Division title denied -- for now

I assume most of you are aware of this, but since it hadn't been mentioned in this space, the Saints' victory against the Falcons last night denied the Bucs a chance to clinch the division.

New Orleans (6-7) is still technically alive, but will fall out of contention for the division crown with their next loss. Of course, the Bucs (8-5) could take care of business themselves with a victory against Atlanta this weekend, which you'd like to think they could manage. If you fashion yourself as a playoff team, don't you have to be able to clinch against that sorry excuse for a football team?

Anyway, here's the story from today's paper if you're interested.

Comments

[Kennedy]

Stephen,
It seems like this is a great time to play the Falcons and clinch the crown. I would think that their team has to be split into two factions-the ones wearing t-shirts and carrying posters and the other that is sick of talking about a former team member and wants it swept under the rug.And by the way, instead of worrying about "freeing M Vick," shouldn't someone file a missing person's report on his cousin, Aaron Brooks? Has anyone ever dropped off of the radar faster (with apologies to Shaun King)

[RICH]

I think we`d play the Packers better than Dallas. Of course we have to get through the first round first, Giants? As for Shaun King he was decent for a minute....he almost won the NFC championship.....didnt I see him on a football show of somekind a couple of weeks ago? NFL SUNDAY or something? Anyway I wish the BUCS would`ve won againts the TEXANS but at least we`re still under the radar! GO BUCS!

[Dog man]

Stephen,

Could you do a follow up on your pre-season q&a with the bucs players about dog fighting?

Since Vick was just sentenced, this would be a perfect time.

[RICH]

Did MIKE VICK go to a STATE PRISON or a FEDERAL FACILITY? If he went to a FEDERAL he could still lift weights and try to stay in shape. Not much in the STATE PRISONS except walking around a dirt track playing cards and dominos. No weight rooms. Anyway maybe the BUCS will sign him in 3 years and he`ll return our first kickoff for a TD!

[RICH#2]

Vick went to a federal facility. Rumor has it he's working on his kickoff returns already

[Rick]

We are under the radar because that's where we belong. We made Houston look like a championship caliber team. And I don't think Garcia makes us Super Bowl bound. He won several games for us this year but lost the 2 big ones he was brought in for (Jacksonville and Detroit). I hope I'm wrong but does anyone really believe we can win a playoff game?

[Dave in Arkansas]

Rick: I agree with all of your points except that he "lost the 2 big ones he was brought in for (Jacksonville and Detroit)." Yes, you can say Garcia cost us those games (although the defense didn't help much vs. Jacksonville). But no, he wasn't brought in to win THOSE TWO GAMES.

Garcia was brought in to win every game. Failing that, he was brought in to win the DIVISION games. That's how you get into "the tournament". (By the way, when EXACTLY did they start referring to the playoffs as "The Tournament"?? The first time I heard it was during our Super Bowl run- from Gruden- and now I hear it popping up all over. Isn't it just "The Playoffs"?)

As I was saying, Garcia was brought in primarily to beat the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons, which gets us into the playoffs. And then win everything else along the way, too. So far, nobody but Tom Brady has been able to that in the last 35 years. So I guess defense, special teams, and the other 10 guys on offense have to shoulder some burden as well.

And yes, if our defense can get after the QB, we can beat the G-men. And if we can exploit the secondary and stop the run, we can beat the Vikings. And if the Heavens intervene and deem it necessary, we will lay another beating upon the Saints and/or Redskins (most likely due to their unfortunate team names).

(but i still don't truly believe we can defeat the cowgirls. or the packers.)

[DR]

Rick, I agree with you. I can't belive how confident Bucs fans are when talking about the playoffs, worrying about where they will go in the second round. They have only beaten one team with a winning record.

[QB]

I agree DR one team with a winning record. Give me a break. I guess the coach deserves a 10 year extensio too.. ha ha ha

[RICH]

We`re SUPPOSED to have confidence with our team...thats whats fun about it. yeah so maybe we cant beat the COWBOYS but maybe we can EARN the chance to play them..right? And stranger things has happened. An interception here a fumble there...and we`re in the darn game. So it sounds like DR is confident why not BUC fans too?