Admittedly, I didn’t see the game (I’m in Philadelphia at the World Series right now) but I did see the Bucs’ final score in their 13-9 loss to Dallas. Sounds like a real shootout, eh?
I’ve had this idea bouncing around for a few weeks now about this team and it’s simply this: If Jon Gruden is supposed to be an offensive genius, howcum his teams are so mundane on offense?

It’s not that Gruden can’t coach - no one is saying that. We know about his enthusiasm, too.

Headed into the Dallas game, the Rays ranked 11th in the NFL in touchdowns. That doesn’t sound so bad until you notice nearly a quarter of their touchdowns - four out of 17 - were scored by the defense. Offensively they’ve put together 13 TDs in eight games. Only Chicago and Green Bay have more defensive scores.

It throws you a bit when you look at the Bucs’ scoring totals. They rung up 27 on Carolina, but one of those touchdowns came on a blocked punt returned to the end zone. Jermaine Phillips ran a fumble back for a TD that made the 30-21 win over Green Bay look like more of an offensive eruption than it was. Same thing against the Bears.

Maybe it’s just the style of play that makes the offensive seem so pedestrian. It’s that west coast stuff with a lot of short passing and all that, which may be efficient but isn’t too exciting.

Maybe it’s just me.

Oh, I did stumble on this column in The New York Times that you might find interesting. Note the name listed under coaches that players don’t want to play for - and the one they’d most like to play for.

I’M OFFICIAL NOW: Tribune baseball beat writer extraordinare and blog buddy Marc Lancaster knows the local Philly scene pretty well and escorted me to this little spot known as Jim’s Steaks in South Philly for some genuine cheese steak. By going on a Sunday afternoon, Lancaster thought there might not be the usual line snaking out the door. He was wrong, but it was worth it. Jim’s is famous among the locals in Philly and was worth the trip. I had cheesesteaks before, but this one was pretty good.

BLEAH BULLS: A season that could have - arguably should have - wound up in a BCS game will likely end up instead at some frumpy bowl that becomes more drudgery than reward for USF. Losing to Louisville was unacceptable for a team that had BCS ambitions and returned 16 starters from a year ago.

The Bulls seem to have hit a plateau as a program right now. They’re pretty good but not real good, and if you care to disagree be prepared to defend the loss at mediocre Louisville - especially on a day where Big East leader Pitt was upset by Rutgers. USF could have been right back on top of the conference. Instead, they could be looking at the Made For TV bowl at Tropicana Field in December, otherwise known as the St. Pete Bowl.

THANKS FOR NOT WATCHING: The Lightning are off to a lousy start but hardly anyone knows about it for all the attention generated by the Rays. Indifference has probably never felt so good, but that’ll end once the World Series is over. It just seems like the Bolts haven’t meshed yet, what with all the new faces and coaches. And owners. And just about everything. Stuff takes time to come together, and it is still October.