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October 10, 2008
A few pre-Tampa thoughts
The Panthers have won five straight at Tampa, so the case can be made that the Bucs are due to beat them at home Sunday.
Carolina (4-1) is coming off a big win over Kansas City and Tampa (3-2) is following a close loss at Denver.
Not that these things are definitive, but here are some reasons to think the Bucs may win this week:
-- Tampa Bay needs to win to tie Carolina for first place in the NFC South. A loss would put the Bucs two games behind the Panthers. So Tampa should be highly motivated.
-- The 34-0 drubbing of Kansas City could fill the Panthers with much-needed confidence, or they could start thinking too highly of themselves. If the latter happens, advantage Tampa.
Carolina sure seems like the better team on paper, but this is a tough matchup and comes at a time when Tampa is a bit on the ropes due to its loss at Denver last week.
So don't be surprised if the Panthers lose this one. But if they win to go to 5-1, it could signal the start of a big-time roll.
Either way, this is a can't-miss game. Be sure to tune in at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Also, remember that David Scott and I will be taking pregame questions via the blog from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday from the press box at Raymond James Stadium. We'll put up a blog ahead of time where you can post your questions and then we'll get them answered asap.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on October 10, 2008 at 04:00 PM | Permalink
Comments
Spread the word Charles, predict the Bucs will win! The Panthers always play better as the underdog, and stink it up as the favorite.
Posted by: mike | Oct 10, 2008 4:25:13 PM
Watch the language, Jake the Snake. Thanks.
Posted by: Mike Persinger | Oct 10, 2008 5:10:21 PM
Can't believe the Panthers will lose this game. Offense is on fire, defense is solid, and they are firing on all cylinders. Stat of the week: Since 2002 the Panthers are 21-4 (81%) ATS when they covered the spread the previous week and the total points they allowed was 25% below their season average.
Posted by: ATSGoldmine | Oct 10, 2008 5:26:05 PM
this is going to be a big game because it will test the panthers character.they have every reason to lose ,road game,not a must win, coming off a big win.in the past they would let down.lets see if they make a statement sunday or not.ray
Posted by: ray | Oct 10, 2008 6:23:37 PM
This is all great and I'm glad everyone's being so humble. The cold fact is, if we play the same way, with the same mindset we've had...the Bucs are TOAST!
Posted by: Pete | Oct 10, 2008 7:51:38 PM
I think the loss to Min. was more because of the volume in that stadium. False starts were a direct result of the inability of the line to hear Jake. At home or in an open stadium I think the Pants are going to rock. Frankly I dont think the team has yet performed to each individual players potential. Smitty can and has pulled in 10 catches where he has been on only 5-6. Moose has been a go to player for Jake. Either RBs can run for a 100 yd game individually. On Def. This squad has shut down Offences and without Peps Sac attacks. The picks are there in the secondary just not held onto. There must have been at least a half dozen dropped Ints so far. The potential is huge, and the Bucs are not going home with a win.
Posted by: MBPantfan | Oct 10, 2008 8:17:27 PM
This is going to be a tough game. Actually on paper the Bucs only two weak spots are at QB and WR (without Galloway). Are the Panthers hot right now, yes. However, the Panther defense went up against a sad KC team and posted numbers. The BUCS O-Line is very physical and feature a strong punch at the point of attack, not to mention potential Pro Bowler Davin Joseph being back can only help. I feel that if the Bucs come out aggressive in offensive playcalling and run the ball with the lead that will negate the blitz packages and send Carolina back to Charlotte, 23-14.
Posted by: BEENABUC | Oct 10, 2008 9:30:06 PM
you lose. CP=21 TB=9
Posted by: Robert J Guthrie | Oct 10, 2008 10:31:34 PM
Wow. So you feel that the Bucs will be highly motivated to not fall back 2 games in the South? Don't you also feel that the Panthers will be highly motivated to take that 2 game lead?
Posted by: Brian | Oct 10, 2008 11:41:14 PM
Panthers 28-10...One game at a time to Tampa again!
Posted by: Panther Fan D | Oct 11, 2008 3:12:49 AM
Garcia will be a problem. Speaking of motivated, he is going to come out and throw that thing with a conviction he has never had before. The Panthers defense has not done so well against mobile QB's either. Moreover, it's not like the zone blitz is going to throw off a veteran like Garcia too much either.
The one good thing in that matchup is that he's been sitting for a while and may be a little rusty. Panthers need to take advantage of that early and put him and his offense on the fence. He also is operating in a new offensive scheme (from what I understand) which will not help his cause. But he's played under the West Coast before and seems to excel at it, so that one could go either way in the pros and cons department.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 11, 2008 3:21:19 AM
You gotta watch the video called Shciends' picks...
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 11, 2008 3:47:07 AM
I hated that video.
Posted by: Dash Riprock | Oct 11, 2008 6:57:36 AM
MBPantfan--- You have to give some credit to Smith and Delhomme for that game. It was Smith's firts game back and he was going to single handedly win that game for the team... remember? Another words, Jake got that tunnel vision again. Don't overlook the fact that his play overall was wretched. Thankfully, that has changed dramatically these last two games. He's definately going to have to go to his hot routes and keep moving the ball around (even moreso) this game if the Panthers are going to have a chance.
It also makes me sick how Popeye (Johnboy Gruesome of the Tampa Bay *uc*s) is giving all the credit to Julius Peppers for what the defense is doing this year. That's dispicable. The fact is, the offense was new last year, and the defense had to adjust its strategy to compensate for it (hence all the zone blitzes with Peppers playing more coverage---and now Brayton too).
Popeye knows that---he plays them twice a year. He just wants to blow smoke and make them overconfident. Don't overlook the fact that by stating that the media will jump all over it and repeat it left and right. This will throw a wrench at Team Panthers when it comes to the ongoing contract negotiations. That guy really makes me sick.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 11, 2008 8:37:39 AM
And dash riprock--- I guess that comment makes you cool now. That was very high school of you.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 11, 2008 8:40:02 AM
Speaking of higher ups that make my skin crawl, I know NFL players often act like deities (or like an embodied American Corporation), but owners like Jerry Jones are beyond words.
"Jones got into a scuffle at an upscale downtown Dallas hotel late Tuesday night with one of members of a security detail provided by the team to be with the cornerback at all times.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the player broke no team rules, but said he was disappointed about the incident."
I'm glad Fox & company didn't overdo their cover up policy with Smith. Thank goodness there is at least one team in the NFL that believes in good character. No doubt the bad publicity hurt Smith's Bojangles poster-boy dividends, but they carried out some form of discipline anyway.
But organization like the Cowboys make me physically sick. And speaking of acting like corporate America, at a time when banks are failing, people are evicted at record rates and the stock-market keeps crashing, Dallas and New York are building new stadiums. The crypt keeper himself is building the largest stadium in NFL history. The Giants are using a large sum of taxpayer money to destroy neighborhoods and build one next door to their old one (wouldn't want to mess with "good location"). In one word, wow! In one acronym, WTF!?!
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 11, 2008 9:18:34 AM
*BTW, the quote is from an artical about "pacman."
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 11, 2008 9:19:38 AM
Your team may have won the last 5 at RJ-But the Bucs own 3 out of 6 NFC South Division Titles while the others own just 1 apiece.
Bucs will dominate this division for the immediate future at least.
GO BUCS!!!
Posted by: Bucster79 | Oct 11, 2008 9:23:24 AM
greed greed greed. i still cant believe theyre tearing down the house that ruth built. where is the outrage.they used to use the excuse that its in a bad neighborhood, so what do they do, they build it right next door to the old yankee stadium, as if that would be almost the same.why couldnt they just renovate the old stadium. shameful.
Posted by: ray | Oct 11, 2008 12:35:54 PM
KIR,
Just STFU, will you! Want to know what makes me sick, YOU! GO AWAY and quit taking up valuable blog space and time with your juvenile, arrogant, snot nosed, punk a$$ attitude. NOBODY cares what you think. When will you acknowldege that? Someone earlier said you were as annoying as poison ivy on a pecker and asked which one were you. I would say BOTH. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!
Posted by: Had Enough | Oct 11, 2008 1:13:41 PM
Had Enough,
You have to ignore the he she pyschotic loser. EVERYONE, do not respond to keeping it real stupid. She feeds of your negativity and only comes back for more. Try it and it will work!
Posted by: United | Oct 11, 2008 1:20:30 PM
KIR,
You are like a midget wearing high heels....a waste.
Posted by: Jesse Drake | Oct 11, 2008 4:50:42 PM
Way to call yourselves out, suckers. Some people just can't handle the truth. And some love to dish it out but can't take it. That no named he-she psychotic loser has a point though; you start it and I'll finish it. But frankly, none of that changes whether or not the things I write are true. Anyway, go back to your fantasy worlds and maladaptive behaviors while those you support and love (you voted them in and you do their bidding---your bosses; if you have one) rape you and rob you some more. Enjoy that case of beer (or whatever else it is you do to self-medicate), losers.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Oct 12, 2008 12:52:17 AM
WTF? That makes no sense at all.
Posted by: dan | Oct 12, 2008 11:22:24 AM
thumbs up to the bucs you handed the cats their a--. but its not like everybody knows fox thinks run run run.why did steve or mush not get the ball more?fox NEWS FLASH THEY KNOW THE PLAY BEFORE YOU DO.way to go bucs .you were the BEST team today!COME ON FOX GET IT TOGETHER.
Posted by: topcatpete | Oct 12, 2008 3:34:53 PM
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