Sure, Joe is digusted with Sunday’s loss. Absolutely disgusted. But that doesn’t mean Joe isn’t looking ahead to next season, even though Joe doesn’t know who the quarterback or even the head coach will be.

So, courtesy of TBO.com, here are the Bucs opponents for the 2009 season.

Road games- Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo, Miami and Seattle. Home games – Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Dallass, New York Giants, New York Jets, New England (in London), Green Bay.

It’s a brutal schedule, but one that will make the Glazers happy because of its high profile home games. With non-division home games against four extremely popular teams – Dallas, both New York clubs and Green Bay – that represents at least four sellouts regardless of the Bucs’ record.

Joe knows first-hand how hard Antonio Bryant takes a loss. The Bucs might have to use their franchise tag for Bryant to ensure his return in 2009.

He was the engine of the Bucs offense, the sixth-leading receiver in the NFC, and now Antonio Bryant is ready to cash in his winning Lotto ticket.

Sitting on a 2008 season that saw him catch 83 balls for 1,248 yards, Bryant is a 27-year-old free agent who proved durable, reliable, dangerous and trouble-free, after sitting home unwanted in 2007.

Joe spent a lot of time after Sunday’s miserable loss trying to figure out why Bryant would want to return to Tampa Bay next season. Joe couldn’t come up with many compelling reasons.

First, Bryant is going to want to know who his quarterback will be, as well as his head coach. And the latter will be especially important to Bryant considering the troubles he’s had with coaches at his previous stops in Dallas, San Francisco and Cleveland.

Bryant told Joe he likes Jeff Garcia. If Garcia, also a free agent, parts with the Bucs, will that be a factor for Bryant? If the Glazers replace Gruden, will that turn off Bryant?

Second, Bryant will tell you, “I’m a very sore loser.” After the Bucs loss to the Chargers, he was the last player in the Bucs locker room to take off his uniform. After Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Bryant sat alone at midfield. The guy wants to win. And Joe questions whether he would want to play for a Bucs team that was rebuilding its offense to compete with the offensive monsters in the NFC South, or jump to a true contender.

The Bucs might have to slap their franchise player tag on Bryant to keep him in Pewter and Red. Given the Bucs’ many other needs to address in the draft and the free agent market – running back and defensive linemen at the top of the list – the expensive option of making Bryant a franchise player could be the wise move, and the only way to keep him in Tampa.

If one has a strong stomach, then this video is for you. Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon of CBSSports.com look back at the Bucs horrid loss to the Raiders.

Watch CBS Videos Online

"Don't worry Jeff. I'm telling the Glazers I want you back. Anything else will make me look flaky, like I'm not confident in what we've done on offense these past two years."

Jon Gruden wants to return as Bucs coach more than you’d like see to a Bucs pass rush and Carmella Garcia  naked at your front door demanding a sponge bath.

And know this about Chucky, he is a slick, skillful salesperson, a spin king who will masterfully accentuate the greatness of his work, gloss over the struggles, humbly blame himself and many factors beyond his control, and focus the Glazer family on why he can lead the Bucs to the division title in 2009.

Here’s how Chucky will lay out his spin for the Glazers, in hopes of one more dance in 2009:

1) Major Injuries/issues in the running game. Chucky will lean hard on this one.

“You got run the football consistently, man. That’s December football, where we struggled. Our Pro Bowl fullback B.J. Askew went down for weeks to start the season, then we lost Storer and had to sign Jameel Cook off the street and ask our No. 1 tailback Earnest Graham to fill in. Then we lose Graham, and Warrick Dunn never really recovered from his midseason back/neck injury, and Cadillac Williams needed a month to get ready after his miracle comeback. You saw how strong he was getting against the Raiders heading to the playoffs, but got hurt after his second touchdown run. Plus, we had to cut Michael Bennett after that whole IHOP incident that we kept pretty quiet.” 

2) Major injuries/quarterback. Chucky will point to his division rivals and others in the NFC. He LOVES to take a look around the league to garner sympathy.

“Hey, you look Atlanta and Carolina, they both were blessed with health at quarterback all season long. Same goes for Philly and New York and Arizona. That’s five of six playoff teams, man. That’s how you build offensive consistency in this league. It’s no secret. Minnesota made changes at QB looking for a spark, but they’ve got Superman running the ball, which makes a big difference. We lost Garcia for five games, and he didn’t have his best stuff for the last two.”

3) Monte Kiffin blew it. Yes, Chucky will sell out Kiffin big time. Monte is a prime and easy target after the run defense completely collapsed and the pass rush stayed invisible during the final four games. And, of course, Chucky will point to a sound offensive performance in December, when Garcia was healthy.

“Hey, I’m the head coach. So I accept responsibility for this team running out of gas. But I have to throw some of that on Monte. His guys, for whatever reason, quit tackling and battling hard in December. Maybe Monte got a little soft on them in December. I don’t know, man. I wish I did. I maybe should have supervised Monte a bit more. But I had no reason not to trust him. They had their share of injuries, too. But I tell you, Raheem Morris, I hired that kid years ago, and he’s a real NFL star who is ready to shine. I like the way we work together.”

4) Remember 2007 and 2005. Chucky will focus the Glazers on his lightning-quick turnaround of the team from the Gradkowski-Simms debacle of 2006, to the division title in 2007. And he won’t let them forget about how a healthy running back (Cadillac Williams) put the team back in the playoffs in 2005. He’ll talk about why it will happen again in 2009, and it will be easier.

“For 2009, Bill Muir and I already groomed and built the league’s youngest and most promising offensive line. It’s the envy of the NFL, really. When we can put some healthy running backs behind them, like Earnest Graham and whatever stud we can get from free agency or the draft, we’re looking at another 1,000-yard rusher like Caddy in 2005. And we all know how a running game makes our quarterbacks and receivers shine.”

5) Here’s where Gruden goes to bat hard for Jeff Garcia. Yes, Jeff Garcia. Chucky needs to convince the Glazers that Garcia is a perfect fit in Tampa, and the two of them have had a spiritual and football breakthrough, as evidenced by the team’s offensive improvement in December. Chucky just can’t risk demanding a new quarterback. Chucky knows that would make him look too flaky and incompetent. …And in the same breath, Gruden will remind the Glazers how incredible rookie fourth-string QB Josh Johnson progressed this season. Remember, Gruden just last week, told the Oakland media how Johnson is a star in the making and how he just needs a little more time in Chucky’s laboratory to develop.

“We’re set at quarterback, as far as I’m concerned. Jeff Garcia is a winner, a Pro Bowler, and he’s got more left in the tank than a lot of guys five or six years younger than him. He’s found success in this system. And I see him in another Pro Bowl in 2009, when we put some more weapons around him. Hey, man, in a division with Drew Brees, Jake Delhomme and Matt Ryan, you need an all-star like Garcia to keep pace.”

6) Antonio Bryant. Gruden will take credit for securing the Glazers a true No. 1 receiver at a bargain price. The trumpets will sound loudly on this one, so the Glazers feel the potential pain of losing their bargain-hunter-in-chief.

“I’m very proud of Antonio and his evolution into a premier receiver in the NFL. I give him all the credit, but at the same time, I saw in him what many others didn’t. His second year in this offense is going to excite our fans.

7) Clifton Smith. The rookie, Pro Bowl return man will serve as another prime example for Gruden to talk about his player development ability and how he can find great value on the street when it comes to grabbing hidden gems. 

“I’m so pround of Clifton. We worked hard with him to get over his fumbling problems, showed him a lot of faith where other coaches might have sat him down. Smith turns around and makes us look pretty smart. He’s a star in the league now. And we expect him to contribute big things in the backfield for us next year as a situational back.”

8) Show extreme confidence in the Bucs offense. This is where Gruden talks about adding major pieces to the puzzle on defense, thereby taking more shots at Kiffin and praising new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris – his hire – at the same time. Gruden will tell the Glazers that the defensive line is the team’s weakness, maybe even urging them to sign Carolina free agent Julius Peppers to change the balance of power in the NFC South, and to go after a young run-stuffing monster for the D-Line. Gruden will stress that an improved D-line will change the entire team. Again, this all takes the focus off the Gruden’s offense, which he knows can’t handle the scrutiny.

9) More piling on Monte Kiffin. Key for Gruden is the last two games against the Chargers and Raiders. No doubt he’ll remind the Glazers how the offense led the team to fourth-quarter leads in both games. Chucky could be nominated for an Academy Award for expressing just how close this 2008 team was to a great season.

10) Lastly, Chucky’s 2007 contract extension likely came with Chucky expressing his plan for the Bucs future. Now what did he say back then? That answer likely will be key for the Glazers decision on whether Chucky returns in 2009, Year 2 of his current contract. After last season, more than likely, Chucky told the Glazers he was positioning the Bucs to improve at all positions for the future, while still competing for the title in 2008. To Justify his ’08 performance, Chucky can point to Bryant, Smith (versus Dexter Jackson), Garcia, Johnson and the offensive line development, including drafting of Jeramy Zuttah. On defense, he’ll look at Jermaine Phillips’ evolution, and growth by Sabby Piscitelli and Aqib Talib, along with alleged progression by Gaines Adams, and most important, the grooming of soon-to-be defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, for which Gruden will take plenty of credit.

Joe wonders whether this is all enough for Chucky to convince the Glazers not to overhaul the team with a new head coach. Right now, Joe thinks Gruden returns for 2009. But that could change in a heartbeat if the Glazers think they have a good shot at Bill Cowher or their first and truest love, Bill Parcells, the guy who jilted them twice.

Seems as though one Raiderfan had a bad day at the Bucs loss to the Raiders at the CITS yesterday.

Consider the email sent to the good people of Deadspin.com from a Raiderfan, from New Jersey no less, who was tossed from the CITS.

I had a very negative experience at Raymond James Stadium while attempting to attend the Buccaneers/Raider NFL football game. My day started poorly as I was forced to go to three different entrance gates because I was “wearing the wrong colors” before I could obtain admittance with my ticket to the game.

The game went without incident up until the first score of the game by the Raiders. I stood in celebration, and before the extra point was even kicked, I was being led away by stadium personnel. Once out of the stands, I was placed in handcuffs, although I was not resisting the stadium personnel’s requests, or read my rights and placed under arrest. I was lead to a single person holding cell where my possessions were removed, and I was subjected to a full body frisking. After being detained for roughly 30 minutes, I was released outside of the stadium, and informed that I could not return to the stadium.

Joe finds it vvvveeeerrrryyyy difficult to believe a Raiderfan from Jersey would be the model of etiquette and sportsmanship, especially at a place which served alcohol.

Joe is of the mind that if you wear the opposing team’s gear to an away game, you better be quiet as a church mouse and as polite as a little old nun. Otherwise, you pretty much get what you deserve.

Sure, Joe has gone to stadiums where he wore gear of the visiting team. But Joe was smart enough to keep his mouth shut and not stand up and cheer (with the exception of wearing Cardinals gear to Wrigley Field which, if anyone has ever gone to a Cardinals-Cubs game in Chicago or St. Louis, knows that’s no big deal). To act otherwise, you are begging for trouble.

Especially if you are Raiderfan.

The 1976 Bucs can no longer be considered the NFL's worst thanks to former Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and his 0-16 Detroit Lions.

Maybe lost in the dreadful Bucs choke job is the fact that the Bucs franchise can never again hold the tag as the NFL’s worst team. With the Lions losing to the Packers today, the Lions went winless, 0-16.

The first team go lose all 16 regular season games.

One former Bucs player who played for the 1976 Bucs, which went 0-14, is glad of it. In a story posted two days ago on NFL.com, former Bucs defensive end Pat Toomay is pleased to see a group other than him and his Bucs teammates be mocked for eternity.

“The luster wears off,” said Toomay, a defensive end on the expansion team that was shut out five times and outscored 412-125 in the franchise’s inaugural season.

“I would like the torch to be passed,” he added. “At the same time, you don’t want to wish that on anybody.”

One could argue the Bucs were worse than the Lions, but the Bucs that season were an expansion team in a time where there was no free agency and expansion teams only had the rookies they drafted or signed, and castoffs from other teams.

One can’t say that about the 2008 Lions, which was full of high draft picks and free agents.

In short, the Lions were absolutely dreadful. How Rod Marinelli is still employed is beyond Joe.

It’s easy to understand Bucs fans having pulled out the long knives and lit the torches after this disgusting freefall this past month. Joe Henderson of the Tampa Tribune seems to be leading the crowd and stops just short of calling for Chucky’s head.

Henderson suggests that one doesn’t need to be a math major to figure out the numbers don’t add up to a good sum for Chucky.

With a 31-24 loss to lowly Oakland, the Bucs completed the kind of collapse that often results in regime change, even when the coach is named Jon Gruden and he has three years remaining on his contract. Nobody gets a pass after the futility of this month. Especially after the futility of this month.

Reputations are made in December in the National Football League and the numbers tell you where Gruden’s is headed. Since winning the Super Bowl, his teams are 10-18 in regular-season games after the calendar flips to the last month of the year. The Bucs are 45-51 in the regular season since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

It’s the kind of mediocrity the Glazers used to justify firing Tony Dungy when his teams lost consecutive years in the playoffs at Philadelphia. The Bucs needed a jolt then and they sure need one now. They’ve become a treadmill team, capable of getting close enough to tease but little else. It is the worst kind of purgatory for a franchise.

Others are not immune to Henderson’s tirade. So too are Bruce Almighty and quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Joe — this Joe, not Joe Henderson — doesn’t believe Bruce Almighty is the problem. Sure the Bucs could use a young quarterback to develop. By the way, when was the last time Chucky developed a quarterback?

Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia nearly broke down in tears when asked in the Bucs postgame press conference if he would return to the Bucs next season.

The Bucs season has come to an end but Joe hasn’t stopped bringing Bucs fans videos from NFL Network. Roger Goodell still hasn’t provided embed codes.

First is NFL Films lowlights package of the game replete with Bucs announcer Gene Deckerhoff.

Next is a breakdown of the game by NFL Network’s Tom Waddle and Jim Mora. Waddle yells what many Bucs fans yelled today at the weak Bucs defense: “Tackle somebody!”

Lastly is Chucky’s postgame press conference. You can tell Chucky is like a drowning man grasping for a rope. Translation: He’s making excuses in an effort to save his job. Jeff Garcia also talks. Joe wonders if Carmella picked out his sharp vest?

Garcia nearly breaks down crying when asked if today was his last game with the Bucs. Friends, it’s not pretty. In fact, it’s pretty depressing.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is the first person of repute Joe is aware of that is betting Chucky coached his last game with the Bucs Sunday.

As fas Joe knows, Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, is the first person of repute to suggest Chucky will not return as the Bucs head coach. And Joe is confident Florio will not be the last football-connected person to make such a prediction.

We’ve got no hard information on which to base this one.

Yet.

But the reality is that, after seeing a 9-3 start disintegrate into a 9-7 finish and no playoff appearance, Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden doesn’t seem to be nearly as secure in his position as he was a month ago.

Florio also throws out the Notre Dame rumor that Joe first wrote about over a month ago saying that Chucky-to-Notre Dame talk is about as likely to happen as Joe is of finding Rachel Watson in his bed this evening.

Folks, Chucky may not be the Bucs coach next year but he surely won’t be on the sidelines of the Fighting Irish either.

It’s time to point fingers for this historic Bucs collapse.

 There are plenty to go around. And Tampa Tribune columnist Martin Fennelly got a head start, even calling out NFL officials.

If I was a referee, I would penalize the Bucs for a false start: 9-3.

Fennelly is right: There are many to blame. A defense that couldn’t hug a Bucs cheerleader when it needed a tackle. Two aging, beloved defenders that looked more like middle-aged anglers on the John’s Pass bridge than NFL players. A wide receiver who is more adept at bitching than catching. And of course, where the buck (Buc?) always should stop: Chucky’s laminated playsheet.

In a perverse way, Joe will enjoy the next few days of local sports talk radio.

This may be one of the last runs Bucs fans may ever see of Cadillac Williams.

Joe is almost too depressed to type.

* That knee injury to Cadillac Williams seemed almost an instant replay of his horrific injury against Carolina last year.

* In arguably the most critical play of the season, the Bucs needed a first down in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-four at midfield. Quarterback Jeff Garcia throws to Michael Clayton… and he drops it. Earlier in the game he caught his first touchdown pass of the season — in the last regular season game. Last! And this guy has the balls to whine about not getting any respect? Clayton, who drops far more important passes than he ever catches, kvetches about how he might need to move on. Really? As Joe has pointed out before, there are plenty of truck drivers and bouncers out there who can “run good routes” and block. A wide receiver needs to be able to catch the ball, not be a one-trick pony.

* Joe loves Derrick Brooks to death but if he was unable to run before the Raiders’ last touchdown, what the hell was he even doing on the field?

* Two more questions:

1) Was Cadillac Williams — who appears to have blown his left knee — rushed back too soon?

2) Is this the end of Chucky? Joe will have much more on this later, but it’s really hard to defend a coach who entered the month of December with the No. 2 seed, and an outside shot of the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and finished the season with a historic franchise record choke — four straight losses. After all, Father Dungy was fired for far less sins.

Joe will have much, much more on this season-ending loss later tonight and throughout the week.

* Well, it seems the Bucs have finally found a little offense. Not to nitpick, but why was Cadillac Williams dancing on his long gain to the left side late in the quarter? It almost seemed he was hurt. He’s not going to juke any linebackers out of their socks: run hard!

* Regardless of how the Bucs season ends, Joe is starting to think Jeff Garcia will not return. CBS analyst is ripping Garcia right and left and makes no bones about the fact “I spoke with Jon Gruden this week… ” Gannon is Chucky’s best pupil. Joe is certain Chucky is putting things in Gannon’s ear for him to spout off on.

* The Bucs season is now down to possibly 15 minutes. Will the team rise to the moment or tank? We’ll see.

Some second quarter musings from Joe:

* Joe wrote a bit too quick about the Bucs defense came to play, huh? Of course, this isn’t entirely defense’s fault. Offense, aside from a nice run through a great hole by Cadillac Williams and catches by Michael Clayton and Antonio Bryant, hasn’t really been anything to get all excited about.

* Just before the late first half touchdown pass by JaMarcus Russell, CBS broadcaster Kevin Harlon talked about how the Bucs were in a nickel package. Seemed as though they could have used a few more defensive backs on that play.

* Could the second half be the final 30 minutes of the Chucky era in Tampa Bay? Just wondering.

Quick thoughts on the first quarter from Joe:

* Not looking very promising if the Bucs are struggling this bad getting any sort of offense against the putrid Raiders defense.

* As Rich Gannon of CBS pointed out, with injuries to the Raiders secondary, why not test it with Antonio Bryant. Well Chucky?

* On a good note, it seems the Bucs defense showed up today.

Raiders (4-11) at Bucs (9-6)
Week 17
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTSP Channel 10, DirecTV 708.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 130.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, the game will be played in perfect Florida weather. Temperature at kickoff is forecast for 81 under partly sunny skies with minimal or no wind. At the end of the game temperature is expected to drop to only 78.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -13.
Outlook: Simply put, this really is a must-win game. If the Bucs don’t win, the season is all over.

With the Bucs’ defense playing less than Bucs-like, it will be imperitive to somehow slow down Raiders running back Justin Fargas who, like last year, is finishing the season strong.

While the Raiders are coming off a strong win over Houston last week, Joe just can’t believe with everything on the line the Bucs won’t find a way to win. Then, Bucs fans have to turn into Eagles fans for a 4 p.m. game against Dallass. No matter if the Bucs win, if Dallass wins the Bucs are done.

How distasteful must it be that the Bucs fans find themselves in a situation where they actually have to root for the Eagles? Joe will need plenty of alcohol. Come to think of it, Joe has a freshly cracked bottle of Jameson available.

One way or another, Joe may need it.

Joe again requests WSTP management to somehow mix in the talents of Heather Van Nest and Tammie Fields on its pregame or postgame show.

A Philly newspaper poll reveals plenty of Eagles fans would rather get a glimpse of their team's future than go all out to beat the Cowboys on Sunday. The Bucs need an Eagles win - and a their own victory against Oakland - to get into the playoffs.

As you’ve heard over and over this week, the Bucs need a win and an Eagles victory against the Cowboys on Sunday to make the playoffs.

The good news for the Bucs is Philadelphia has prepared all week for a must-win game against the Cowboys at 4:15 p.m. The bad news is the Eagles collectively will be punched in the gut if the Bucs beat the Raiders at 1 p.m., thereby eliminating Philly from the playoffs.

Anybody who thinks a Bucs win will not negatively impact the Eagles is not thinking clearly.

Whether Dallas is a bitter Philly rival or not, nobody can convince Joe the entire Eagles roster will have maximum fight in them if the Eagles are trailing late in the game after already being eliminated from the playoffs.

This is why the NFL is a big fat fraud for moving the Cowboys-Eagles game to 4:15 p.m., from 1 p.m., rather than play it simultaneously with the Bucs game. The Glazers should hide their heads in shame for not issuing a major public protest.

Even more troubling for Bucs fans is the growing possiblity that the Eagles might sit Donovan McNabb if the Bucs beat the Raiders. 

Tampa Bay sports radio legend Steve Duemig and other experts have said all week that the Eagles would never let up against their hated rivals, the Cowboys. “Their fans wouldn’t allow it,” Duemig said.

That’s why Joe was shocked to see the results of a Philadelphia Inquirer poll that asked fans whether the Eagles should start backup QB Kevin Kolb rather than McNabb, if the Eagles are eliminated with a Bucs victory.

More than 42 percent of Eagles fans voted to go with Kolb.

Uhh, where’s the hate for the Cowboys and the burning desire to beat them?

Kolb was a second-round pick in 2007, and is considered the heir to McNabb’s throne at quarterback. But Joe and every Bucs fan and Eagles fan should want McNabb to start the Eagles-Cowboys game. Kolb has proven nothing other than he’s a good talent with potential. His lone NFL start was this season against the Ravens; He threw for just 73 yards.

Joe wonders if so many fans want to see Kolb versus McNabb,  then would Eagles managment also want to sit McNabb for Sunday’s game following a Bucs victory. And is that even more likely considering the rampant speculation that  the Eagles will trade or cut McNabb in the offseason to get rid of his fat contract and take the team in a new direction?

Bottom line: The NFL could have done the right thing for fans of all teams involved by simply keeping the Cowboys-Eagles game at 1 p.m.

Of course, Joe brings you NFL Network Bucs videos. Of course, Roger Goodell still won’t cough up the embed codes.

First, NFL Films has a preview of the Raiders-Bucs game.

Next up is a video weather forecast for the game from AccuWeather.com. Looks like a spectacular day. 

From Buccaneers.com, Scott Smith has a video on the playoff watch. Buccaneers.com also has its own preview of the Raiders-Bucs.

The last three weeks have been unsettling for Bucs fans. Rarely can a Bucs fan think of a time when the defense has looked so, well, mortal, in three consecutive weeks.

Vic Carucci of NFL.com suggests the reason is Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Specifically, Carucci thinks Kiffin is distracted with his new job as the defensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.

Monte Kiffin. The name is synonymous with great defense. You can worry about the inconsistency at quarterback and the absence of play-making receivers and the injuries at running back. You’re not supposed to worry about Kiffin’s guys.

Until now.

Identifying the collapse is easy. Explaining it isn’t. Some league observers point to the fact that it was three weeks ago that speculation began about Kiffin leaving the team to work with his son, Lane, the new head coach at the University of Tennessee. Speculation has since become fact, and they wonder if he is giving his current employer its full attention while preparing for his new gig.

Joe thinks this is an absolute load of crap. The news about Kiffin bolting the Bucs to work with his son Lane bubbled to the surface much longer than three weeks ago. Joe was the first to report Kiffin may leave the Bucs with Lane back in October. Math is not Joe’s gig but Joe believes this to be nine weeks ago, not three.

Second, the Bucs have suffered many key injuries to key positions, specifically the two starting defensive tackles. Then tack Derrick Brooks’ list of injuries and the loss of Jermaine Phillips for the year.

Joe doesn’t believe for a second that Kiffin is the reason for the Bucs struggles on defense.

By BOB FOX

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox takes a weekly look at the NFC playoff picture. Fox writes for numerous sports publications. He brings an insightful take on the conference. 

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox says the Vikings will ride Adrian Peterson to a win against the Giants and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Fox says the Bucs will grab the No. 6 seed and head to Minnesota next week.

This is Santa’s week to visit, and the Bucs are the biggest beneficiaries of his arrival.

First, Santa told the Bucs to give themselves a present by elevating Raheem Morris to defensive coordinator starting next year, as longtime defensive coordinator/guru Monte Kiffin is heading to the University of Tennessee after the season.  Morris is an excellent choice, and Santa knows that.  Plus, Santa is sending the Oakland Raiders to Raymond James stadium this Sunday to face the Bucs in a must win game for the Buccos.  Yes, the Raiders can surprise at times, but the Bucs should be able to handle Chucky’s former team again and win going away.  Finally, Santa is sending the imploding Dallas Cowboys and their prima donna owner to Philadelphia to face the dangerous Eagles, and their equally dangerous fans.  Security needs to be tight around Jerry Jones, as Santa is going to give him and the Cowboys a bag of coal in the form of an Eagles will win.

NFC East
z-New York Giants 12-3
Dallas Cowboys 9-6
Philadelphia Eagles 8-6-1
Washington Redskins 8-7

The Giants have won the division and are the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.  They will still play hard in Minnesota this weekend, but I still expect that Tom Coughlin will rest some regulars at times to keep them healthy for the playoffs.  The BIG game, of course, is the the Cowboys-Eagles game in the city of brotherly love.  The game will be played after the Raiders-Bucs game, so the participants will know what is at stake.  No matter what, the Eagles will play hard and I expect Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook to lead the way again as the Cowboys seem better suited for a network soap opera, as opposed to being a NFL team with playoff aspirations.

NFC North
Minnesota Vikings 9-6
Chicago Bears 9-6
Green Bay Packers 5-10
Detroit Lions 0-15

The Vikings should be able to hold off the Giants at the Humpty dome, as the Giants really are playing for nothing.  The Bears, who stole a win from the jaws of defeat against the Packers on Monday night, face a tough test in Houston.  I see the Vikings winning the division.  The question will be who will lead the Vikes at QB in the playoffs.  My money says Tavaris Jackson.  In another game that has absolutely no meaning to the playoff picture, but will have the eyes of the Tampa area on it, the 0-15 Lions will face the 5-10 Packers at Lambeau Field.  The Lions have not won in Green Bay since 1991, and if they lose, they will be the first team ever to go 0-16, surpassing even the 1976 Bucs team that went 0-14. 

NFC South
y-Carolina Panthers 11-4
y-Atlanta Falcons 10-5
Tampa Bay Bucs 9-6
New Orleans Saints 8-7

After Carolina lost a hard fought battle against the Giants last Sunday night for conference supremacy,  the Panthers will most likely be the number No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Panthers face a tough test this Sunday against the Saints in New Orleans, a game Carolina needs to wrap up the division and the No. 2 seed without help.  The Falcons are a Wild Card team (for now) after their win in Minnesota last weekend.  The Falcons will be the No. 5 seed at worst, and maybe the No. 2 seed at best, as they will host the Rams in Atlanta this weekend.  Whatever team grabs the No. 5 seed will face the suddenly hapless Arizona Cardinals on the road in the first round of the playoffs.  I see the Bucs becoming the No. 6 seed after their win vs. the Raiders and the Cowboys loss to the Eagles.  The Bucs would then need to travel to Minnesota to play the Vikes in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  The Bucs did beat the Vikings earlier this year, but that game was at the Ray Jay.

NFC West
z-Arizona Cardinals 8-7
San Francisco 49ers 6-9
Seattle Seahawks 4-11
St. Louis Rams 2-13

Has any team ever stumbled as badly as the Cardinals have fallen lately on their road to the playoffs?  The Cards are playing as ineptly as their owner has operated the team for decades.  The Cardinals also play in the absolute WORST division in the NFL right now.  The Cards will face the Seahawks at home, and based on the way the Hawks played at home vs. the Jets last weekend, and the way the Cardinals were embarrassed at New England last weekend, don’t be surprised to see a Seahawks win, especially in Mike Holmgren’s last game as Seahawks coach.  The Cardinals will try and build some momentum for the playoffs, but don’t hold your breath.

z– Clinched Division Title
y– Clinched Playoff Spot

Joe has a quick look at what various members of the fourth estate have to say about the Bucs.

First up is Jason McIntyre of TheBigLead.com. He really dropped the Bucs after the awful loss to the Chargers, listing the Bucs at No. 17.

Who knew Earnest Graham meant so much to these guys?

Adrian Hasenmayer of FoxSports.com wasn’t as sour on the Bucs picking them at No. 10.

Did the Tampa Bay defense suddenly age? No, but it certainly is a legitimate question if Monte Kiffin’s eventual departure to the college ranks has taken away from this team. OK, maybe it’s shouldn’t be, but the question will hang around the Bucs’ defense all week after giving up 92 points in three straight losses. COOL STAT: The 41 points given up last week marks the most allowed by Tampa’s defense since Week 15 in 1999 against the Raiders, who were coached at the time by current Bucs coach Jon Gruden.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com is slightly less thrilled with the Bucs picking them at No. 11.

They need help now to get into the playoffs. They’re big Eagles fans. If they don’t make it, it will be a heck of a choke job. They’ve lost three consecutive games.

The Bucs drop a bit with Vinnie Iyer of SportingNews.com who ranks the Bucs No. 12.

Jon Gruden needs a post-Christmas present from his old friend Andy Reid’s team in Philadelphia to ensure the Bucs get into the playoffs. Because chances are better that Gruden will exchange gifts with Al Davis before this Sunday’s game than allow his team to lose to the Raiders at home.

Vacation Man of BSPN also thinks the Bucs are at No. 12.

After three straight losses, the Bucs need help if they’re to earn a playoff berth. Start the offseason overhaul now.

And Joe finishes with former Bucs beat writer Don Banks of SI.com who also beleives the Bucs are the No. 12 team in the NFL.

Hard to believe it now, after a three-game losing streak, but not all that long ago the Bucs looked like a decent shot to become the first team to play in a Super Bowl on their home field. But don’t give up all hope, Tampa Bay, because a home win over Oakland and a road loss by the Cowboys at Philadelphia is definitely a doable playoff-clinching scenario.

Once again, Joe takes a look at whether the Bucs would have been better off with Brett Favre at quarterback.

Last week in a 13-3 loss at Seattle, New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre had a miserable day completing only 18 of 31 passes for 187 yards no touchdowns and with interceptions. Favre also was sacked four times.

Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia, in a 41-24 home loss to San Diego, was 21 of 34 for 232 yards with a touchdown, a sack and two interceptions.

For one of the few times this season, the Bucs were better off without Favre.

Unlike some of his teammates, Donald Penn wants to stay in Tampa Bay and play for the Bucs for a long time.

Tis’ the season for whining jocks crying about how they are disrespected and will leave Tampa Bay the moment the gun is fired to end the last Bucs game of the season. So motiviated some of these players are to bolt, they have the U-Haul loaded up, ready to roll.

Don’t count Donald Penn among those. The Bucs starting left tackle is a free agent after the season and very much wants to stay in Tampa Bay, so reports Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

“To tell you the truth, I truly, truly, truly hope so,” Penn said. “My wife likes it out here. I love being here. I love the fans. We got a young offensive line. We have a chance to be great and hopefully they do keep us together. I would love to be here.”

Though Penn’s agent probably cringed when reading that comment (it sort of puts an agent at a disadvantage in contract negotiations) Joe loves to see that kind of a quote. This tells Joe that Penn is motivated. Joe would much rather have a player with a fire burning in him then some talented guy  who is just going through the motions.