Highs And Lows

January 3rd, 2013

Joe had never seen Ronde Barber as angry as he was after the gutless loss to the Eagles.

It is that time of the year when just about everyone with a keyboard does a postmortem on the Bucs. Patrick Southern of CBSSports.com, has chimed in with what he considers the Bucs highs and lows of the season.

Interestingly, the low came in the gutless performance against the Eagles before the 2002 Super Bowl champs no less.

Letting one slip away in Week 14 vs. the Eagles: At 6-6 entering a home game against the hapless Eagles, Tampa Bay still felt like it was in playoff contention. Those chances all but ended with a difficult-to-handle 23-21 loss to Philadelphia at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs made rookie QB Nick Foles look like a Pro Bowler. He threw for 381 yards and led a comeback from an 11-point deficit in the final seven minutes, capping it off with a game-winning 1-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin as time expired.

This game was the definition of futility, from Josh Freeman’s horrific first half to the pass defense, which couldn’t have stopped Clearwater Central Catholic most of the season.

The Giants ending was brutal. The Dallass game was awful. The loss to the Dixie Chicks, Broncos and (first) Saints game were all frustrating. The second Saints game was no less than embarrassing.  But none were as gut-punching as losing to an awful team with a lame duck coach and a third round pick of a rookie quarterback.

48 Responses to “Highs And Lows”

  1. JonBuc Says:

    Worse loss since ’05 playoff game to the Skins…IMO

  2. Andrew 1 Says:

    jeez, man, that loss still hurts.

  3. JonBuc Says:

    Throw in D.Brooks last game and season finale vs the Raiders in 2008 for good measure…

  4. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    I agree. Worse loss we’ve had in a long time and thats saying something after all the double digit losses from the previous year. It’s absolutely pathetic that a team that lost something like 6 in a row beat us, then went on to lose the rest of there games. Absolutely pathetic.

  5. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Nick Foles showed ten times more poise under pass-rush pressure in a single game as a rookie than Josh Freeman showed all season long. How sad is that?

  6. MadMax Says:

    Yep, that eagles game did me in. My friends at the pub thought I was mad at my girlfriend with the look I had on my face. The only other ones sharing that feeling was the buc couple sitting beside me. I think his wife was madder than both he and I put together, lol.

    In a way this team is like having a girlfriend or wife….cant live with them, cant live w/o them. You love them so much but then they can just really piss you off.

  7. Rob Says:

    You must have forgotten or blocked out the epic meltdown against the Dung’s Colts at Raymond James. I was there. That was an absolute stunner of a loss and sent the Bucs down a scary decline.

  8. Architek Says:

    Man I am still haunted by Avant’s one handed grab – he looked like Calvin Johnson against us.

  9. Architek Says:

    Freeman like Romo in a Freeman halloween costume…

  10. Nick2 Says:

    Josh Freemans darkest day in Tampa. Thank god Luke McCown did not play and outshine him in that last game in Atlanta. We might be jumping off the Skyway Bridge right about now as Bucs fans.

  11. BigMacAttack Says:

    Dallass,
    now that’s funny.

    I really think our season could have been much much worse. I’m pretty happy overall, because most of the time they were close. I still believe the team is moving up. With the money the Glazers apparently plan to spend and the Draft, the Bucs may be contenders. I like our chances, even with Freeman.

    Josh is about 25% bad right now. The other 75% he is good. But when he’s bad, he’s really bad. If he can get that up in the 90’s%, he should do well. His lows aren’t worth pulling the plug right now. Keep trying to fix him while everything else gets built around.

    The Glazers are making a RUN in 2013. They want that trophy badly and will go after it with everything they got. I Betcha. Hopefully they can put some effort into the OFFICIATING and tell the refs to lose the Buc Hate and call it fair and square.

  12. CC Says:

    Rock Star needs to make the pass rush a priority in FA or draft.

  13. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    @Rob

    That was a bad loss for sure. However, that was a good team with a remarkable QB named Manning. However, these two losses arent even comparable in the sense that there is no reason at all we should of lost to the eagles. Horrible team, decimated O-line, rookie QB, starting RB and WR are both out. Bad defense…. just a putrid performance by the Bucs.

  14. PRBucFan Says:

    Does anyone not remember this dreaded Monday night???
    It’s still my worst night as a Buc Fan…

    Bucs walk plank: In a Monday Night Football comeback on Oct. 6, 2003, that few will forget, Manning showed the way to 28 fourth-quarter points, and the Colts overcame a 35-14 deficit in the final period at Tampa to beat the defending Super Bowl champions Buccaneers 38-35 in OT

    Ironically this is on an article of “Mannings top 10 moments as a Colt”

  15. PRBucFan Says:

    Whoops I guess it was mentioned lol

  16. Chuck in SoFla Says:

    Joe,
    Thanks for the shout-out to my alma mater, but in a year where the Marauders returned to fame, they deserve a little more love than that back-handed compliment! There were a good many teams that could not stop the Marauders offense this year, and I hope the Bucs can turn-in as dominating a defensive season next year as CCC did this year! Go CCC! Go Bucs!
    c-

  17. JonBuc Says:

    I try not to think of the miracle on Monday night or whatever it’s called. It ended the Super Bowl honeymoon and began a decade long downfall. Sickening…

  18. JonBuc Says:

    It’s almost as if a deal with the devil came due that night…

  19. PRBucFan Says:

    Yea I agree

    I feel like we haven’t recovered since.

  20. swamprunner Says:

    I can’t believe you just went CCC on that post…

  21. adamant Says:

    The loss to the Eagles this year is what put the nail on the coffin for the season. Josh has got to find a way to play better. Also, if we lose Coach Sullivan, we don’t have to lose the playbook. We could promote Ron Turner from QB coach and have him run the offense and keep it intact. Just a thought for the sake of continuity for Josh and the rest of the offense. Peace in the hood and a moment of silence.

  22. Ali Says:

    Only game I was able to attend this year and left a bitter taste in my mouth, I knew it was over as soon as the eagles score that touchdown and went up to 17.

  23. PRBucFan Says:

    GMC, Clowney, AC/Bennet/Bowers = UNFAIR bahahaha

    No doubt would be the most dominating line the league has seen in years

  24. PRBucFan Says:

    sorry posted in wrong thread for some reason

  25. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    Off Topic:
    Did anyone see the Outback Bowl?

    Michigan was stopped on 3rd down in their own territory with like 8:20 left in the 4th quarter and behind on the scoreboard.

    They went for it on 4th and 4 with a fake punt and came up short. They got a ridiculously favorable spot but it was still short. South Carolina’s ball.

    They measured for 1st down and it was still short in spite of the most obvious manipulation of the yard sticks I have ever seen. 1st Down!

    Spurrier went on to the field and pointed out for the national TV audience that the ball was still several inches short of a first down. He stuck his finger into the 4″ gap between the ball and the stick. Still 1st down Michigan! A royal screwing for Spurrier and South Carolina.

    On the next play as Michigan handed off to it’s RB, Jadeveon Clowney cut through the guard and All American LT and crushed the RB separating him from the ball and his helmet which flew about 10 yards in the opposite direction. Everyone’s eyes followed the helmet but on the replay, we could see that he also scooped the fumble and advanced it a couple yards. SC’s ball.

    It was if the hand of God reached down on to the field and righted a wrong. Instant Karma! A LEGEND WAS BORN!

    Carolina went on to win, deservedly so.

    I just had to share this incredible football moment. Let us pray that Clowney isn’t drafted by one of the Buc’s division rivals or that they lose every game next year to be able to draft him. Cross your fingers.

  26. BigMacAttack Says:

    Clowney has to stay in College 1 more year. Ineligable for 2013 Draft.

  27. Ramdog Says:

    It was frustrating to watch them the whole year. They were so close in so many games and couldn’t win. I have no skin in the fight and it aggravated the hell out of me I can imagine what Schiano and Dominik went/are going through. Like Schiano said we are not here for close we are here to win Superbowls. Good attitude. Hopefully we will be there sooner rather than later.

  28. PRBucFan Says:

    Yes, I Know BigMac. He was being discussed in the thread i meant to post that in.

  29. Joe Says:

    Joe wasn’t aware the Bucs played the Colts in 2012?

  30. upthegut Says:

    Holy Crap,,,,a Miguel post I can agree with!!!!

  31. PRBucFan Says:

    Bucs walk plank: In a Monday Night Football comeback on Oct. 6, 2003, that few will forget, Manning showed the way to 28 fourth-quarter points, and the Colts overcame a 35-14 deficit in the final period at Tampa to beat the defending Super Bowl champions Buccaneers 38-35 in OT

    – Nothing about that says 2012 Joe. That’s quite obvious 😉

    We were discussing all time lows for us as a Bucs fan.

  32. MadMax Says:

    The visual to go along with Miguel’s post (if I can post this link)

    http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1369389/ClowneyHit_zps7e5d8075.gif

  33. MadMax Says:

    and you’re right PR, that lineup would be sooo unfair, muhahahaha!

  34. SteveK Says:

    My worst feeling was when Monte announced e was leaving and Buc Ball flatlined on the spot.

    Our D has never recovered.

  35. SombreoBro Says:

    I remember that dreadful night when the Colts came back and smoked us, I cried…….real tears, it WAS too good to be true. I was thinking there was still a lot of time left for Manning.
    We started celebrating on the sidelines and that was it!
    As a Buc fan since 1976 and enduring the losses and realizing that things NEVER come easy to my team I thought being ahead of Manning was too good to be true.
    It was.
    I believe the players thought the clock was going to run out before Manning could pick us apart……………………yeah right.
    This is why Joe’s (almost assurance) that the Bucs would dominate the Eagles rubbed me raw.
    As a Bucs fan you can NEVER expect ANYTHING.
    You NEVER call a win as a Bucs fan, you think it and hope.

    Stay humble my friends.

  36. Adam Says:

    F****** Gorer. I hope he’s working at Best Buy next year.

  37. SteveK Says:

    Good post Miguel, Clowney served up poetic justice.

    I love Spurrier, former Heisman winner knows what a 1st down looks like.

    Did the Michigan RB go out of the game concussed?

  38. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    According to Madmax’s link the Michigan RB left the game when his arms fell off. Clowney statued him, turned him into Venus De Milo.

  39. OptimisTroll Says:

    Adam,
    So he can drop my laptop? No thanks.

  40. TDM II Says:

    Does anyone have a link to Sundays game? I was driving and missed it.

  41. SteveK Says:

    @TDM II,

    Sure!

    http://Www.we-truly-effing-suck,com/Youngryfools

  42. SteveK Says:

    (sorry, Joe, intended for the comma to prevent the hyperlink)

  43. Gus Says:

    Yeah the loss against the colts was the worse. I remember watching that game. I went to bed. I WENT TO BED. Woke up the next day to see the score on ESPN. I thought it was a mistake. Went to school that day and got clowned for the entire day. That had to be the worse loss ever for me

  44. Gus Says:

    I went to bed when it was 35-14

  45. PRBucFan Says:

    Worst ever indeed 🙁

  46. Architek Says:

    Last year loss to San Fran was the worst.

  47. Pruritis Ani Says:

    Have to agree.. As much as the Minnesota was a turning point, so was the Eagles game, in the opposite direction.

  48. McBuc Says:

    Steve, not to be a jerk, but if you are going to bring up his Hiesman win you should also point oput his hard time finding first downs as a Bucs QB…or his time as an NFL coach…you could also throw in his time with the bandits though, and that was fun. He was a great college QB abnd is a great college coach, I will give him that. Outside of the USFL he stunk in the pors. Some coaches just do better incollege, and I think Chip Kelly may be one of them, but you never know.