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Most Bucs discussions last week seemed to start with “Well, after the Carolina game...”, the clear implication being that despite yet another impending loss to the Panthers, the Bucs could still think about their place in the playoff picture.
And, to be sure, there was a systematic dismantling in Charlotte Sunday, just as many predicted. But the fact that it was the Bucs doing the wrecking means that the postseason has gone from a decent possibility to a virtual certainty for them.
Tampa Bay has won nine games (five on the road) and is a very solid bet to win 11. Whether that’s good enough to claim the NFC South title or not, it would be a lock for the playoffs and probably even a first-round home game.
That’s a feeling like old times for the Bucs, which is only logical considering the way they’ve gotten to this point is exactly how they’ve done it before. Just like last week (albeit against lesser competition in the Saints in that case), the Bucs stuck with a basic offense Sunday centered around ball control. In contrast to the first meeting with Carolina, they didn’t turn the ball over, which let the season’s true MVP, the defense, carry the day.
The Panthers’ Steve Smith, considered by some a league MVP candidate earlier in the year, was irrelevant but for one long scoring catch. DeShaun Foster and Stephen Davis, at times the best running back tandem in football, will feel every one of their yards gained this week. Gritty Jake Delhomme often seemed overmatched against the Bucs’ often-shifting schemes, and even Carolina’s loyal fans were restless by halftime.
It’s the Bucs’ biggest win since January in San Diego, but only if they maintain the momentum of these last two weeks. That won’t be easy in the Arctic-like cold of New England against a bunch that knows a bit about meaningful games - but their visitors are getting that way pretty quickly, too.
Posted by goPATS4life, boston on 12/16 at 04:30 PM
PATS ARE THE BEST! get use to it!
Posted by Bill Siebold, Gibsonton, Fl. on 12/15 at 12:32 PM
The Buc’s are playing ball like they did in 2002. If they continue they can finish the season with a 12-4 record. Sims is proving he can run this team and not make the errors of the past. The deffense is still a little slow on the first drive, they have to tightnen up and shut them down. Go get Buc’s the super bowl is waiting.
Posted by Debbie, Orlando on 12/15 at 12:26 PM
GO MIGHTY BUCS!!! 
I’ve been standing proud by this team since the late 1970s. If Chucky (for whom we gave up almost the entire pirate ship)can give us the final third part we’ve always dreamt off: an offense; we will be the best and scariest team in this league. You can bet Holmgren, Mr. Dungy, Belichik, etc. are keeping quiet eyes on the growing hurricane in central FL. Also, tell Bruce Allen to keep his mouth SHUT about hurricanes and New Orleans. THIS is Hurricane Alley, by the way, Mr. Allen so shuttup! We don’t need the curse.
GO MIGHTY BUCS--DETROIT IN 2006!
Posted by BD, NE on 12/15 at 10:18 AM
This game simply comes down to which team wants it more and there’s no question that both teams want this game very badly. While clearly the game is more critical to Tampa given their current division race, the Patriots are at that point of the year where they know the playoffs are coming and they seek to establish that momentum that has carried them through and to the Super Bowl three of the last four years.
By no means will this be an easy game for either team. I believe this will be a battle. I don’t believe that either team will runaway with this game. Of course I give the Pats the nod just because until it’s proven otherwise, they know how to win the big games. This is a big game in that it shows the Pats where they’re at. It’s a statement game for both teams and as such it will be a war until the end.
Good luck and may the better team win!
Posted by dennis perello, tampa on 12/14 at 09:08 PM
actually its suppose to be 32 degrees and feel like 45 due to the sun on saturday, the game is at 1:30 pm not at night or early morning when the temp. has been dropping in boston.Got friends that live there who have told me how its like a blizzard in the morning and bright a sunny during the day.. remember the sun brngs heat!!!
Pats are the better team till we can prove it by beating them. but I think we have a good chance. And we do have a running attack as well. Once the game is over good luck with the rest of the season. Afer all I was in Jacksonville supporting you guy in between the mass of philly fans who are complete JERKS. and thats why i dont care one bit about there injuries or pathetic season..
Posted by Dan, Dover, NH on 12/14 at 01:02 PM
Greetings from New England! Hate to break it to ya, but it’s going to be -5 on Saturday, and we are getting 6 inches of snow Friday night. I saw somebody say it was gonna be 41? That’s funny as hell. It hasn’t been that warm in 3 freakin weeks! Good luck to your team, I think Barber and Brooks are awsome, and Chris Simms will be good. WILL. Heres the problem. Tom Brady IS GREAT. and rumors of his injury being serious are greatly exagerated. Also you point to our running game being bad? Corey Dillon has been out for about 2 months and is back baby. And the Defense, which was missing some key players is back. Forget Monte Kiffon. Bellicheck is the Defensive Master of the NFL. Still I wish you and your team the best, just like the Pats you were once laughing stocks of the NFL, and I wish everyone that wasn’t here when the Pats went 1-15 14 years ago would stay off the Damn bandwagon. See you in snowy Foxboro, GO PATS< THREE TIME SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!!
Posted by CT, on 12/13 at 08:25 PM
Brady is hurting with his leg injury.
Here are some interesting numbers:
Although the Patriots are 6-0 against teams with losing records this year,they’re 2-5 against teams with winning records.
Patriots’ Offense is mostly Passing Offense (#2 in NFL), but their Rushing Offense is #22 in NFL.
The Bucs’ Passing Defense is #4 in NFL and the Rushing Defense is #5 in NFL.
-Great Defense STOPS Good Offense.
Patriots’ Pass Defense is #31 in NFL, and their Average Rushing Yards allowed per game is ~105.
-Bucs’ Simms/Galloway and Cadillac should all be able to pass/rush against
the Patriots’ Defense.
Gruden/Monty: Get the Bucs & a winning gameplan in order! We should beat the Patriots! GO BUCS!
Posted by Bruce Miller, St. Louis, Missouri on 12/13 at 03:11 PM
Can’t help it, I’m really getting pumped up for this game vs New England. If the Bucs can win this game, the schedule is as follows, and my predictions:
Tampa - @ New Engl. win
Atl. win
N.O. win
Atlanta - @ Chi. Loss
@ Tampa Loss
Car. win
Carolina - @ N.O. Win
Dallas Win
@ Atl. Loss
This gives Tampa the NFC South title and a 12-4 record and with Chicago and Minnesota playing against each other in Minnesota the last weekend, the Vikes win and Tampa gets the no. 2 seed and a bye which would be huge. The Bucs would obviously have to finish ahead of the Bears because we would lose the tie break based on a loss to Chicago. Isn’t December fun!!!
Posted by John Gonzales, Childress Texas on 12/13 at 01:53 AM
Like I said Last week the Bucs are a great team and they can play with the big boys and win!!!!!!!!!!!! Now is time to focus on our next big win,the mighty Patriots.
GO GET’EM BUCS !!!! 
Posted by CT, on 12/12 at 08:47 PM
This game was so good that I didn’t want it to end! Since Kasay’s missed field goal on the 1st opening drive, the Bucs’ defense took over.
This Saturday’s game with the Patriots is showing good omen for the Bucs:
1-predicted weather is 41 degrees- good football weather. 2- Patriots’ defense is ~#29/32 teams- tear it up Simms/Galloway! 3- Brady hurt his leg running in a TD (his first in 2 years) so I guess he won’t be as “mobile"- AKA...Field day for the Bucs’ Defense! Simeon is due for a couple of sacks when Barber doesn’t get his CB blitz call. The Bucs can win in Foxboro, too,
if they perform as a team like Sunday’s Panthers game. Gruden/Monty, give us another good gameplan for the Patriots!
Posted by Betty Reid, Waxhaw, North Carolina on 12/12 at 03:30 PM
Great Job! There are alot of Bucs fans up here in the Charlotte area that are very proud.
Posted by Tony, Tampa on 12/12 at 03:05 PM
I love how the Bucs have proven all of these media morons dead wrong. They tried to run Gruden out of town, now they are forced to sing his praises when he and his staff have the Bucs motivated and prepared each week. Go ahead Tampa Trib and St. Pete Times keep being negative about the Bucs, I hope they win inspite of your lack of knowledge about the heart of this football team. I’m so pumped and jazzed about this team, running the football and stopping the run. Tampa stand by your team, show some pride we are going to the playoffs!!! How good do Allen & Gruden look now with awesome free agent aqusitions like Juran Bolden, Anthony Becht, Chris Hovan and Ike Hillard. All contributing and healthy.
Posted by Ari, Tampa on 12/12 at 02:40 PM
WAY TO GO BUCS!!! CONGRATS IN SUCH A WONDERFUL GAME!! KEEP GOING!!
Posted by Andy Wills, hernando beach on 12/12 at 01:00 PM
Hey!
Maybe now the nay-sayers will shut up!!!!
This team is for real, Simms has proved that he can lead the team, Cadillac has proved he has the goods and the D is playing Buc Ball! The fans can’t ask for anything more. As I’ve said for years, “All the way with Tampa Bay!”
AWills
Posted by Slick, Clearwater on 12/12 at 11:14 AM
Way to Go Bucs!!! Great individual performances, great teamwork, great coaching. If the team plays like they did on Sunday, they can beat any one. Including the Colts!!! I am making my reservations for Detroit today!
Coach, the folks in Foxboro owe you one for that lousy call in the Snow Bowl 4 years ago. Go up there and show them who’s boss.
Slick
Posted by Ron Undieme, St Petersburg on 12/12 at 11:10 AM
At Last. This is the Bucs we have been looking for. Not the team that gave games away to the 49ers and Jets. Just think, if they could have won those games they would be tied with Seattle for the lead in the NFL at 11-2. But now I think we have a chance against anybody around. Lets just focus on one game at a time starting Saturday in frigid Foxboro. Then, who know, the playoffs loom.
Posted by Dr. Rick Caicedo, Gainesville, FL on 12/12 at 10:38 AM
Buccaneers, baby!!!!
* 5-2 on the road
* 7-3 in NFC
* 3-1 in Division
* 7-1 when scoring first
* 7-1 when leading at half
* Undefeated when leading at 4th qtr
* Barber 1st CB ever with 20 sacks/20 INT
* Barber stepped in front of Ricky Proehl, whose catch as a Ram in 99 NFC kept us out of SB
* Patriots are beatable, even in snow
Posted by Thomas Neubig, Ridge Manor Estates, Florida on 12/12 at 08:48 AM
This team played like a finely tuned watch. It was a pleasure to watch (unintened pun) the game. They reminded me of the 2002 BUCS. Go all the way tampa.
Posted by Charles Woods, tampa on 12/12 at 08:42 AM
Great win that started with play calling. Gruden finally put his talent on display with timely plays that kept our nemesis off-balance. Simms has been maturing every week and even Kenyata Walker had his head in the game. Hats off to the bone-crushing hits from our defense. Yes, New England is cold this time of year, but if we keep playing pirate-ball, Detroit will be a day at the beach.
Posted by Bruce Miller, St. Louis, Missouri on 12/12 at 07:39 AM
You beat us in our house, fine, we’ll just fly in and dominate you in your place!! I had said last week that it was going to take a great effort from everyone to beat Carolina and with perhaps their greatest effort of the year, the Bucs did just that. Kudos to Cadillac, Simms, Rhonde, and what a hit by Will Allen on Steve Smith. The Bucs defense is looking like the days of old. Keep the momentum going guys, it’s going to be cold up in New England, but with the same effort, we can shut down the Pats.
Posted by JACK ROTH, NEW PORT RICHEY on 12/12 at 07:28 AM
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THEY WIN AS A TEAM AND LOSE AS A TEAM. MAYBE FOR THIS WEEK PEOPLE WILL STAY OFF OF GRUDENS BACK. THANKS FOR THE WIN!
Posted by KDS, ENGLAND on 12/12 at 03:57 AM
Can Tampa win on the road - YES
Is Tampa healthy - YES
Is Tampa’s D still pissed off about being called old at the beginning of the season - YES
Last week I said that Tampa was healthy. Looks like Booger is a bit banged up but this is really exiting having this healthy of a team going into the stretch run.
Regardless if the Bucs win the division or get a wildcard...these Bucs have decided to be “real pirates” this year...boasting a 5-2 road record. Knowing these Bucs can win on the road is exiting heading into the playoffs...take a look at the road records of the other NFC teams.
Chicago - 3-3
Carolina - 4-2
Seattle 4-2
NY Giants - 3-3
Dallas - 3-3
Hey bandwagon fans....the sign says...NO VACANCY!
Posted by EB, NORFOLK, VA on 12/11 at 11:58 PM
Absolutely outstanding. Without a doubt their best game this year. The Bucs finally came to play, and they made a liar out of me, but it feels so good. Oh man, we were jumping for joy today and now without a voice. The Bucs future is bright if they continue to play as smart as they did today. Now, lets do the same next week in the cold to break another demon. Go Bucs!
Posted by J D, New Tampa on 12/11 at 08:48 PM
This win is huge for many reasons. It is huge for the team’s playoff positioning. They have a chance to earn a first round bye and a home playoff game. But, it is also huge for our coach and GM. At the beginning of the year a lot of the unknowledgeable fans and local media were all over our coach. Blaming him for the missed field goals, fumbles, and interceptions that cost this team games over the past 2 seasons. True Bucs fans stood behind the coach and knew he would get this team turned around. Gruden and Allen should have lifetime contracts with this franchise. They have turned in back to back great drafts and worked around the cap problems to field a young team that is winning now. Just imagine how good this team will be.
Jon Gruden for Coach of the Year!!!
Posted by CT, on 12/17 at 09:20 AM
Well, it seems that it’s not going to be -5 with 6 inches of snow in Foxboro after all, but an estimated 42 degrees instead!
Tom Brady is going to play, and that’s the way the Bucs would want it to be, too. The only way the Bucs can start to get respect by the critics would be by beating Brady, not 43 y/o Flutie.
It’s going to be one heck of an exciting game. Both teams are playing for divisional titles. Both teams will be motivated.
It’s going to also be a chess game strategy by both coaches, Gruden & Belichick, as to exploiting the other teams’ weaknesses, etc.
Let’s just hope the outcome won’t be decided by a “Tuck Rule” or an officiating call or a hidden ace up the sleeve by the officials! Officials, call a good game, too!
GO BUCS!!