Home Cooking

November 30th, 2021

Importance of home.

One awesome thing about the Super Bowl last year was the Murderer’s Row of quarterbacks the Bucs beat to win it all, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Pat Mahomes.

Another impressive element was the Bucs were road warriors needing three road wins to get to the Super Bowl, which of course was won at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

To hear Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, even that was a break of sorts. Why? Because of the pandemic, stadiums were either empty or mostly without fans.

Expecting a road-warrior path to the another championship, with soldout stadiums, might be too big of an obstacle to overcome, Arians said yesterday.

“It has only ever happened a couple of times in the history of the league,” Arians said. “When I was in Pittsburgh, we went to the Super Bowl and won with all the road games. I think the Giants may have done it, but that’s not very easy.

“It’s a very hard thing with fans. People forget – everybody talks about our road woes – we’re .500 on the road right now and that’s pretty damn good in the old days.

“When there are fans in the stands and you go and win in a place like Philly and you go win in a place like Indy – those are hard stadiums to win in. Home-field advantage in the playoffs is a huge, huge advantage.”

To clarify, 11 wild card playoff teams have reached a Super Bowl and seven have won it. So it’s not as rare as Arians described.

The Bucs are currently a game behind the NFC-leading Cardinals and a half-game behind the Packers. Joe isn’t worried about the Bucs playing at Green Bay, so long as it isn’t five-below zero. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers always find a way to choke away a playoff game at home. Every. Year.

The Bucs have the offense to neutralize fans in a road playoff game. Joe heard former Bill Walsh coffee fetcher Michael Lombardi discuss Walsh’s road record. Walsh actually had a better road record than he did a home record.

Lombardi asked Walsh if defense wins games on the road. Walsh said no, it’s offense. This surprised Lombardi and he asked Walsh why he believed offenses won road games. Walsh said, per Lombardi, “First downs shut up the crowd.”

20 Responses to “Home Cooking”

  1. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    Can’t argue with Walsh. Have to agree

  2. Tampaabaybucfan Says:

    If we are able to overcome slow starts, we can win road games……

    In the old days…..playing at home felt like a road game….

  3. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    Home Field advantage is HUGE, especially in a place like Seattle.
    It is loud there, all the time.
    However, here in Tampa, for some reason Fans want to do that TAMPA then BAY cheer. That Cheer shuts up an entire half of the Stadium, as one part of the stadium yells TAMPA, then the other part of the stadium yells BAY.

  4. D-Rome Says:

    On an unrelated note, things keep sounding more grim for Devin White.

  5. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Bucs will need to win their last 6 games and finish 14-3 to secure home field throughout playoffs.
    It’s a tall order, but considering their upcoming opponents, it’s doable.
    Gotta get/stay healthier and get some help from Cardinals and Packers.

  6. PSL Bob Says:

    Don’t want to push our luck. I don’t like going back to Lambeau again to get to the SB. Make the Packers come to Tampa.

  7. Rob In Land O Lakes Says:

    Walsh’s 49ers usually had an incredible road record. In his scripted plays, there were specific plays that he relied on, if they worked, to take the crowd out of the game.

  8. Bird Says:

    I agree except green bays defense looks better this year. Got rid of their D coordinator. And their offense is always good. Honestly would rather face Cards in Arizona

    Hope we can win out. We need carlton davis back although surprisingly Dean could play this week. For whatever reason , Dean takes himself out of games and wont play dinged up.

  9. Beeej Says:

    Patrick’s mother HATES when he is called “Pat”

  10. bucschamp Says:

    Brady loves angry crowd. he gives you hope then put a dagger straight to your heart.

    then he trolls you in twitter

  11. Bird Says:

    Chris Apple

    That chant is epic and has to get players pumped. It gets me pumped. Not sure i heard it last game unfortunately.

  12. Steven007 Says:

    Chris, the Tampa/Bay Cheer is typically only done once per game, maybe twice at best. And as Bird said it gets the crowd and the team going. Nothing wrong with a unique cheer for the home team.

  13. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Steven/Bird

    Exactly. Once a game as I recall, and not usually during live action. Unique to our team. Chris is a party pooper.

  14. Will Says:

    Dang fellas y’all making me wanna get to a home game BAD! This year was the 1st time in a while I didn’t make it to the game when they came to Cali. Damn that’s why we lost. My bad.😪

  15. Colonel Angus Says:

    Some of those Wild Card teams played at home (in the 1st round) before the realignment. Like the Bucs in 97’ hosting the Lions. I think only 4 teams have won the 3 road games and the Super Bowl.

  16. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Is BA really talking about home field advantage? How about just saying we are focusing on Atlanta? The same question was asked to Belichick. His answer was 8 wins gets you nothing we are on to the Bill’s.

  17. PassingThru Says:

    That’s why we need at least the #2 seed: With the #2 seed, we’ll get home field for the first two playoff rounds. With the #3 seed, you’re only getting one home-field advantage game.

    This team is much, much better at home than on the road. I’m glad the Buffalo game will be held in Tampa Bay.

  18. SlyPirate Says:

    #1 seed would be a major win for the Bucs. Getting that extra week to heal could be the difference.

  19. Buczilla Says:

    Bill Walsh was one hell of a coach and did his damage in the pre watered down, sissified version of the nfl. Nothing beats the nfl, but it could be so much more.

  20. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Will Says:
    “This year was the 1st time in a while I didn’t make it to the game when they came to Cali. Damn that’s why we lost. My bad.”
    .
    .

    You’d best fix your s#it next year!