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Apologists will be quick to point out that the Bucs were finishing a three-game road trip Saturday, that finishing such a task undefeated is simply not realistic in the NFL.
There is truth to that, just as there is to the thoroughness of the whipping New England applied to them. Both teams left the field at 9-5, but there would be NO truth in saying that they’re comparable in any other sense at this point.
A shockingly decisive win in Carolina left no doubt in the minds of most that the Bucs were destined for the playoffs. That should still hold true, even after Saturday’s debacle. When the hottest team in their conference is the notoriously-fickle Vikings, the rear-view should hardly be the first thing on their minds.
Just as importantly, the remaining schedule (home games against Atlanta and New Orleans) is more than conducive to reaching the “tournament” Jon Gruden so often refers to.
The question is: What then?
Will they fold as horrendously as they did against the Patriots? Will they be as thoroughly inept in some NFC venue as they were in the den of the defending champions?
Clearly, New England senses that the time to push ahead is now; that’s how championship teams operate. Maybe they would have applied the same pasting to anyone, and the Bucs were simply in the wrong place at the right time.
But if they don’t treat this game as a blueprint for how to operate from this point forward, the postseason will prove to be anything BUT their place.
Posted by bob, Boston on 12/18 at 10:08 AM
The Bucs are a young team and they will have their day. The Pats have been hurt all year. Now they have all of their players back. The secondary is coming together so I am not sure if going deep would have helped. The Pats were bad against the run, but have been very strong the last 4 games.
It is December and that is when the Pats always step up.
I am not saying that they can win the SB, but I bet the rest of the league took notice.
Good luck in the future. You have a good young team
Bob
Posted by Don MacLeod, Venice, FL on 12/18 at 09:32 AM
So much for being on national TV to show what kind of team the Bucs are!
They really showed their true colors against New England, lousy offensive line, POOR discipline (read special teams penalties), and definitely outcoached.
If the Bucs make the playoffs, it will be because of a Carolina letdown in the remainder of the season.
Posted by Debbie, Orlando on 12/18 at 09:23 AM
So, we went up north and lost to New England. Chucky needs to give his offense a break & have a little faith in them!?! Sure, they’re filled with rookies, but these guys are maturing together. Clyde Christiansen nonsense like bringing the punter out in the 1st quarter on a 4th and 4-6” ain’t no confidence builder. Plus Chucky acts snake-bit around Belichick--get off it Jon, you ain’t in Oakland anymore. Now, we come home (compare that to the Saints’ sad fate)and win the games that count. GO MIGHTY BUCS and do it!
Posted by Debbie, Orlando on 12/18 at 09:13 AM
GO MIGHTY BUCS! 
Posted by Victor Barney, LeHigh Acres, Florida on 12/18 at 09:11 AM
Originally,I wanted Parcells to become the coach, but I thought that we would be “okay” with Gruden and he did win a Super Bowl with Dungy’s team. However, I don’t see Gruden as the same coach that I thought I knew from Oakland. While Kiffin has proved over the years to be a great defensive coach, Gruden apears to be a bust! It just seems to me that a “coach” can never go home i.e., Anybody come to mind in Detroit?
Posted by Casper Larsen, Fredericia, Denmark(Northern Europe) on 12/18 at 09:06 AM
Now take it easy with the blame on Gruden.. Watch the game again...There is a bunch of max protection plays and the gameplan was set up for the massive pressure by the Patriots…
Instead we should maybe look at downgrading Walker and starting Chris Colmer....
This game is OVER!. We need to get going and win the next two and clinch the NFC South (Carolina has to win 1 more game than we do to win the division because of the tiebreaker)
Posted by Andy Micklos, New Port Richey, Fl on 12/18 at 07:26 AM
Has anybody told John Gruden that Mike Alstott is on his team? When you have less than 1 yard to go for a first down and you send Williams up the gut instead of Alstott you prove what kind of amateur you really are. Also, would someone please tell Simms that it is OK to try to avoid a sack. Maybe give him an example or something.
Posted by Scott David, Tampa Fl on 12/18 at 01:32 AM
No more saying Cadillac...Just plain old Carnell!!!!!
Posted by EB, NORFOLK, VA on 12/18 at 01:02 AM
One would be quick to call the BUCS pathetic after being demolished by the PATS, but this game conveyed where the BUCS rank relative to the big boys in the NFL - at the bottom with all the other contenders for Reggie Bush. The BUCS were simply out-played in every area, physically and mentally, including being totally out-coached. They cannot blame the weather and use the old “it just wasn’t our day” as an excuse for their loss. The offensive line was atrocious and the play calling was incedibly, as usual, predictable. I hope this game was a setup to deceive the Falcons and Saints, for if the Bucs play like they played today, they’ll be able to start their vacation New Year’s day. Finally, and nothing against Simms, but why would you keep your QB in the game with an injured throwing hand, especially against one of the best teams in the league. Should it not have been intuitively obvious that you need to bring your “A-GAME” against NE to have any chance of a win, coach?
Posted by Bill, Wesley Chapel on 12/17 at 11:49 PM
No “GURU” seen today!!!
Posted by Lester Grimes, Sanford on 12/17 at 11:15 PM
Thanks to our O-line we lost another game. Chris Simms played as well as he could under the circumstances. Caddy had no where to run. Great defense can only hold a good team down so long. All though we lost 28-0 I did not feel we were beaten as bad as the score reads. We will only go as far as our O-line will take us. Do there job we win, don’t and we might as well go home.
Posted by Tucker Campion, new haven, CT on 12/17 at 10:58 PM
I was at the game today and from my vantage point not ONCE did Gruden throw it deep. You can’t expect much from Carnell when the safeties are in the box because they have no fear of getting beat deep since Chucky does not even test them!! That’s what opens up the running game...safeties and linebackers on their heels a little bit. Simms has the arm to let it fly, even if it is incomplete, you have planted a seed of doubt in their heads.
Posted by Bob, Dunedin on 12/17 at 10:35 PM
Teams that play all year in the Suth’n climes are at a huge disadvantage in the frozen tundra. Yanqui teams have a huge adantage playing in that crap.. Bucs will do well when they get back to RJ and civilized weather...GO BUCS!!!!!
Posted by G. Lee, Moreno Valley, California on 12/17 at 10:28 PM
Well Buc fans, welcome back to reality. We just played a superior team today. We played the Super Bowl champions at their home and they handed it to us. With that said, WHEN IS GRUDEN GOING TO START COACHING! I am tired of everyone talking about what a offensive genius he is. You put tight ends, running backs, fullbacks in motion for what...a toss play?!? Chris throws ONLY to a Galloway, a tight end, or a back in the flat.
Some shining spots in the game were the fact that we were able to move the ball, and the fact that we basically shut Corey Dillon down. But like I said earlier, we just played an experienced team that has better coaching and better chemistry than we do right now.
FIRE DEM CANNONS!!!
Posted by robert, belgrade lakes, maine on 12/17 at 10:13 PM
Hmmm, an interesting pre-game stat...Tampa is 40 and 9 when Alstott scores a TD...seems like that kind of stat would carry some weight...actually it would for other teams!
I really don’t think we can blame this one on the weather, the young quarterback or a slipping defense....I think we were out coached and under coached thru out the game. C’mon Gruden...nobody is referring to this as Dungy’s team anymore, ease off the pride a bit and play the play makers...why is Cadillac running on third and one instead of Alstott? Williams is a great runner, but the keyed on him thru out the entire game...when do you mix things up? 40 to nothin? 50 to nothin? seriously, coach or couch...is time to pick one.
Posted by Tim, Boston,ma on 12/17 at 09:47 PM
I would have to agree that the TB offense was way too predictable. They should have attacked the secondary more. However there was alot of pressure on Simms, that made it tough to sit in the pocket and let the pass plays develop. Gruden should have made an adjustment to blocking strategies, two tight ends?? Quick sweeps to the outside? You guys are a good team. Pats are finally healthy and team they could have been from the start. Good Luck!
Posted by Mike McC, Concord, MA on 12/17 at 09:13 PM
As a native New Englander who spent three years at MacDill (and Valrico)with Special Operations Command - I like the Bucs but love the Patriots. The Bucs hit the Pats at the wrong time, when they started to get some of their injured players back with a huge chip on their shoulders. The champions are back and the rest of the NFL should beware.
Posted by Joe Smoo, Sarasota on 12/17 at 08:22 PM
Man, what a letdown! Again I ask, how can Gruden be considered an offensive expert when he turns in performances as sad and predictable as this. The Bucs stepped on their own toes so many times today. Perhaps Cadilac should have run up the middle a few more times just to prove he can’t do it. Don’t try to exploit his speed an send him outside - too logical. Caddy on 3rd and 1 with Mike A. in the game? I’m afraid it’s the same old story that we’ve had to live with for many, many years - the O line sucks!!!!!!!!!! Coaching sucks!!!!!!
Why do we always have to spot the other team 3 or 7 points on the first drive of the game? I always knew that we’d return a punt or kickoff and get a penalty to negate it.
Posted by casey duncan, michigan on 12/17 at 07:49 PM
GRUDEN is a mediocre coach. He inherited a ‘Super Bowl ready’ team from Dungy, and walked into the end zone with them. Monte Kiffin is the only reason that team is competitive. Like GRUDEN said pregame “look at the scoreboard after the game...”.
ARE YOU LOOKING????????
Posted by Wayne Randall, on 12/17 at 07:37 PM
I think Montana is as good as Brady…
Posted by Ajax, Boston on 12/17 at 07:34 PM
It seemed like this was going to be a lot closer. Sorry TB, you shoulda caught us at the beginning of the season. The train has picked up speed. Hope you make the PO’s cuz you have a good team.
Posted by Hawkmauk, Dallas Texas on 12/17 at 07:30 PM
I agree a butt kicking like this will get Gruden and the Bucs all fired up.
Think about it.........Bucs win out .......which they will........Carolina loses 1 game and they still have to play Dallas and Atlanta in Atlanta, a loss by the Giants.......hopefully my Washington which is in Washington.......and a couple of losses by Chicago who has to play Atlanta.......the go to GB and Minn............then Tampa is the #2 seed. This is not much to ask for........because as I write this NY is having major problems with KC. Trust me Chicago has no offense and will faulter in GB, Minn.......or both.
And Carolina will get beat by either Dallas or Atlanta.
Go Bucs.....I’m a Believer and I live in Dallas. Gruden is doing a great job with a very young team.......give him a break.........everybody will be jumping for joy as this team matures. The man knows what he is doing. It’s easy to critize. Chill out Buc fans.........we’ll get there........great days are coming back soon.
Posted by CT, on 12/17 at 06:55 PM
Congratulations to Brady, Belichick & the entire Patriots Team! They played like the SB Champions that they are!
Belichick picked on the Bucs’ secondary weakness (Bolden) and constantly blitzed the young Simms. You can bet that both Atlanta and New Orleans will do the same.
This was indeed a wake-up call for the Bucs! Again, Gruden’s gameplan was predictable- run Cadillac up the middle each & every time! Gruden, please mix it up! If your games continue to be predictable, the Bucs will most likely be eliminated in the wildcard playoff, the way it currently looks!
Posted by Dave Janeway, Dade City on 12/17 at 06:51 PM
I’m gonna armchair quarterback here - the Buvs O-line couldn’t handle the Pats D. Ok - this is where Gruden excels - but the play calling was horrible. Why not go deep, and go deep a lot. Who cares if the Bucs are picked off 5-6 times? If it’s in the Pats zone, big deal.
I expected Gruden to come up with a better game plan - watching Bruschi call Gruden’s playbook hurts.
Posted by bryan waddell, brandon on 12/18 at 10:30 AM
The bucs got cocky after beating the Panthers and were strutting around behaving like a high school team. New England came in and knocked them off their perch. Maybe now they will learn, its not over untill you’re holding up that trophy - Any Given Sunday.