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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 Owain, Portland, Maine on 11/28 at 06:26 AM
Steve Young was right. This kid Simms will not lead you to the promised land. where are all the Jon Gruden lovers. It seems that Tampa has hit a roadblock. Be happy with your luck win against Washington. It will be another year of no playoffs. Average Team, Average coach. Great city and people.
Posted by rick, lutz, florida on 11/28 at 06:10 AM
what in the world were you thinking chucky, 3rd down and 2 to go, and alstott is having a good day, you blew it big time, just wish you would one time say,,, “i blew it”, you sure did,,, and let cadillac run outside, geez thats a no brainer too, as well as pittman. so much for the big offensive mind, your a dud on this one chucky
Posted by Scott David, Tampa on 11/28 at 02:26 AM
That nasty loss is almost as nasty as Gruden’s personality.
Posted by Mo, Chicago on 11/28 at 01:27 AM
just wanted to thank Gruden for his coaching yesterday. Completely outcoached by Lovie. Simms will be seeing Brown in his sleep.
Posted by Dave, Columbus, OH on 11/27 at 11:12 PM
Wow, I love all of the Sunday night armchair quarterbacks who thinks Gruden is an idiot. Let’s be honest, the Bears were shutting down the offense most of the day then after making adjustments, Gruden has the team scoring a touchdown and setting up for what should be a easy field goal. Kickers are not expected to do much and a 29 yard field goal should have been automatic. If that field goal is made we would have won the game in OT given our defense and the momentum the offense had. Let’s be honest, Matt Bryant lost that game and he may be wondering why he is kicking in the Arena Football League next year.
Posted by Daniel, Tampa on 11/27 at 11:07 PM
The Bucs miss those two #1 and two #2 draft picks they gave up for Gruden. In the old days those picks were spent on defense. When was the last time the Bucs used a #1 pick on a defensive player? The Bears are being built by a former Buc exec, Jerry Angelo who had a hand in building those early Dungy teams. The Bears sure looked like the ‘99 Bucs; rookie QB, dominating D, ball control offense, up and coming coach. Unfortunately the Bucs looked like a team getting old on defense and just not good enough on offense. Too many penalties and too many mental mistakes.
Posted by Michael, New York City on 11/27 at 10:48 PM
Chucky,
You blew it man! Why not run Alstott for the 1st down? 2 attempts to pick up 2 yards and potential winning td. Why the timeout? You had the Bears D on the ropes. Go for the jugular! Playing for a tie at home? Where’s the rocks you had against Washington? Youve been studying game theory and film instead of going with your gut! 65,000 fans were all in for the win. Now we’ll never know what would have happened.
Posted by Earnest Phillips, Las Vegas NV on 11/27 at 08:46 PM
Can we now once and for all quit handing out the offensive genius title to like candy on Holloween. Gruden’s anointment as a ‘genuis’ was based on Enron-type info. I don’t want to hear about injuries or the salary cap. Gruden knew what the job was when he took it. What is Gruden’s offensive philosophy? Out shift the opponent. Gruden is an average offensive cordinator. He IS NOT a head coach.
Posted by Joe Smoo, Sarasota on 11/27 at 07:28 PM
How many mistakes can a supposedly good coach make? Gruden consistently makes the wrong decisions, appeals the wrong plays and fails to make mid-course corrections. Punt from the 32? Pass on 3rd and 2 with both Alstot and Williams making decent yardage throughout the game? Take little or no action to prevent Brown from wreaking havoc in our backfield? Good coaches don’t let these things happen. We deserve better.
Posted by Art, Sarasota on 11/27 at 07:10 PM
Two things that no one has mentioned (1) Simms should have covered that fumble on the one yard line , instead he tried ti pick it up with several Bears around him.
It’s about time that the D-backs start catching balls thrown right at them i.e. Barber in the 1st period.That was an easy touchdown and probably would turned the game around.
Posted by SSS, Tampa on 11/27 at 06:52 PM
Unbelievable....Then again.....We’ve seen the Bucs squeak many games out this season, but today that squeak needed a little oil. When are we going to try and establish a little moxy / momentum in the first quarter (or even the third quarter)? We got beat by a team that we should have beaten today. Of course, we should have beaten the Jets and the 49ers too. We have alot of potential. We have alot of talent on this team that apparently isn’t being used in the right sequences to make it happen for the Bucs. Hats off to the Bears for an awesome defensive display today. As for the Bucs, also a good defensive show (for the most part). But that hunger isn’t there that I saw a few years ago. Maybe a few losses will bring the hunger back. I’m still a die hard Bucs fan, but a frustrated one.
Posted by TS, New Jersey on 11/27 at 06:37 PM
You call a play action pass on third and two from your opponent’s 12-yard line? A game that at the least should have been tied, but we really should have won, but we didn’t. Simms held his own again and I have confidence in him. Welcome back defense. Play like that for the rest of the year. We just need to regroup and win the rest of the games and let the chips fall where they do. Two things though. The offensive line was just that at times today and the defense isn’t getting the balls we used to. The draft needs to get some speed and young legs on defense and soon.
Posted by Steven R. Cooley, St.Petersburg, FL on 11/27 at 06:20 PM
I have been a Buc fan since Day One. I was so frustrated at the play calling and general game management. I too believe Mike Alstot has to be used more and our “rookie” QB needs to move out of the pocket more. Why did it take until the 4th Qtr to recognize what the Chicago defense was doing and make the adjustments???
Our blocking is terrible! #88 let Brown right in to cause that fumble.
In addition, there were several questionable calls by the officials today. But, that does not cause you to lose the game! Hope it gets better!
Posted by Al, Iowa on 11/27 at 06:14 PM
Poor play calling on the bucs goal line that lead to the first Chicago touchdown. If you are going to pass, why not use Max protection or at least run the ball?
The defense also continues to let game changing big play slip through their hands, Rhonde Barber on the missed interception, and letting da bears convert on the 3rd and long with close to 2 minutes left in the game.
The bears defense looked like they were on their heels, why not use the max protect on 3rd and 2(on the field goal drive), where I have seen the bucs run pretty well out of that formation. They would have had more options.
Poor field goal kicking. I hope Matt forgets about this game because the bucs have a tendancy to keep games too close and they will need him many more times before the season is over.
Posted by Chuck Malloy, Tampa on 11/27 at 06:08 PM
Just Gutless coaching! Run the ball three and out with two minutes left in the half, down by 4! Then pass up a chance to close the gap with a 45 yard field goal, what was the risk? Chicago can’t move the ball well, and Bryant seems to do well on long goals, and bad on short ones. Just plain gutless, this was no win for the bears, who really are a lot worse than people give them credit for, it was a gift given by spineless coaching! And what the hell were we doing playing soft zone, when Chicago had almost two minutes to drive? GOD, Gruden is a MORON!
Posted by Stefan, Valrico on 11/27 at 05:48 PM
The starter went down early in the season and the reins were handed to a green QB assigned to manage the game while special teams and great defense put them on the road to the playoffs. Those teams were last years Steelers and this year’s Bears. It could be this year’s Bucs too but not if we can’t consistantly keep defenses honest against the run otherwise they will continue to pin their ears back. We need to do what we did well earlier this season but then we have already played all the creampuffs on the schedule except for the Saints
Posted by kd, valrico on 11/27 at 05:31 PM
yep, I have enjoyed how the Bears are STILL being looked over and not getting any respect. Hopefully they will be the White Sox of the NFL this year!
Posted by JF Brown, Tampa on 11/27 at 05:30 PM
Once again, Jon Gruden was out coached and we can now predict it will continue to occur. I thought I read this morning where he was maturing.
How many times did Alstott touch the ball today and how productive was he whenever he did get to touch the ball? Are we the only ones who can see this? Why aren’t we running the ball more?
Out coached again. However, a place kicker will get the blame for lousy coaching.
Posted by Sean Bussey, New Jersey on 11/27 at 05:24 PM
What else is there to say? The ‘05 Bucs, just got beat by the ‘99 Bucs....
That’s the style of defense and intensity Tampa use to have. I guess Lovie took it with him, when he left…
Posted by jim, spring hill on 11/27 at 05:03 PM
Just gut wrenching.We did not work the clock well on our touchdown drive. We were near enough to the sidelines on a couple of those play’s. It seemed like we thought we had all day to beat this defense. Just frustrating and semi arrogant.
Posted by KDS, England on 11/28 at 07:15 AM
Since we lost to the Bears this weekend, here is what I think we can plan for.....am I right?
Three straight games on the road for these Bucs. If these Bucs can prevent being upset by the Saints, they will go into Carolina all fired up. PAYBACK TIME! Mark my words, that game in Carolina is the key to the post season (It will be a very close game, hopefully we can pull it out).
Then off to New England in a game that I hope we can simply stay injury free, because the last two games at home are must win games to challenge for a wildcard.
At least we have a chance this year!