Flat
The Bucs strolled into Houston, and strolled right back out as losers. Painful game to watch. And the fantasy football playoffs are in full swing.
Left Out
On Sunday the Cowboys, Packers, and Seahawks all clinched their respective divisions. But the PiPP were unable to match that accomplishment. I don’t know about you, but to me the Bucs looked doomed from the start. Aside from a flash of brilliance here or there, there wasn’t one Buc player who tried to make a play to win the game. Sure EG got in the end zone. And of course Greg White and Jovan Haye made plays; but taken as a whole the Bucs were flat.
For a team that has won exactly zero playoff games since leaving San Diego with Vince almost 5 years ago they seemed pretty complacent. Yes the NFC South is terrible. Yes we will very likely clinch the division this Sunday against the woeful Falcons. But, as one of the bobbleheads said during the game, you don’t win in the post-season if you end the regular season flat. There is absolutely no reason this team cannot steamroll Atlanta, San Francisco, and Carolina to close out the regular season. That would be a 7-1 second half. On the other hand, the Cowboys and ‘Hawks are likely to go into January on 10 and 8 game winning-streaks respectively.
Unfortunately, we found out that last week was Luke McCown’s high point. He was efficient, but he didn’t make plays. The fault for the shotgun-snap-fumble can be debated. Garcia must return next week. Or else the Bucs are doomed.
At Least This Went As Expected
Coming into 2007 we Gators fans knew we were not likely to repeat as Mythical National Champions. But we didn’t expect to become as irrelevant as we did. Only the stellar play of Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow kept Florida on the radar. In fact, TALB thinks the only reason Florida will likely finish this year in the Top-10 is because of Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow.
In the aftermath, Tim was really the only one to choose. Darren McFadden was riding last year’s reputation. And for whatever it’s worth, the award is supposed to be about this year. Chase Daniel will probably win it next year if he keeps his team on top. June Jones’ biatch was invited out of courtesy. As I pointed out, Timbo put the ball in the house about every tenth time he touched it. And, violating my own admonition above, that trend dates back to the 2006 campaign.
His production next year is likely to drop. Florida will (for the first time under Urban Meyer) have a top-tier tail back to take the load off of Tebow. Though, that should make Tebow’s runs that much more effective. The option is going to be deadly. And let’s not even talk about the triple-option with Moody inside, Harvin inside, and Tebow in the middle. And hell, we can run standard up-the-middle stuff now too.
I plan to enjoy the heck out of the Capital One Bowl. Barring injury that’s probably the last time we’ll see “Superman” take the field.
Really Flexible Scheduling
If the NFL had any sort of sense of humor, they’d swap New England’s last two games and move the last one to Sunday night. New England versus Miami. Opposite ends of perfection meeting in Week 17 to see if they both have it in them. 15-0 faces 0-15, with history on the line.
Second Season
The regular season in the BJFL has come to an end, and we will crown a new champion this year. Forty-nine time winnAr Teabaggers finished one game out of the tournament. You had a good run Matt, though I for one would have rather had you in the playoffs. Give the rest of us a chance to earn the title from you. Instead we’ll probably just gloat at the end of season party that you didn’t make the playoffs. We’re small like that sometimes.
The Rusty Trombones will enter the playoffs as the 3rd seed. Facing Harold the Greek in the first round. In their only meeting this year the ‘Bones defeated the Greeks 90-70 in Week 11.
From the “Well, Duh” department, my second round selection of Tom Brady was the difference for me this year. With 343 total points so far, Brady leads second place Tony Romo by a whopping 84 points. Accounting for 13 actual games played, that’s a per-game margin of 6.5 points. Which is why I was sweating the Pats-Steelers game. Had the Pats gone down they might have let off the gas over the final weeks and thrown a monkey into the wrench during the playoffs.
With Brady and the Patriots going against the Jets and the Bucs’ defense facing the Falcons I feel pretty good about the first round.
Running Items
Breath of a Salesman
Publix is running an ad for their “Premium Peanut Brittle”. And the only words in the whole spot are “Peanut Brittle”. It’s annoyingly catchy. Peanut Brittle!
Plus One Bowl (Pick)
LSU seems to have the mojo this year. Two-Losses 35 One-Loss 17.
This will change as time goes on I’m sure.
Super Bowl XLII
New England vs. Dallas
