Tuesday Afternoon Linebacker

Our boys are in the playoffs, even if not officially yet. They’ve played well enough to sit in first place in the Dirty Souf. The Colts continue their march toward perfection. And why is it that only running backs and quarterbacks can be considered “the best player in college football”?

First-est
The lads traveled up Carolina way and came away victorious. Caddy rumbled for another 100+, and he tacked on a pair of scores. Ricky Proehl received his league mandated TD catch versus the Bucs as time wound down. And our mighty defense made the Panthers’ supposed playmakers look downright silly. Steve Smith had 103 yards, but sixty of those came on a freak play near the end of the third quarter. And due to stout Bucs’ defensive play ended up as a figgie. The final was 20-10, but as they say; it wasn’t that close.

The incomparable Ronde Barber, as you know, made history in this game by recording his twentieth sack to go along with 20+ interceptions; becoming the first player to top 20 in both categories in NFL history. You go boy.

Simms The Younger was once again efficient if not spectacular. The next four games (more below) will be critical to his future. He’s going to have to continue to be good enough and smart enough to get this team where it needs to go. Because there’s always Brian Griese, who has proven his ability to run this offense.

The best thing about this win is that it was impressive. The Bucs have been winning ugly, winning going away, winning from behind, and winning on the road; all things they might have to do to win a playoff game. If they can notch another victory in Foxoboro this Saturday, things will look pretty good for the Pewter Pirates.

The Bucs are in the playoffs. It’s not official yet of course, but they’re in. Barring a collapse that doesn’t appear likely this team will be in the tournament. Next week is going to be the deciding game, I think, as to if this team can be NFC South Champions or just a wild card. Even if we beat both Atlanta and New Orleans again, a loss to New England could cost us the division on record alone. Unless Carolina were to stumble also. They also face the Falcons and Saints, with a match against the Cowboys in between.

“If the playoffs were to start today”, we’d be looking at a home date against the Panthers on Wild Card Weekend. And we’d be the fourth seed. Now, how about some scenario?
To make any further progress up the bracket, the Bucs must win out. That’s our given in this exercise.
The Bucs, Bears, and Giants all sit atop their divisions with 9-4 records. The Bears (#2), with a head-to-head win over us, must lose at least one more time. They have ATL, @GB, @MIN remaining. We did not play the Giants (#3) this year, so the first tie-breaker is division record. Both teams are “-1″ in the division right now. The Giants face KC, @WAS, @OAK down the stretch. But if they lose any of those games, we’ll go ahead by record anyway.

And to get really crazy (thinking about home-field), the Seahawks have to lose all three remaining games; @TEN, IND, @GB. Not likely.

To keep it simple, root for the Bucs to win out. Root for the Bears and Giants to both lose at least one game. Then we’ll have the #2 seed and a first-round bye. The last time we had the 2 spot, I think we did okay.

Colts Watch
On Tuesday, Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy avoided questions about his plans for the team’s starting line-up after they clinch home-field advantage. Knowing Dungy, and we here in Tampa know him pretty well, I’d say he’s likely to at the very least reduce the playing time for the starting players. He is a play-it-safe kind of coach. As the coach said, it’s time to wait and see. Now that they are 13-0 and have wrapped up the division and home-field, Dungy has to make his decision soon.

It’s New To Me
TALB frequents Peter King’s MMQB over at CNNSI and the venerable TMQ available on the NFL’s site. But I have begun over the last couple of weeks I have been enjoying Rich Eisen’s column, also at NFL.com. If you remember Rich from his SportsCenter days, he was one of the lone bright spots among the newer wave of SC hosts (along with Kilborn and Stuart Scott [before he was full of himself]). When the NFL Network was launched a couple years back, Rich was one of the first on-air talents to come aboard. He hosts NFL Total Access, which is on every other hour it would seem. His on-air personality comes across in his column. He’s irreverent and not afraid to bite the hand that feeds him (the League and the TV networks). If you have the time, go ahead and add this to your list of football commentary.

NFL Playoff Outlook
Things changed this weekend as the Bucs won big against the Panthers while the Chargers and Chiefs fell.

NFC Locks
Seattle, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Carolina, New York
The field in the NFC is nearly set at this point. The Giants have opened basically a two game lead over the Cowboys in the East. Seattle is heading for home-field. Chicago stumbled, but with head-to-head wins against both Tampa and Carolina they are still in control of the number two seed. And Tampa controls their own fate in the race for the NFC South crown.

NFC Likely/Maybe
Dallas, Atlanta, Minnesota, Washington
The Vikings are surging right now; on a six game winning streak. But again, an early loss to the Falcons could spell doom for their playoff chances. [pending outcome of Falcons game]

NFC Not So Much
Eagles, Rams, Cardinals, 49ers, Lions, Packers, Saints

1. Seattle
2. Chicago
3. Tampa Bay
4. New York
5. Carolina
6. Minnesota/Atlanta/Dallas

AFC Locks
Indianapolis, Denver, Cincinnati, New England
Only the division leaders can be considered locks to make the AFC field at this point. With the losses by Kansas City and San Diego over the weekend, the Broncos have now opened a nice two game lead in the West. The rest of the divisions remain unchanged since last week.

AFC Likely
Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Kansas City
The Jags are at the top of this list right now and can probably move into the Locks category with a win next weekend. From there it comes down to the reeling Steelers and the dogfighting West teams for the last spot. TALB thinks the Chargers might just have the advantage since they can play their way in with wins against their rivals and the Colts.

AFC Not So Much
Miami, Buffalo, New York, Oakland, Baltimore, Cleveland, Tennessee, Houston

1. Indianapolis
2. Denver
3. Cincinnati
4. New England
5. Jacksonville
6. San Diego

Highs? Man!
Reggie Bush of USC won the Heisman Trophy. Given to the player deemed most popular on one of the more successful teams of the season. To call this thing an award for the best player anymore is a joke. The fact that no linemen have won in a very long time, or that defensive players are rarely even invited should be proof enough of that. The entirety of the college football world has become a parody of itself. Something is going to have to change for this sport to regain some sense of reality. More on that next week.

Running Items
Rose Bowl
USC over Texas - I think the champs are going to take care of business one more time.

Super Bowl XL
Colts Vs. Seahawks
So here’s there thing, until the NFC Playoff bracket shakes out, I’m just going to go with the current leader in the conference.

Next Week: Reinventing college football. Bucs vs. Patriots. More playoff breakdowns.