Gameday Tampa Bay
September 16th, 2012
Week 2
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: Locally, WTVT-TV Channel 13, DirecTV Channel 707.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); SiriusXM Channel 135.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, good football weather. The Bucs and Giants will play under sunny skies with a kickoff temperature expected to be 70. The temperature will gradually climb to 73 with mild breezes.
Odds: Per Sportsbook.com, Bucs +7.
Outlook: If Joe comes across here as a bit arrogant, let Joe apologize up front.
Joe always reads and hears Bucs fans talk about how either national media types (insert the dreaded four-letter acronym here) don’t give the Bucs any attention or that the Bucs are — gasp! — not respected.
Well, you want the Bucs to get attention? You want the Bucs to get respect? It’s quite simple: go into the living room of the defending Super Bowl champions located in the media capital of the western hemisphere and you punch them in the mouth.
The ultimate signature game for the Bucs and first-year coach Greg Schiano could come this afternoon when the Bucs face the defending world champs, the New York Giants.
Talk about rocking the NFL if this happens… but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This isn’t the stinking Panthers here (who, by the way, the Bucs coughed up 303 yards in the air against). We’re talking the Giants, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Ahmad Bradshaw.
Beating the Panthers is one thing. Stopping the Giants in their house, after a season-opening loss is quite another.
The Bucs are dinged up on the right side of the offensive line. Obviously, Davin Joseph is gone and Jeremy Trueblood is hobbled with a bum ankle. So now you are possibly looking at Ted Larsen and Demar Dotson going up against the best defensive line in the NFL?
Grab a hold of your beers (or better yet, Rachel Watson).
Joe firmly believes this will come down to Josh Freeman vs. Eli Manning. The Giants’ rush attack does not scare Joe and the Giants soft spot is their secondary. If Freeman can somehow avoid Justin Tuck, et al, and complete some deep passes, Joe’s thinks the Bucs have a shot. The Bucs matching the Giants’ defensive line pressure with their own against a less-than-mobile Manning will be critical.
September 16th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Turnovers will be the key to who wins this game.
September 16th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Loaded poll question. I don’t EXPECT the Bucs to beat the Giants but I think it is wholly possible for us to execute a well conceived game plan, control the turnover game and beat the Giants with fundamentally solid Buc-ball. I do expect a good showing to build on.
September 16th, 2012 at 9:35 am
Freeman is the key. As a matter of fact, Freeman is the key to this season.
September 16th, 2012 at 9:44 am
We don’t even have to win this game. The most important objective of today actually isn’t getting a W. Of course getting the win is still huge and would be amazing, but the most important thing today is to go in there and play hard nosed, disciplined, sound football and make the Giants give everything they’ve got to beat us. As long as it is a great, competitive game that comes down to the very end….I consider today a victory.
If we go in there and get face stomped, then it is a huge step backwards. This team has some real confidence right now. We need to build on it, not diminish it. Win or lose, a hard fought close game with the Super Bowl Champs in their own house, would build on the confidence this team has.
September 16th, 2012 at 10:09 am
I think we will win a close game. Bucs’ D line having a big day with Free and Martin controlling the clock. I believe the Bucs are the 2011 49’rs and will shock many teams, starting today.
Key to the game is “do your job”.
September 16th, 2012 at 10:20 am
I agree, Joe. I think to win this game, Josh has to be good throwing downfield; ”managing” the game will not be enough.
September 16th, 2012 at 10:42 am
The way to win every game is to have that mentality Joe, Go into or defend the field you play on, punch them in the mouth again & again & again. Be that offensive or defensive or special teams. Very excited to see us play today.
September 16th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Unlike the previous few years; the Bucs need to get off to a fast start and hold off the initial push the Giants will have coming out of the gate. If we can frustrate Eli Manning early then we just may have a chance to steal one in NY.
On a side note: To everyone giving the Bucs a hard time about ticket sales; check out the attendance for the Miami Hurricanes game yesterday.
September 16th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Was just watching NFL Countdown and McCoy got some love. He was called “The most dominant player of all in week 1”. Hope he can repeat that performance. GO BUCS!!
September 16th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Merrill Hoge says GMC was most dominant defensive player in week 1. Compared him to Reggie White.
September 16th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Sorry Silence, I just saw the same thing. I’m stoked.
Go Bucs!!!
September 16th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Lol, was great.
September 16th, 2012 at 11:26 am
We got this….. 20-13 Bucs!
And in case anyone missed it, heres the NFL Networks Sound FX on Schiano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm6sh81ZcFs
September 16th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Bucs fan in Atlanta. Can’t get the game on local tv today, anybody know of a site that is streaming today?
September 16th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Good stuff max.
September 16th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Can’t believe almost 2/3 of Bucs fans on this site believe they are actually going to beat the Giants. I’m as big a Bucs fan as anyone but let’s have a reality check here folks. I want the Bucs to win, of course, but I don’t expect them to. See the difference?
At every positional matchup the Giants are better than the Bucs, except for their CBs and their O-line where we have the talent advantage with our WRs and D-line facing them. They have a guy at the most important position on the field, QB, who is twice the player our QB currently is. Not only do they start out with a QB who’s in a whole different class than ours, but they have two DEs who are all-world. JPP is almost unstoppable and we have a banged-up RT with a backup likely to start in his place. The pressure on Freeman will likely be intense, making him struggle even more than usual.
Not trying to be a downer but when I take off my Bucs-colored glasses I just don’t see how they can do much more than be competitive for maybe two or three quarters before the difference in class starts to really show. The Giants are so fired up coming off a lackluster performance against Dallas, and so focused on not being embarrassed again, that they are going to bring the house against Freeman and try to rattle the sh-t outta him. I just cannot see how this ends well for Bucs fans. Hope I’m wrong.
September 16th, 2012 at 11:55 am
If they lose they lose but at the end of the day im never going to sit here and talk about how much better they are than us blah blah blah. I expect my team to win every game but will take a loss like a man. Nobody can win every game. I EXPECT GREATNESS GO BUCS!!
September 16th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Whoever scores the most points will be the key to the game.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
FLBoy, remember what we did to NE the first 3 quarters? Granted it was preseason, but thats why Im so stoked and have no problem believing we got this.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
You guys who are down on the bucs winning dont worry you will jump on the band wagon after the game saying I knew they were going to win.Have some faith guys because Ill be shocked if they lose.Benn will have a big game today and might have the winning TD catch.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Flyboy, the Gmen secondary is banged up and Josh could have a 400yd air day. Benn is back and I see a balanced attack with big pass plays by the Bucs.
I will never net against my te before a game.
On any Sunday baby, any Sunday.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Autocorrect six. Some things it fixes and some it doesn’t or I’m just an idiot.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
BIGMAC<
Way to back the bucs Bigmac lets go Bucs Wooooo Yea lets go lets go come on Tampa wooooooooooo.
TAMPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
September 16th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
BigMac…I would agree Josh could have a big day if our o-line can give him time to breathe. Question is, can they? Outmatching their secondary won’t matter if Josh only has two seconds to get rid of the ball. That’ll be the key to this game more than anything else. If Josh has time we win, if he doesn’t we don’t. I think it really is that simple today.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
The pressure is all on the Giants, not us.
I think they can be beaten, but it will not be easy.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Key to the game: Max protect. Keeping Martin and Clark/Stocker in to help the line protect Freeman. I think Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams can get open against a banged up secondary, but will they have the time to get open? Max protect can solve this. Also, with the big guys in (TEs, FBs, etc), we can run from that formation. Find success in the run game pulls a Safety into the box allowing Jackson and Williams to get open easier. Max protect gives Free time. Stocker or Clark can chip and hit seams. Martin can chip and hit the flats. Lorig has also shown success in protection and receiving. Man up, go big, protect Free and this game should be won.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Amukamara and Rivers are both out weakening that secondary even more. If we can slow down there D-line at all. Should be a big day for our Offense.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I worry about that poll. It tells me there are a lot of uninformed fair weather fans. This will most likely be the toughest game of the season today.
And seeing as the Bucs are newly coached, have not refined as a team or in a scheme yet, I don’t see how anyone could “expect” them to win this week.
That doesn’t mean they can’t. I’ll be rooting for them 100% and will watch from start to finish. I just won’t be as disappointed if they lose. They ARE playing the Superbowl Champs.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
SilenceTheCritics Says:
September 16th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Was just watching NFL Countdown and McCoy got some love. He was called “The most dominant player of all in week 1″. Hope he can repeat that performance. GO BUCS!!
Amukamara and Rivers are both out weakening that secondary even more. If we can slow down there D-line at all. Should be a big day for our Offense.
.
Love the GMC love. I think he’s really going to step things up this year.
Slowing down their D-line will be the biggest challenge. Their are going to be coming fast and hard. If our O-line can buy Josh time and open up holes for the RBs, we will be able to score.
Hopefully our own D-line will get Manning a few times.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I agree Pete. I believe our D-line will win there battle… If our O-line can atleast keep there D-line from taking over the game, I think we have a good chance of winning this game.