again. He can use smoke and mirrors only so long - there must be substance somewhere to continually win the difficult games. Anyone heard how ol’ Dungy is doing these days?
Posted by Don, Pt Charlotte on 11/29 at 01:52 PM
What bothers me more than the 3rd and 2 pass play is the fact that the D-backs have been dropping interceptions all year.
The coaching has been subpar for the past 3 years. It seems the Bucs rarely stop a 3rd down play. No matter if it’s 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 17. Why is that?
The losses to San Fran and the Jets will probably keep us out of the playoffs.
Posted by jared, titusville on 11/29 at 12:10 PM
i think we need to lay off gruden. sure it was a bad call on 3rd and 2. the old bucs wouldnt have put up the points to get us to that point in the game. Gruden is an offensive minded coach and we are just now getting the pieces in place for his offense. Our D continues to impress although we need to start drafting to replace some guys. in the end we probably deserved to lose this game considering we gotten lucky on some calls this year (detroit tight end catch that probably shouldnt have been overturned and the galloway “push out” that didnt happen). all in all things even out over the season, theres no doubt in my mind if we play chicago again we will beat them, hell we beat them sunday the scoreboard just didnt reflect it.
Posted by Bruce Miller, St. Louis, Missouri on 11/29 at 08:58 AM
I had this penciled in as a win, and it should have been, this was a crucial game for 2 reasons: 1. It would have put you at 8 - 3 and still tied for first in the division. 2. It would have been a great springboard to a VERY TOUGH 3 game road trip which begins at New Orleans. A couple of tips: When the ball comes loose, you fall on it, you don’t try to pick it up in a crowd, worst case you punt from the 5 yard line and you don’t give up that touchdown early. Also when it’s 3rd and 2 and you have Alstott and Cadillac, you pound the ball, Chicago was on its heels and we would have scored 6 to go up late in the game. Right now Carolina IS NOT the key game, it’s New Orleans. This is a BIG game for the Bucs. The Saints won last week, they’ve got some momentum, I don’t care that they’re 3-8. What was Frisco’s record when the Bucs went out west?? Let’s not make the same mistake twice!!
Posted by Ron Undieme, St Petersburg on 11/29 at 08:08 AM
Well, it was about time the Bucs players got on the same page. Everyone played like a rookie. No exceptions.Except for Joey Galloway. Without him we would have had nothing. Not that we had much. No offense, no defense and now not even a kicker. How hard can it be to kick a 29 yard field goal. I know kids on the punt, pass and kick compitition that could make that with their eyes closed.
Ohh well, time to get Dungy back. Wait, I hear Tony can’t coach an offense....
Posted by gregory, chicago on 11/28 at 08:19 PM
wow, you buc fans sure are hard on your coach. Tampa Bay has had a top ten defense for 10 years, a recent super bowl victory, and a fine current team that is contending for their division title. Lighten up, enjoy the fact that you do not have Kyle Orton to lead your offense. Take solace in the fact that Chicago has had one truly inept coach after another for twenty years. we know about second guessing moronic sideline decisions and Gruden is no moron.
Good luck to your terrific team.
Posted by Abe Gibron, chicago on 11/28 at 08:06 PM
How can you get beat by a team that cannot score points. Why didn’t you just keep throwing to Joey. He was eating up the Bear secondary.
Posted by steve, portland or on 11/28 at 08:00 PM
THIRD AND 2, 11 YARD LINE, GIVE THE BALL TO ALSTOTT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. HOW STUPID IS GRUDEN ? DOES HE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALSTOTT? DO WE HAVE TO BEAT IT INTO HIM? THE LOSS IS ALL GRUDENS FAULT
Posted by DEBBIE, TAMPA on 11/28 at 07:15 PM
WHAT IS WRONG WITH GRUDEN? HE OBVIOUSLY HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN ALLSTOTT OR WILLIAMS. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT EITHER ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE 2 YARDS WE NEEDED WHICH IN TURN WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A WINNING TOUCHDOWN. HE HAD NO FAITH IN THEM AND DECIDED TO GO FOR WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A SURE THING, A TIE.WE DON’T WANT A TIE GRUDEN, WE WANT A WIN....... THERE IS NO ONE TO BLAME FOR THE LOSS TO D BEARS EXCEPT GRUDEN, AND I WISH FOR ONCE HE WOULD ADMIT THAT HE MESSED UP. IT’S NOT THE KICKERS FAULT (EXTRA POINTS DO GET MISSED). FIRST GAME I GOT TO GO TO ALL SEASON, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES GRUDEN!
Posted by Jack Roth, NEW PORT RICHEY on 11/28 at 07:03 PM
The team lost as a team. Get off of Gruden’s back. I like Mike A. as much as anyone, but he is not God. We beat the Bears, but the scoreboard didn’t show it.
Posted by terry urbanski, winnipeg,manitoba,canada on 11/28 at 03:41 PM
I agree with that on 3rd and 2 the ball should have been given to alstott,but i also think that with the succes simms has had throwing the ball downfeild late in the past three games that this should be happening alot earlier in the game.The long pass to galloway in the game was great,but i am amazed that the bucs didn’t try it again.Gruden always said all they needed was a deep threat,but now that they have one they don’t use him nearly enough.
Posted by Bob, Chicago, Illinois on 11/28 at 03:39 PM
To the Tampa Bay fan who mentioned if the Bucs played in the NFC North they would be ranked #1 in defence. The NFC South hasn’t impressed the Bears at all. The Bears already beat New Orleans, Carolina and Tampa Bay, all that’s left is Atlanta for the sweep. Good Luck making the playoffs and we hope to see you and your guy Gruden again down the line. Next time in our neighborhood. Bring your thermal underwear.
Posted by RICH BACCHESCHI, TAMPA on 11/28 at 01:41 PM
DA BUCS VS DA BEARS >> BAD START BRINGS BAD OUTCOME. I WANTED TO COME OUT PASSING TO PROTECT THE QB,RB AND [OL]. ANY TEAM CAN PASS 3 TIMES AND PICK UP A FIRST DW. ONCE YOU GET TO THE 50 YD LINE THAT BUILDS TEAM CONFIDENCE AND YOU CAN MIX THE RUN WITH THE PASS. THAN IF YOU ARE FORCED TO PUNT WE HAVE THE BEARS PINNED DW INSIDE THE 20. ALL THIS HELPS YOU AVOID THE RUSH, THE 2YDS GAINED BY CADILLAC AND THE A-TRAIN LEADIND UP TO THE 7 PTS ALLOWED FROM INCHES AWAY. FORGET ABOUT ESTABLISHING THE RUN. THAT IS ALL THE BEARS WERE CONCERNED WITH. OUT-FOX THOSE BEARS !
WISH I COULD SAY MORE. THANKS RICH
Posted by Hope Christoff, Dunedin, FL on 11/28 at 01:25 PM
Well, moved here from Tennessee, but my football days still suck. I can see why the Titans are losing, but there are quite a few talented players on the Buc’s team - so much potential! Seems to me we could use a new coaching style.
Posted by Gerald, Maui,Hawaii on 11/28 at 01:03 PM
I hope the local media down there ask Gruden what was he thinking on 3rd & 2 on the 12 yard line,you have Alstott & Williams in the lineup & yet he decides to pass on that play rather than run it.Alstott & Williams were running well against a tough Chicago front,could of pick up 2 yds. running the damm ball. Bonehead play calling.
Posted by Doug, Tampa, FL. on 11/28 at 11:02 AM
Let’s see, it’s under 5 minutes to play in the game. You’re on your opponent’s 12-yard line and it’s third down and you need 2 yards for a first down. You have the best short yardage fullback in the NFL for the past 10 years on your team...What do you do??? Call a pass play, what else??? Gruden has got to go, I for one am tired of his “know-it-all” attitude that is fueled by his huge ego.
Posted by dale hastings, tampa on 11/28 at 10:40 AM
3rd and 2 yards at the 12 yrd line. We’ve got Williams, Pittman, and Alstott to run two yards in two plays. Passing the ball in this situation was what lost the game. Run Run Run. Get it? 
Posted by MARIE CHANDLER, LAKELAND, FL on 11/28 at 09:28 AM
I am a woman and most guys would say I know nothing about football, but I would have liked for Gruden to have went for the yardage on fourth-and-2 w/ Alstott (to get the first down) instead of the field goal. Bu then again I know nothing!!!
Posted by Adam Locascio, Tampa, FL on 11/28 at 07:47 AM
I can handle getting beat by a better team… but we simply got outcoached on Sunday - and that’s awful for the team and the fans.
I have no respect for the Bears D. If we played in the North, we’d be the number one D in the league, statistically. The “number one” defense in the league doesn’t let a bottom-half offense march the length of the field TWICE in the fourth quarter. And let’s be honest. The Bears did nothing to stop that kick from going through the pipes.
If the Bucs take care of business in Carolina in two weeks, we can own the South and the Bears will be one-and-done in the playoffs, so no worries.
Posted by RANDY SANDERSON, ANTIOCH,IL on 11/30 at 06:40 PM