Statement Start
August 31st, 2020
General manager Sean Sullivan is ready to give you unprecedented personal service!!!! Call, email or stop in, and you’ll get a special JoeBucsFan/Ira Kaufman discount. Bill Currie Ford will shock you with their greatness.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The last time Buc fans were this jacked up about a season opener, George W. Bush was in the White House and the Rays were in the doghouse.
The year was 2003 and the defending Super Bowl champion Bucs were preparing to christen the Linc Sept. 8 on Monday Night Football after shutting down the Vet in January.
Bush was in his first term in the Oval Office while the Rays were 57-84 under Lou Piniella, 28 games behind the Yankees and on their way to a 63-99 finish.
It’s been a while, explains Ira Kaufman.
Yes, it’s been that long since Buc Nation looked forward to a Week 1 matchup like the one we’re about to witness. The Saints, who have won the NFC South three consecutive seasons, are set to play host to Tom Brady and his new Tampa teammates.
The only downer in this riveting opener? Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Buccaneer supporters were booked for a festive weekend in the Big Easy to cheer on the visitors.
Because no fans will be allowed in the Superdome, Buc supporters will have to settle for Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to showcase the action.
While no season is decided in Week 1, this is no ordinary divisional duel. Brady is 43, Drew Brees is 41 and the over-under point total for this matchup is 49.5.
No margin of error, says Tom Brady.
Brady has grown so accustomed to winning division titles, he was often looking forward to playoffs treats by Halloween. A formidable Saints roster stands in his way.
“So there’s not going to be a margin of error, which is why they’re tough to beat,” Brady says. “They’re always in the playoffs, always competing for Super Bowls. I’ve got a lot of respect for them, their program, how they run it. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’ll be excited when we take the field in a couple of weeks.”
In Sean Payton and Bruce Arians, two of the league’s premier offensive minds will match wits while Tristan Wirfs makes his NFL debut against one of the league’s elite defensive ends, Cameron Jordan.
Fresh Magic
The Bucs opened the 2018 season in New Orleans with a 48-40 shocker behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Both clubs have changed markedly since that shootout. Tampa Bay’s only returning defensive starters from that game are Jason Pierre-Paul, Lavonte David and Carlton Davis. The Saints will feature at least five new defensive starters, including stellar defensive backs Janoris Jenkins and Malcolm Jenkins.
“Oh man,” Janoris Jenkins says, “we’re stacked.”
In Janoris Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore, the Saints are one of the few teams with a cornerback tandem to match up against Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
“We feel like we got two of the better cover corners in the league,” says Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
A Buc victory would set a positive tone, but let’s remember that the 2002 championship team dropped a 26-20 decision to New Orleans at home. That was the most points the Bucs allowed en route to a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In contrast, that thrilling 2018 win in the Superdome couldn’t prevent a second consecutive 5-11 season that triggered Dirk Koetter’s departure.
And that 17-0 shutout in the 2003 opener at Philadelphia was one of Tampa Bay’s few highlights in a 7-9 season that shocked Buc fans and players alike.
Let’s savor this year’s two games against the Saints as a pair of first-ballot Hall of Famers match spirals.
“Tom’s been a guy who has kind of been the model for all of us,” says Brees.
At this point, the Saints are the models for success in the NFC South. Yes, they’ve suffered some brutal recent playoff setbacks, but they are 37-11 in the past three seasons.
So here comes the Brady Bunch, intent on making an early statement on the road. There won’t be fans in the stands, but there’s a lot on the line.
Bill Currie Ford
813-872-5555
5815 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, FL 33614
BillCurrieFord.com
Ira Kaufman’s column is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click on Ira to visit BillCurrieFord.com.
August 31st, 2020 at 4:12 pm
Somehow, you’ve got to believe that no fans in the Superdome is at least a slight advantage for us.
The key to this game will be penalties & turnovers….if we can keep those to a minimum, victory is in sight.
August 31st, 2020 at 4:29 pm
this aint the same ole bucs and they aint the same saints….their window is closing…has been for a few years now….
saints will under estimate the brady effect….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 31st, 2020 at 4:48 pm
I get the hype but let’s not miss the FACT that ME13 took Jackrabbits lunch money to the tune of 3TD’s and over 100yrds vs Giants last year.
Carry on nothing to see here….
#ThatsaFact
August 31st, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Can’t buy it Ira. No hype here. I been with the pirate ship since inception. I’ll just wait and see. My Bucs are the hype kings. Not ridin that wave. produce first.
August 31st, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Even if they keep ME13 and CG14 from going off on them, they still have an invigorated OJ Nd Gronk to deal with along with of course a much morw accurate ans precise QB who happens to be the GOAT, so yeah…..good luck with that Saints.
August 31st, 2020 at 7:12 pm
I already have over $2G on us week one.
I will take any other bets that come up. GO BUCS!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2020 at 7:46 pm
Even after our Super Bowl win, we still got no respect.
Not even opening the next season at home… SMDH
August 31st, 2020 at 7:47 pm
SB- where’s that link for the pickem?
I wanna be a back-to-back champ!!!
August 31st, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Who wanted to draft Derwin James? He needs surgery after all and is out for the year.
August 31st, 2020 at 9:01 pm
FactTeller Says:
August 31st, 2020 at 4:48 pm
I get the hype but let’s not miss the FACT that ME13 took Jackrabbits lunch money to the tune of 3TD’s and over 100yrds vs Giants last year.
Carry on nothing to see here….
#ThatsaFact
Yeah but what you left out if your FACT is that the guy willing to stand in the pocket and throw him the ball in that game no longer plays here. The current QB simply will not do that and he will just go turtle at the first sign of pressure.
Pressure =🐢 🐢
August 31st, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Smh, I thought you were going away.
August 31st, 2020 at 10:18 pm
You know who is holding a clipboard for the Saints for league minimum. He’s not even close to a pocket.
TB12 will know what to do before the snap, not make it up on the fly, like you know who.
August 31st, 2020 at 10:38 pm
You wish Mike, you people need someone to tell you the truth, cause goodness knows the lying backstabbing useless “coach” won’t.
August 31st, 2020 at 10:41 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
August 31st, 2020 at 10:18 pm
You know who is holding a clipboard for the Saints for league minimum. He’s not even close to a pocket.
TB12 will know what to do before the snap, not make it up on the fly, like you know who.
I love it you people actually believe Brady won’t ever get hit cause he is so perfect at everything and everyone is going to be amazing just cause they breath the same air as him. And you people called people who wanted Jameis to stay nut huggers, shoot have you ever seen a mirror cause you people are pitaful.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:21 am
I think SB will be 2G’s (or more?) up this time next week and others will be eating their first of sixteen courses of crow!
Not to mention the ‘desert’ of post season!
Just my opinion
September 1st, 2020 at 7:15 am
It seems pretty idiotic that someone on this site is saying that Brady will crumble. The guy who has stood in their more than anyone.
Who has played more games these last 5 years – Brady or Winston? Brady is the answer.
Who knows how to get rid of the ball quicker? Brady
Who knows how to read a defense better? Brady
Who will make the pre-snap reads better and adjust the line play? Brady
Who understands where the 3rd and 4th option better? Brady
Who will limit the interceptions to under 30 and the fumbles under 12 (6 lost)? Brady
Who will get hit during the season? Probably only Brady – Winston is not playing dude.
September 1st, 2020 at 8:54 am
Can we put a moratorium on using the phrase “Brady bunch”?
September 1st, 2020 at 10:12 am
Nut huggers NDog? Nah.
Ray Charles could see who the real QB is vs. the clipboard holder….