Last year Jeff Faine tore a triceps muscle and Bucs fans were subjected to Sean Mayhem playing matador at center.

An ugly memory, for sure..

Today in the loss to the Falcons, rookie Derek Hardman got his first action at right guard when Faine went down in the second half with another triceps injury, so it was reported on the Buccaneers Radio Network.

Jeremy Zuttah, the starter at right guard for injured Davin Joseph, moved to center and Hardman came in.

LeGarrette Blount didn’t have another good run.

Before that, the Bucs didn’t miss a beat in the running game with Zuttah at right guard and Blount getting a 100-yard day.

Joe’s not sure the Bucs can recover from yet another injury and subsequent change along the offensive line. If Faine’s done for the year, the Bucs are in trouble.

It seems Bucs color analyst Dave Moore was as sickened as Joe was by Quincy Black’s late 15-yard horsecollar penalty, as Falcons running back Michael Turner was heading toward the sideline and seemingly a small gain.

“Let’em go,” a frustrated Moore said after the game.

Three plays later the Falcons were in the end zone.

“The youth is catching up a little bit,” Moore said of the Bucs’ nine penalties.

The Bucs are going to be kicking themselves tomorrow looking at film. The Falcons were 7-of-12 on third down, and Tampa Bay just tanked Eric Weems’ kickoff return for a touchdown.

Moore, a longtime special teams player for the Bucs, said it’s much easier to accept a great return but he didn’t put Weems’ game-changer in that category.

“This was just guys missing tackles,” Moore said.

Joe still can’t believe Maurice Stovall missed that sideline tackle that would have put the Falcons on their own 26 instead of in the end zone.

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Nooooooo!

The Bucs choked.

Sorry. They’ve accomplished so much this season, even without knocking off a winning team. But they choked, leading by 10 at home in the fourth quarter in a game that would have changed the course of the season and possibly the franchise.

Joe’s sick to his stomach. If Maurice Stovall doesn’t miss a sideline tackle on Eric Weems, then he doesn’t take it to the house and the Falcons are clawing to come back from 10 down in the fourth quarter instead of a Weems’ 102-yard return that changed the game.

The crowd was raucous. “Matty Indoors,” aka “Matty Ice” the Falcons’ quarterback, was almost put on ice, often looking bewildered by the Bucs secondary and completing just half his passes and getting picked twice.

But almost ain’t cutting it. The Bucs have high expectations for themselves, and Joe surely had them leading by 10 late.

Painful. Joe’s sick. The Bucs can and should win their next three games. Going to be tough, though, if Jeff Faine doesn’t return.

Check back often for plenty of coverage through the night on JoeBucsFan.com.

Week 13
Dixie Chicks at Bucs
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m.
TV: Blacked out locally. Those outside the Tampa/Orlando TV markets can watch the game on DirecTV 711. The game will be available free tape-delayed on NFL.com’s Game Rewind at midnight tonight.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather: Per Accuweather.com, a chilly yet sunny day will turn cold after the sun sets. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s at kickoff but will drop down to 56 by the end of the game. Winds are expected to die down later today.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Dixie Chicks -3.
Outlook: Break out your orange gear Bucs fans. It’s throwback day to honor the first Bucs coach, John McKay, into the Ring of Honor. No, this is not a must-win game. But if the Bucs hope to be in the playoffs a win today will be a big step. The way the NFC North is shaping up, there will be a wild card team from that division and a wild card team likely from the NFC South. It doesn’t appear as if 10 wins will get the Bucs a playoff game. And for the Bucs fans that Joe knows who spill coffee in the morning and slam their empty pints of beer on the bar in anger over people mentioning the 500-pound gorilla in the room that the Bucs have yet to beat a team with a winning record, this would be a good time for the Bucs to put that nasty little fact to rest. In short, Joe believes this game will be won or lost by the Bucs defense, which has played pretty damned good of late, both against the run and with a newfound pass rush. With Cody Grimm out for the year, it appears Bucs coach Raheem Morris is going to play a lot of chess with his secondary hoping to always be on top of a good matchup. This will be key. Since Roddy White is healthy, getting heat on Matty Ice, who isn’t much of a runner, will be critical. Simply, sound, fundamental football can win it for the Bucs today: No turnovers, stout defense and solid special teams should do the trick.
Video: A Gerald McCoy interview on NFL Network’s Total Access. … Michael Lombardi, Brian Baldinger and Solomon Wilcots break down the Bucs secondary. … Warrick Dunn does it again. … NFL Films looks at the Dixie Chicks-Bucs game. … Various TBO Bucs vlog editions including a look at the throwback game and Aqib Talib’s temper. … good guy Stephen Holder and Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times look inside today’s matchup.
Fun facts: When Matty Ice has a passer rating of 100 or over, the Dixie Chicks are undefeated. … If LeGarrette Blount gets over 15 carries, the Bucs are undefeated. … Mike Williams leads all rookies with 701 receiving yards.

Joe’s reaching for an edge against the Falcons today, in what Joe expects will be a tight game.

Perhaps a chewed up field after last night’s South Florida-Connecticut game at the C.I.T.S., a little morning rain, a forecast 15 miles per hour wind through the game, and some legitimate crowd noise could help the Bucs?

The Falcons have played their last five games in domes (four at home). And that’s not going to help them today if it’s 60 degrees and breezy with the game on the line tonight.

Of course, it won’t matter if the Bucs can’t stop the run.

The man who seems to have locked up the right tackle job for now and beyond, James Lee, got behind the microphone to chat with Bucs fans Friday night on the Buccaneers Radio Network.

Joe’s got some highlights for you.

Lee says “I like to play nasty. At a high motor, and just hard down nasty.”

Lee characterized himself as a run-blocker, a slow learner of the offense when he joined the Bucs in 2008, and a big trash talker and a huge Jeremy Zuttah fan.

Per Lee, Zuttah has the biggest bench press among the offensive linemen, and he calls Zuttah “an all-tme Buccaneer.”

“Next he’s going to be a kicker,” Lee said of Zuttah. “We came in together[in 2008] . I’ve seen him develop into a player. Whatever position they put him in, he’s playing at a high level. I’m very proud of him.”

Lee says he’s playing as well now has he has since preseason. “It’s just timing”  that got him an opportunity to win the job from Jeremy Trueblood. Regarding his backup, Trueblood, Lee says they are close and Trueblood has been supportive in preparation for games.

On Jeff Faine: Words can’t describe Jeff Faine on a Sunday. He’s amped up to the max. Sunday it’s a totally different ball game. He gets me going. 

Lee says his intensity comes from seeing how hard his single mother worked every day to support him and give him all she could.

Derek “Old School” Fournier of WhatTheBuc.net hates the term “must-win,” but admits a win over the Dixie Chicks Sunday is critical.

"There's no way I would have wasted a second round pick on Sabby, Mr. Glazer."

Last year when rock star general manager Mark Dominik took over the Bucs and announced the Bucs were going to build through the draft and restock with youth, Bucs fans as a whole howled with outrage.

Less than two years later, it is evident Dominik knows what he’s doing.

In a recent story ranking the best rookies of the 2010 NFL season, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., writing for BSPN, the Bucs are well-represented.

The No. 4 rookie, per Williamson, is Bucs receiver Mike Williams. No. 9 is LeGarrette Blount. No. 10 is Gerald McCoy.

That’s not counting seventh-round pick safety Cody Grimm who was clearly an emerging star, and wide receiver Arrelious Benn, who is beginning to shine.

Yeah, Bucs fans were so unnerved last year the very ground beneath the CITS shook with all the personnel changes. But it’s clear now Dominik’s plan is very much on target.

For much of the season the Bucs defensive line stunk worse than an Ybor City restroom in the wee hours of a Sunday morning.

The defensive line was gashed constantly by obscure, little-known third string NFL running backs and opposing quarterbacks could order pizzas without being disturbed.

But in recent weeks the D-line has done a complete 180 and is now becoming — ready for this? — dominant. Part of the reason for that is the improved play of Roy Miller.

Miller, who had some impressive numbers as a rookie, was virtually invisible for the first six games or so for the Bucs, getting shoved around like a high school player. But maybe not coincidentally, Miller’s improved play has mirrored the Bucs’ improved defensive line play.

Former Bucs defensive end Steve White, on his blog “Passing on the Game,” writes that Miller has a chance at a monster game Sunday against the Dixie Chicks.

Roy Miller started with his improved play for the last few weeks with a good showing against Atlanta the first go around. He will need a better performance this time to help get the win. One thing about the Falcons is that they allow their center to single block the nose tackle a lot more than normal. What he tries to do is get the nosetackle to push him upfield rather than expanding, especially when there is a zone running play called. My advice would be for Roy to tighten down his alignment a little bit so that he heavier on the center. And then when the center tries to reach him rather than getting up field he should try to rip off and go laterally to either make the tackle or make the ball bounce back behind him. And Al Woods who backs Miller up should be doing the same thing.

It’s not a cliche to suggest if you are strong up the middle your defense will also be strong. If the Bucs can be stout in the middle of the defense tomorrow, it will go a long way to the Bucs (finally) beating a team with a winning record.

Here’s a couple of other nuggets to digest to get fired up for Sunday’s game: Five times this season the Bucs have shut out their opponent in the second half. Also, in the NFL it’s tough to win on the road but the Bucs have been up to the challenge, winning three of their last four on the road.

The lovely Tiffany Simons and Gregg Rosenthal discuss how the Bucs are now ready for primetime and Josh Freeman only needs to prove it in this NBCSports.com video.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

It seems that last week against the Crows, Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson was content with testing the Crows cornerbacks early and often.

That wasn’t a bad philosophy given that the Crows cornerbacks were not the best in the NFL. But when it was clear Josh Freeman struggled with his accuracy, that original premise by Olson had to change.

That can’t happen Sunday, writes eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. Twittering on the TBO Bucs Twitter feed, Kaufman claims a pass-happy attack will sink the Bucs.

If Josh Freeman is forced to throw 35 times Sunday behind a patchwork OL, the Buccaneers will be in big trouble against the Falcons.

You know what this means, right Bucs fans? LeGarrette Blount. Olson needs to feed Blount the ball time and time again and have him pound the ball.

Oh yeah, winning time of possession with a running game will keep the ball out of Matty Ice’s hands as well.

Pat Kirwan explains how a team which lost in a first matchup in the NFL always has an advantage in the rematch, among other key elements of the Dixie Chicks-Bucs game, along with co-host Jason Horowitz, in this CBSSports.com video.

On this throwback weekend honoring John McKay entering the Bucs’ Ring of Honor, Joe couldn’t resist posting this throwback video, courtesy of Nick Houllis of BucStop.com, one of Joe’s favorite online hangouts.

Howard Cosell talks to McKay following the Bucs’ first-ever win. Enjoy.

Blue on the map represents where the "national" Bucs-Falcons game will be televised on FOX stations Sunday. Red represents coverage of the meaningless Cowboys-Colts game.

Legions of Bucs fans were giddy when Sunday’s Bucs-Falcons game was moved to 4:15 p.m.

Oh, yeah! That meant a national time slot and the young Bucs would be shown all over America. Finally some national love for Mike Williams, Josh Freeman and the rest of the Bucs’ relatively unknown roster.

Hardly.

Via the TV-obsessed folks at The506.com, you can see in the map above (blue) where the Bucs-Falcons game can be viewed. That would be bustling metroplolises of Fargo, North Dakota, Duluth, Minnesota, and Roanoke, Virginia — and not much else outside of Atlanta (obviously), Jacksonville and New Orleans.

Red on the map represents what cities and towns will watch the Cowboys-Colts game at 4:15. (And you thought it was a 2012 Republican victory projection.)

Joe’s not going to pretend to know more about the viewing desires of football fans than big-money TV executives, but it seems the presence of Peyton Manning and “America’s Team” makes a game far more desirable to watch than the best team in the NFC (Atlanta) versus the former best team in the NFC (Bucs).

A Wall Street Journal story a few weeks ago illustrated how the networks — and presumably the NFL — are content to jam bad football down the nation’s throat so it can showcase big names. 

A look at every NFL team shows the Vikings, on average, have been broadcast in a league-leading 38.3 states each week they play, edging the Cowboys by 0.4. The Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles round out the top five, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are last at 2.9 states a week, according to The506.com, a website that uses local listings to track where teams are broadcast.

Joe hopes the Colts are up by four touchdowns at halftime Sunday, just to stick it to the FOX suits.

Now Joe is sure his readers fly to Vegas to wager legally, versus placing bets with the guy whose cell number changes every week. 

Regardless of how or why you wager, Joe knows there are many aspiring handicappers reading. So to please the gambling crowd, Joe has turned to superpicker Bob Fox. A writer for various sports publications over the years, Fox flashed his stellar picking skills backin 2008 on JoeBucsFan.com, when Joe had a contest here among sports media.

Fox gives you a handful of games here every week. To date, Fox is 29-18 on the season. Not too shabby.

By BOB FOX
JoeBucsFan.com analyst

South Carolina Gamecocks 31, Auburn Tigers 28
 
The SEC championship game has huge national title implications, as the 9-3 South Carolina Gamecocks do battle for the second time this season vs. the 12-0 Auburn Tigers. With a win, the War Eagles will punch their ticket to the BCS title game, but a loss could derail that dream. Auburn trailed South Carolina 20-7 in their first game this year (Sept. 25), but forced four turnovers and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The ol’ ball coach of the Gamecocks is Steve Spurrier and he knows a little something about playing in the SEC championship game. Spurrier-coached Florida played in the first five SEC title games and seven overall in his tenure at Florida. Spurrier was 5-2 in those games. He has a very talented squad this year at South Carolina, led by QB Stephen Garcia (18 TD passes vs. 9 picks) RB Marcus Lattimore (1,114 yards rushing and 17 TDs) and WR Alshon Jeffery (75 receptions and 8 TDs).  Overall the Cocks are ranked 46th in the nation offensively, while they are ranked 30th in the country on defense, including a robust No. 5 ranking against the run.  That will be key, as the Tigers are obviously led by Heisman Trophy favorite QB Cam Newton, who loves to run when given that option. Newton has rushed for 1,336 yards and 18 TDs, and the Tigers are ranked No. 6 nationally in running the rock. Newton also tossed 24 TD passes to just six interceptions this season. Bottom line, the Gamecocks will have to play pretty much error-free football, but they have the type of offense and defense that can handle the Tigers, and I see an upset win that will cause a huge ripple in the BCS standings.
 
Tampa Bay Bucs 24, Atlanta Falcons 23
 
I heard former Tampa Bay Bucs great Derrick Brooks talking about this upcoming game on The Steve Duemig Show the other day, and he said that the 7-4 Bucs have to play their A game to get a win against the 9-2 Falcons. I think Brooks is spot on in his analysis, and the season-ending injury to S Cody Grimm last week doesn’t help matters for the Bucs, especially going up against a high octane passing offense led by QB Matt Ryan. Critics have said the Bucs haven’t beat anyone on their schedule with a winning record and that the Bucs often seem to win ugly. Ugly or not, the Bucs are close to realizing an opportunity to make the playoffs this year and with a win this week vs. the Dirty Birds, all critics will have to shut their pie hole. However, the Bucs will have to play an almost perfect game to accomplish that. I think they can do that. The last couple of weeks the Bucs have been much better vs. the run and that will be key as RB Michael Turner will be toting the rock early and often for the Falcons. Plus, the Bucs have to be concerned about containing Ryan and his assortment of weapons, including WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzales. Atlanta is ranked 10th overall in the NFL in offense (8th in rushing and 13th in passing). The Bucs meanwhile are ranked 24th in offense and will be facing the 20th ranked defense of the Falcons, who have issues in stopping the pass, as they are ranked only 26th in pass defense. The Bucs will need to have a balanced game plan offensively against the Falcons, led by QB Josh Freeman (15 TD passes compared to just 5 picks) and RB LeGarrette Blount, who has really sparked the Bucs rushing attack with his bruising style. Bottom line, the Bucs have to make more big plays than the Falcons, and that won’t be easy, but the Bucs certainly have the ingredients to make that happen in front of their faithful throng at the Ray Jay. 
 
Baltimore Ravens 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
 
This is the battle for AFC North supremacy Sunday night, with the 8-3 Steelers going on the road to face the 8-3 Ravens. This game will match two top-10 defenses, and both can be very physical. OLB James Harrison of the Steelers has been fined a whopping $125,000 so far this year because of some questionable hits as a matter of fact. But the big story Sunday night is the health of QB Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben has a right foot injury that some reports have called a break or fracture, while the Steelers deny the foot is broken. Either way, Roethlisberger is the master of getting away from pass pressure and this injury will not help matters for Big Ben. Roethlisberger is a huge factor, as he has had another nice season (12 TD passes compared to just four picks) after his four game suspension earlier this year. RB Rashard Mendenhall is also a prominent figure in the Steelers offense, as he has rushed for 962 yards and nine TDs. The Ravens offensively have a nice balance led by QB Joe Flacco (18 TD passes to just eight picks), RB Ray Rice, WRs Anquan Boldin & Derrick Mason, plus TE Todd Heap. But like all contests between these two teams, the team that plays the best defense usually wins. I see LB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed and company making more big plays than their counterparts with the Steelers, led by the physically intimidating Harrison and S Troy Palamalu.
 
New England Patriots 24, New Yorks Jets 20
 
The war of words started Monday, when head coach Rex Ryan of the 9-2 Jets uttered this statement, “I came here to win,” Ryan said.  “As much as I respect and admire Bill Belichick, I came here to kick his ass, and that’s the truth. That’s just the way it is.” I would call those fighting words as the Monday night game approaches. The 9-2 Patriots aren’t easily frightened under the direction of Belichick. It helps when one has a QB of the caliber of Tom Brady. Brady leads the NFL with a 105.8 QB rating, as he has thrown 23 TD passes to just four picks.  rady is getting plenty of help with his receiving corp, as Wes Welker seems to be back in his usual productive form, plus is getting key help from Deion Branch as well. The two-headed rookie monster at TE, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, have combined for 61 receptions and nine TDs to help matters. The ground game of the Pats is led by BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who has rushed for 627 yards and 9 TDs. The 13th ranked offense of the Patriots will need all the help they can get versus the third-ranked defense of the Jets, led by ILB David Harris, S Jim Leonhard and CB Darrelle Revis. The Jets offense has been pretty productive as of late behind QB Mark Sanchez, RB LaDainian Tomlinson and WRs Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. The Jets should have some opportunities vs. the 31st ranked defense of the Pats. Still, I see the Pats behind Brady and company making more big plays in this battle to take control of the AFC East division.

You’ve all read THE PESSIMIST, who spews his Bucs-related anger like no other. But Joe also wants you to know THE OPTIMIST. 

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the team goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t.

“Now starting at safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers …” Who Cares!

No really, does it matter what school he went to, or what area of the country he is from? Does it matter his ethnic background or any background for that matter? No, because speaking of backgrounds, you can bet the Bucs have already delved into it.

The guys replacing IR-bound Cody Grimm and abyss-bound Sabby, you can bet Mark Dominik and Raheem Morris had their names on a board or canvas somewhere.

They probably looked into them in last years draft, or maybe the year before. Not only do they know what they scored on their SATs, they know what he ate for breakfast before taking them.  Call them the NFL’s newest gumshoes, Dominik & Morris P.I.

Guess what? It works.

Back in a rookie head coach’s first draft, the Bucs coach scouted a perfect running back the Bucs could really use. Leeland McElroy was a top rusher for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Despite his great play, injuries concerned NFL teams. The rookie coach, Tony Dungy, really wanted McElroy, and thought that he would fall to the Bucs. But with a failed plan with the NY Jets, the Bucs waited too long and he went to the Arizona Cardinals. The Bucs instead SETTLED for the next player on their board, a battering ram named Mike Alstott. Lesson; sometimes the best-laid plans go awry — for your own good.

Tony Dungy and Rich McKay were legendary in their drafting prowess, yet Morris and Dominik are starting to create a whole new higher bar around One Buc Place, that never really has or maybe never will be matched again.

One by one, rookies and castoffs have been making plays for the Bucs this year, and mostly it’s been AFTER coming in for a veteran; Arrelious Benn, Mike Williams, Myron Lewis, E.J. Biggers, Cody Grimm, LeGarrette Blount, Dekoda Watson, Erik Lorig, Al Woods, Alex Magee, Corey Lynch, Ted Larsen, and James Lee.

That is some heavy duty investigative work for the Buccaneer PI team, and it’s paying off in a 7-4 record. More important than the record or the origin of the player, this team looks like it has laid the groundwork for a solid foundation for many years to come. Josh Freeman is 22 years old and has 10-12 more years left in him as our offensive leader! Odds are great that Mike Williams, Ted Larsen and LeGarrette Blount are done, worn out, and gone by the time Freeman decides to hang up his cleats. That’s how long this team has together.

So if you are concerned about Corey Lynch starting at safety or about who might fill in for him, worry not. It may be a Barber, but don’t be surprised if it’s a name you’ve never heard of, because you can rest assured Dominik and Morris already have. 

And they know what they had for breakfast, too! 

Check out the great new and pre-owned inventory at Northgate Lincoln Mercury. Click below right now and start shopping.

In this week’s edition of fantasy football advice from Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620, Justin not only talks fantasy football but also includes references to birds, guns and alcohol.

Pressed Friday about discipline issues that have faced the Bucs this season, Bucs captain Jeff Faine said it’s a constant effort to keep the incredibly young Bucs roster on the right path off the field.

But Raheem Morris is doing a fantastic job mentoring the young Bucs despite the problems, Faine said during The Jeff Faine Show with host J.P. Peterson on 1010 AM.

“It is not a zoo mentality in the organization. One of the things that Coach Morris and Mark Dominik were making decisions on with who to draft and who to sign, they brought in guys that had some problems. It’s our responsibility as leaders and as an organziation to guide them. I know when I was a younger player I made stupid mistakes,” Faine said. 

“[You hear] ‘Coach Morris is running a zoo. Coach Morris can’t handle the team.’ He’s dealing with younger guys. I’m the fourth oldest guy on this team and I’m 29 years old. That’s scary. …We’ve won because of those guys. …But their execution is not carrying over off the field.

“Part of that is leadership from me and Raheem and Dominik and the other veterans. To teach them to understand the need for preparation, to take care of their body, [off-field behavior]. It’s not by any means perfect now. And it’s not going to be perfect anytime soon. We have to help them make better choices. And that’s what we’re working toward and that’s what we’re going to do.

“[Offensive line coach] Pete Mangurian actually made a statement, and he’s going to hate that I’m bringing it out, ‘When guys make selfish decisions off the field, it affects not just players, but players’ families, owners, everyone. If we lose Aqib Talib for the season, that’s going to hurt everybody.”

Faine went on to say that he tries to explain to young players how much is potentially at stake financially if they screw up off the field.

“The message at the end of the day [to the young guys] is, ‘You’re killing yourself,'” Faine said.  

The Bucs, the youngest team in the NFL, are loaded with loads of rookies and young players. To Joe, it seems like simple math that the Bucs have their share of discipline challenges. Whether the Bucs are equipped to deal with them successfully will be answered this year and next.

You’ve heard it. Joe’s heard it. It’s a pet peeve of Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620. Yet there’s no escaping this fact and no sense in denying it.

The Bucs have yet to beat a team with a winning record.

Sooner or later if the Bucs are going to have success, or for that matter a playoff berth, the Bucs are going to have to rinse themselves of this stench. There’s no better way than to start Sunday. Call it “Separation Sunday.”

How the Bucs will do against the Dixie Chicks was up for debate on “The Blitz” this afternoon, co-hosted by your friend and Joe’s, Adam Schein, along with Jim Miller, heard exclusively on Sirius NFL Radio.

Adam Schein: I have always respected the Bucs. Raheem Morris has done a fantastic job. The Bucs overall have done a great job. But the way the Falcons are playing the past two games, they way their defense has played, Matty Ice, they don’t commit penalties. Atlanta has stepped up in class. I know they are playing in Tampa, but I can see them win by double-digits.

Jim Miller: I don’t think so. I think this is a dangerous game for Atlanta. I know this year Tampa has had some injuries to the safeties and to the offensive line. But the Bucs have racked up nine sacks in the past two games. I like their corners. I think the Bucs can matchup well. The key is the safeties and the linebackers and Matt Ryan’s ability to get the ball and attack the interior of that Tampa-2 defense. The last game came down to a field goal. This one could too. It should be a close game but I too like Atlanta.

Schein: Tampa, I love you. We are the official home of the Buccaneers. But let me call it: Matty Ice 27-17. My Falcons.

Joe can understand how people can see Matty Ice and the Dixie Chicks winning. The Dixie Chicks have beaten some of the NFL’s elite. They have beaten Green Bay. They have beaten the Saints. They have beaten the Crows.

The Bucs have lost to the Saints. The Bucs have lost to the Crows and the Bucs have lost to the Dixie Chicks.

The only way for the Bucs to rid themselves of this stain is to beat a winning team. It would help if the Bucs accomplished this Sunday.

Pat Kirwan, the former NFL personnel executive turned guru for CBS Sports, Sirius NFL Radio and NFL.com, doesn’t see the Bucs winning Sunday against Atlanta.

Nope. Kirwan doesn’t think they’ve evolved enough to beat elite teams.

Kirwan, a fan of Raheem Morris and the young Bucs, Kirwan delivered the following Bucs rant this week on Miller and Moulton on 770 AM in Fort Myers.

“Here’s the reality of Tampa: They haven’t beaten a team with a winning record. We know that. Everyone’s been talking about it. Now they’re up against their fifth team with a winning record.

“What happens to these guys, they’re young, they’re excitable, they’re going to be very good someday. But in the crunch of the last few minutes of a game when you’ve got to make that play, whether it’s “O” or “D,” they’re not really ready to do that as much as a team like Atlanta ,who learned and then suffered a little bit last year and built their resolve and cleared up what they are.

“If you look at last week’s game with Tampa, the coaches are still learning about these kids. They don’t have enough information. …You were in Baltimore. You were playing a very good football team poised for this playoff run, and your coach is trying to figure out how much you can handle. It’s a different place.”

Kirwan went on to say Atlanta is the best team in the league because it’s the most balanced.

Joe can’t argue with Kirwan’s slap of reality. The immature Bucs are a work in progress, nowhere near a finished product like New Orleans or Atlanta, for example. And that is why Raheem is coach of the year to this point — because simply beating every team at or below their level has been a near miraculous accomplishment with this roster.

However, all that written, Joe surely believes the Bucs have the playmakers in place to beat Atlanta at home.