Joe brought up this point several weeks ago when it seemed a lock the Bucs would make the playoffs:

Raheem Morris should be coach of the year.

Joe wasn’t the only one saying it. Video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune was the first Joe heard talk about it. Football sage Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio was also on the Raheem Morris bandwagon.

But a pair of losses to the Dixie Chicks and an ugly, harrowing loss to the rebuilding since 1957 Detroit Lions threw cold water on the accolades for Raheem Morris.

Joe wonders if that has picked up steam after today’s win?

The Bucs are literally piecing a team together with bailing wire, duct tape and thrown away parts found on a junkyard heap. And still the Bucs are in the hunt for a playoff spot after Christmas no less.

Today things just got worse. Arrelious Benn goes out with a knee injury that on the surface screams “IR.” Earnest Graham got his bell rung and who know if or when he will return? Still, the Bucs won in a blowout.

Richardson has long made the case that the Bucs do not have one player in the top five at his position in the NFL. If that premise is acceptable, and throw in the scores of injuries to starters and valuable backups, if the Bucs make the playoffs Joe’s of the belief that trophy (or check) for coach of the year should be given to Raheem as he rides off the turf of the Superdome on his players’ shoulders next week.

If the Bucs make the playoffs, Morris will have done this with mirrors… and bailing wire… and duct tape.

Could Andy Reid win with this group?

So how many new bandwagon Bucs fans — and Josh Freeman, Geno Hayes and LeGarrette Blount fans — would there be right now if the thumping of the Seahawks was on local television today?

It’s too painful for Joe to speculate.

Man, this was a real lost opportunity to get the whole Bay area fired up.

Joe completely respects the business side of Team Glazer opting not to purchase gobs of unsold tickets to put games on television this year, as they did last year. Fans have to buy the freakin’ tickets. Yes, the economy is rough — but improving — though Joe saw the cheap tickets for every day last week.

The official attendance for the final home game today was 46,576. Looking around the stadium, there were plenty of no-shows from that number.

Joe wonders whether Team Glazer is regretting not putting this one out for the masses to soak in. And they have to be wondering what it’s going to take to fill the building.

Some bigger names on next year’s home schedule, like Chicago and Indianapolis, and the Cowboys, Giants or Eagles from the NFC East, should help quite a bit.

Sure, Joe was as geeked as a cheerleader the way the Bucs offense exploded. Who wouldn’t have been?

But what caught Joe’s eye was Adam Heyward and Geno Hayes laying the wood on Seahawks running backs and quarterbacks.

Why, Matt Hasselbeck was so unnerved, he blew his back out tip-toeing into the end zone.

Hayes had a monster game with eight tackles and two sacks. Heyward had four tackles but each was a bruising type of hit that made any sane player think twice about running his way.

This, all too often, is what the Bucs have lacked this season: punishing, physical linebackers putting the fear of an IRS collector into offensive players.

Could this be a sign of things to come?

Joe certainly hopes so.

Hallelujah!

The Bucs didn’t turn Marshawn Lynch into a Pro Bowl running back, save for one long run. The gaping holes seen in previous weeks against juggernauts Detroit and Washington just weren’t there today in the 38-15 gashing of Seattle. And the Bucs even mixed in some stout goal line play in short yardage.

Big fella defensive tackle Frank Okam, in his second start since being freed from the practice squad, had six tackles, second on the Bucs today behind Geno Hayes’ eight.

Playing primarily in Gerald McCoy’s 3-technique, Okam told Joe the big difference out there today was “more focus.”

“We were pretty embarrassed about what we put on tape the last couple of weeks, so it was important for us to go out there and stop the run so we could do some things and get them in one dimension,” Okam said.

Joe will have more from the Okam later.

A few days ago Raheem Morris said he simply needed Al Woods and Okam, with his 350+ pound frame, to get better. Joe wants to believe they have.

Joe’s already seeing quite a few questions about this subject so Joe will relay what he knows, which isn’t a whole lot.

Arrelious Benn suffered an injury to his left knee in the first half of the Bucs win over Seattle when he was tackled after his left foot planted awkwardly along the right sideline.

It was nasty enough that both teams came on the field and many Seahawks defenders huddled near Benn offering support.

Benn was able to walk off the field — gingerly — but once he got to the bench he was carted to the Bucs locker room.

in the second half Benn was on the Bucs sidelines in street clothes on crutches.

The severity of Benn’s injury won’t be fully known until Bucs coach Raheem Morris’ press conference Monday. By all appearances, the look of the injury itself, the reaction of players and Benn on crutches all points to a very depressing conclusion.

Josh Freeman tied a franchise record today with five touchdown passes.

He can thank LeGarrette Blount for that.

Sure the receivers had to catch the damn ball and Freeman had to have sufficient time to throw the ball but much of the credit can go to Blount.

In the second half when Freeman would fake a handoff to Blount, use a play-action-pass, the Seahawks linebackers reacted as if Joe just found Rachel Watson knocking on his door.

In other words, they froze like an Alaskan snowball.

This allowed the Bucs receivers to get wide open. Wide freaking open.

This was because Blount was running wild on the Seahawks defense, rumbling, stumbling, hurdling over would-be tacklers. The Seattle defense had to adjust, had to prepare, had to concern themselves with the Bucs running game, specifically Blount.

It’s no coincidence that the Bucs best offensive outbursts this season have come when Blount blugeoned defenses. It’s elementary football: When the a running game excels, it opens up an entire field.

Perhaps the Bucs coaching staff learned a lesson the hard way last week? Perhaps the Bucs coaches learned that Blount needs to be on the field, needs to get the ball early and often?

When Blount runs, the Bucs win.

As Mike Williams slugs it out with LeGarrette Blount for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award (Joe won’t consider Sam Bradford), the Bucs’ young receiver has a new rookie record of 10 receiving touchdowns.

Lars Tate, who had eight TDs as a rookie in 1988, is the Buccaneer Williams knocked out of the record books Sunday when Josh Freeman hit him for an easy 20 yard TD to put the Bucs up 16-7.

Williams now has 62 catches for 924 yards.

Joe is convinced the Bucs have enough weapons to win a shootout with New Orleans, even with Arrelious Benn knocked out with a seemingly serious knee injury. Hey, a guy can dream about more than Rachel Watson.

So LeGarrette Blount coughs the ball up once in while like he did during a key early drive Sunday against the Seahawks.

Big deal.

The man is a truck with wings.

Good luck stopping him, New Orleans.

Blount gutted Seattle for 164 yards on 18 carries and is now leading rookies running backs with 941 yards in just 12 games.

Who could possibly decide now between Blount and Mike Williams for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year? Williams has been there all season, but Blount has had the greater impact. Brutally tough choice.

Yes, New Orleans pistol whipped the Bucs months ago in Tampa. But the Saints didn’t have No. 27 to contend with. Imagine the reality that Blount was inactive for that game. Amazing.

The Bucs will need Blount, now averaging 5.2 yards per carry, to be his very best Sunday in New Orleans to get in the playoffs.

Attention all Bucs horndogs: Tonight at 11:15 p.m. you will want to tune in to the great Dan Lucas’ show on WFLA-TV Channel 8. The world famous Lucas will have a special show this evening. He is scheduled to have the lovely Tiffany Jimenez (pictured) along with fellow Bucs cheerleader Jennifer Summers live in studio.

But why you ask? Why have cheerleaders live in the studio when it’s cold out rather than when it’s warm when they are wearing minimal clothing? Joe will tell you why:

Today was somber for Joe and many others. Yes, Joe was giddy over the Bucs win but it marked the last time Jamie Hanna, Tiffany (one of Joe’s personal favorites) and Summers will grace the Bucs sidelines as cheerleaders.

The new Bucs cheerleader regime has enacted a cap on how long someone can serve as a Bucs cheerleader. The aforementioned lovely ladies are over that cap. Hence, it’s sort of a forced retirement.

So Lucas will console Tiffany and Jennifer tonight.

So the Bucs finally got a laugher at just the right time. Now Team Raheem is 9-6 after clobbering another bad club.

The Bucs were smokin’ today with Josh Freeman having a career day, going 21-for-26 for 237 yards and five touchdowns. LeGarrett Blount was dominant, as were Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow rewarded for some superior route running.

The defense held very tough, and Seattle was wonderfully impotent in its passing game.

Joe is so fired up for tomorrow night. The Saints MUST lose in Atlanta for the Bucs to stay alive in the playoff hunt and play a meaningful game in January.

Joe will have so much more through the night.  And please make plans to get fired up with Joe and other Bucs fans Monday night at Honey’s in Carrollwood. Joe’s buying the first 50 beers.

Week 15
Seahawks at Bucs
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m.
TV: Blacked out locally. Those living outside the Tampa/Orlando TV markets can watch the game on DirecTV 714. The game can be viewed for free on NFL.com at midnight via Game Rewind (free registration required).
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 113.
Weather: Per Accuweather.com, this is a day for LeGarrette Blount. Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 49 with a howling wind from the northwest at 17 mph. The winds are expected to die down slightly as the game progresses but so too will the temperatures, which could dip below 40 by the final gun.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -6.5.
Outlook: There’s no sugar-coating this or no need to: Though last week for all intents and purposes, the numbing loss to the rebuilding since 1957 Detroit Lions effectively knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs, a loss at home to the dreadful Seahawks will seal the deal. Whatever slim chance the Bucs have of making the playoffs will be gone with a loss today. It’s that simple. This is a day for LeGarrette Blount. The winds are screaming out of the northwest which makes passing with the not-always precision touch of Josh Freeman secondary. It’s cold. The weather is more like a Big Ten game in November. Ground and pound. LeGarrette Blount. No more excuses about how he can’t hold onto the ball, which are unfounded. No more excuses that he can’t pick up blitzes, which are founded. This is a day not to pass but to beat your opponent into submission. Yes, the best way to beat the Seahawks with the Bucs M*A*S*H unit of a defense would be to air the ball out. Weather conditions make that concept impotent.
Video: The good people of the NFL Network have a game preview. … Slur-hurling Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Marcellus Wiley of BSPN break down the game. …
Fun facts: Mike Williams has the most touchdown receptions of any Bucs rookie. … Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch has four scores in his last three games. … Kellen Winslow’s has a consecutive streak of 74 games catching a pass. … Seattle safety Earl Thomas has five picks.

Joe recently had the fortune of chatting with Bucs rookie wide receiver Arrelious Benn, a cat who is quickly becoming one of Joe’s favorites.

JoeBucsFan: You made a stiff arm play against the Lions that was one of the most vicious Joe has ever seen. You didn’t just stiff-arm the guy. You threw him down. Where did you learn that?

Arrelious Benn: That is something I always did back in high school. That’s one of my traits.

Joe: It seems like every game you are more and more involved in the offense. Tell Joe how that is good for you and good for the team.

Benn: It’s great. They’re finding ways for me to get the ball in my hands. I’m doing everything I can do to help the team as far as going out and making plays.

Joe: Since you’ve been in involved more in the offense and you’re getting the ball more, can you tell if defenses are playing you any different?

Benn: Oh, yeah. Definitely. I am a presence now. They know I am out there. They know, “Hey, this is a guy that can make a big play.”

Joe: Now can you tell, because of that, defenses are pulling pressure off of Mike Williams or pulling coverage off of Kellen Winslow to make sure you are covered?

Benn: Yeah, when you have three guys — Mike, Kellen and myself — that you want to look at, you can double-team just one. There are only so many defenders.

Barrett Ruud is durable. He’s a tackle machine. And some games he’s damn near perfect, so he claims.

Ruud chatted with St. Pete Times Bucs beat writer, frequent radio analyst and sometimes Twitterer Rick Stroud about all the negativity surrouding about his play. Stroud notes Ruud is familiar with the beating he takes on sports radio and online.

At the close of the feature, Stroud quotes Ruud illustrating why he finds the criticism way off base.

“I just read in one of the newspapers … that I was listed as one of the disappointments on defense. I just got out of my meeting and had 11 tackles, including two for a loss, and graded out perfect.

“I guess I’ll just have to do better.”

Whatever Ruud’s grades, Joe knows the Bucs can do better and certainly should try. 

Ruud is not the player he was two years ago. And he’s in the middle of a run defense that only has shown flickers of life over the past 34 games. Enough already. 

Joe wonders where Mark Dominik planned to play Jonathan Vilma when the Bucs pursued him in free agency prior to the 2009 season.

UPDATE: 9:27 a.m. – Joe’s bumping up this post from Monday so you know who to root for and against today.  

On Monday morning, Joe started the hard labor of figuring out all the scenarios that would put the Bucs in the playoffs. But Joe’s brain started to explode, so Joe’s very glad that video guru Scott Smith at Buccaneers.com did the heavy lifting.

Joe advises you check it out via the link above. Each scenario comes with an explanation.

This is the most plausible scenario:

SCENARIO #2: 

Tampa Bay wins the second Wild Card berth with:

 1)      TB win vs. SEA in Week 16 AND

2)      TB win at NO in Week 17 AND

3)      NO loss at ATL in Week 16 AND

4)      NYG win at GB in Week 16 OR

5)      GB loss vs. CHI in Week 17.

The Bucs have a solid shot at this.

Of course, reading all this made Joe want to puke thinking about what better position the Bucs would be in had they beat the ugly Lions on Sunday.

Now Joe is sure all 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 back in 2008 on JoeBucsFan.com, when Joe had a contest here among sports media members.

Fox gives you a few games every week. To date, Fox is 36-23 on the season.

By BOB FOX
JoeBucsFan.com analyst

St. Louis Rams 20, San Francisco 49ers 17

Somebody has to win the putrid NFC West, and the game between the 5-9 San Francisco 49ers and the 6-8 St. Louis Rams in St. Louis will be a key factor as to actually wins the NFC West “title.” The Rams have lost two games in a row, plus lost 23-20 in OT the last time these two teams played in San Francisco. But the Niners have lost two out of three and looked absolutely horrible against the Chargers last week. The Rams aren’t overwhelming, as they are only ranked 25th in the NFL in total offense and 17th in total defense, but they do have RB Steven Jackson, who is having another nice year. Rookie QB Sam Bradford has also looked pretty good with 17 TD passes,compared to 14 INTs for 3,065 yards. Bradford is better than any QB that the Niners will put out on the field. This week the 49ers are starting Troy Smith after going back to Alex Smith for a couple of weeks. San Francisco has a nice defense (ranked 13th in the NFL), and also has a weapon in TE Vernon Davis, but the season ending hip injury a couple weeks back to RB Frank Gore has really hurt the Niners’ offense, which is only ranked 26th anyway. I see the Rams winning a close one at home in a matchup of two very mediocre teams.

Oakland Raiders 27, Indianapolis Colts 24

This game has huge playoff repercussions. The Colts (8-6) are tied for first in the AFC South with the Jaguars, after beating the Jags at home last week. Da Raiders (7-7) are two games behind Kansas City in the AFC West, but the Chiefs have a tough game this week vs. the Tennessee Titans at home, and then the Raiders and Chiefs square off next week in Kansas City. Oakland won their first meeting 23-20 in OT. Also lurking in the AFC West is the 8-6 San Diego Chargers, who the Raiders have beaten twice this year. The Chargers have two road games to finish the season, in Cincinnati today and then in Denver next week. This game brings in an invigorated Colts team led by QB Peyton Manning. The Colts are ranked fourth in total offense, and first in passing. The Indianapolis defense is ranked 19th, and also 27th against the run. The Raiders hope to take advantage of the Colts problems stopping the run as they will be led by RB Darren McFadden, who is having a monster year (1,588 total yards and 10 TDs). Overall, the Raiders are ranked eighth in the NFL in total offense and second in rushing. Defensively, the Raiders are ranked 11th and also fifth in passing defense. The crowd will be boisterous and rabid in Oakland, as I see the Raiders winning a close one behind the leg of K Sebastian Janikowski.

Green Bay Packers 24, New York Giants 20

Buccaneers nation will be watching the game between the 9-5 New York Giants and the 8-6 Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field very closely. The Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a win, while the Packers can also move a step closer to the playoffs with a win. If the Pack wins out vs. the G-Men and the Chicago Bears next week, also in Green Bay, the Packers will clinch a spot in the NFC playoffs. The Giants imploded last week in New Jersey losing a game to the Eagles when they choked away a 24 point lead in the fourth quarter and gave up fourt TDs, including a 65 yard punt return to DeSean Jackson as time ran out. The Giants come into this game obviously mentally wounded, but they are still very dangerous, both offensively and defensively, as New York is ranked third on both sides of the ball. The Packers almost beat the Patriots in Foxborough last week behind backup QB Matt Flynn, but came up short at the end. This week, however, QB Aaron Rodgers returs after missing last week due to a concussion. The Packers are ranked 11th in the NFL in total offense and seventh in total defense. Rodgers will have to be very cognizant of the Giant defense, as the G-Men have a reputation for taking out opposing QBs. Ask Tony Romo. Still, I like the Packers chances in this one at home, as it is a do-or-die situation, while the Giants can still clinch a playoff spot next week with a win against Washington. I see Rodgers as the difference maker in this battle.

Atlanta Falcons 24, New Orleans Saints 21

With a win, the Falcons (12-2) can clinch the NFC South division, plus home field advantage in the NFC throughout the playoffs. However, if the Saints win, they clinch a playoff spot, plus still have a shot at winning the NFC South. As much as they hate to say it, Bucs Nation has to be rooting for the Dirty Birds in this one. The Bucs will play the Saints (10-4) next week in New Orleans, and hopefully that game will still mean something for the Bucs to earn a Wild Card in the NFC playoffs. But first things first. This game should be a war. The Falcons won the first game between these two teams earlier in the year 27-24 in OT. Atlanta is undefeated a home this year, but has come close to losing a number of those games. The Falcons are ranked 12th in total offense behind QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner. On defense, Atlanta is ranked 14th. The Saints are led by QB Drew Brees who has the Saints sixth in total offense, including third in passing. The Saints defense is somewhat underrated, but it is ninth in total defense, including fourth in pass defense. The Saints struggle a bit vs. the run (ranked 19th), so expect to see a heavy dose of Turner by the Birds. I see the Saints going all out for a win, but I still see the Falcons sneaking away with another win at home.

Derek “Old School” Fournier of WhatTheBuc.net discusses how the playoffs are already here. Why? Because if the Bucs lose, it’s all over folks.

Seattle Times scribe Joshua Mayers has a piece today about the young Bucs and all sorts of glowing comments from Pete Carroll and multiple Seahawks.

And Mayers dropped a stat Joe had never seen before.

Apparently LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams could become the first teammates to lead their rookies class in rushing and receiving since the free love days. 

Blount and Williams could be the first teammates since 1968 to lead the league in rookie rushing yards and rookie receiving yards.

“They’re not playing like rookies, none of them are,” said [safety Earl] Thomas, himself a first-year player.

“Me being young, I know how hard it is in the league with all the stuff they throw at you, but (their success) is a credit to the coaching over there and a credit to the players catching on.”

With a strong finish to the season, both Blount and Williams could hit 1,000 yards. The road is easier for Williams, who has played a full season and has 888 yards. Blount’s at 777 in just 11 games.

Now Joe was too curious and searched the Internet for the 1968 tandem that the Bucs rookies could match. Joe couldn’t figure it out. Anybody know?

Update: 2:40 p.m. – OK. Joe sees the Bucs officially mentioned this factoid a couple of days ago, but they were referring to Bob Trumpy and Paul Robinson of Cincinnati in the AFL, not the NFL. This is what drove Joe nuts — searching for an answer in NFL stats.