Rather than continuing to getting pulled into the negativity and obvious trolling I feel the need to post my feelings as a fan a long time Buccaneer fan. I’m guilty of taking the bait all too often and honestly cannot promise not to do it again. Sorry.
Look, Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys was disappointing. And do you all know WHY it was so disappointing? Could it be that expectations have risen so dramatically over the course of the previous five games? Nobody and I mean absolutely nobody would have picked the Buccaneers to win the game in Dallas a month ago. Well things have changed! Here’s the deal, here’s the damn truth: Our young Buccaneers lost to the team with the best record in the NFL on National television in their house. The Buccaneers lost by one score and actually had a chance to win the game in the closing minutes. Why? Because after getting behind by seventeen points, a large margin on the road anywhere, they came back to tie the game in the third quarter! But they lost the game and we’re not used that happening home or away since the November 3 Falcon debacle. Guess what! Good teams lose football games in the NFL. Playoff teams lose football games in the NFL!
Moving on. Can anyone say or type that having two division games that are not only meaningful but frankly are playoff games to finish the regular season isn’t a fantastic deal here? It’s December 20 as I type and the Buccaneers are in close contention for a spot in the playoffs and even have a chance, albeit a small one, for a bye and/or a home playoff game. Is this not beyond most of our expectations for a first year HC, new OC and DC and a team coming of a 6-10 record including losing their last four games? Damn right it is, or should be.
A fluke? Hardly IMO. This Buccaneer team has genuine stars in the making on both sides of the ball. It has a young QB, 22 years old, who has shown to be a strong leader of men and has eye opening talent appreciated by even the most jaded of fans. Is this team complete? No. IMO the OL needs to be addressed in the draft. We need to get Jameis more weapons. We could use another CB. Not news to anyone here, one would hope. But look at what the Buccaneers DO have!
Today, the Buccaneers have a team that nobody wants to play in January. Proven to win on the road and to come prepared and to overcome adversity, this is an exciting team to watch and to root for. Rooting for the Bucs has never been a problem for me and the huge majority of season ticket holders who are in the stands year after year. But now we see a team we are expecting to win! It’s exciting to watch and the crowds are showing up again, loud positive crowds.
THIS is what I’m typing about and we should all be enjoying it and looking to the future with a positive anticipation. I know most of us are.
