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Throwdown: Bucs vs. Lions

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TBO.com

Published: October 18, 2007

Each week during the season, The Tampa Tribune will challenge a columnist from the Bucs' opposing city to a Throwdown, to determine the superior city - and which team will come out ahead. This week's Throwdown features the Tribune's Joe Henderson against Terry Foster of The Detroit News. (Who's the winner? Be sure to vote, and to comment below).

Bucs: Back To Normal

Joe Henderson, The Tampa Tribune

Detroit. Ah, the memories.

I think my eyes are watering, just thinking back on my first visit there. Or maybe it's the smoky residue from that burning police car outside Tiger Stadium after your baseball team won the 1984 World Series. One can never be sure.

But I know I'll never forget the thrill of watching all the young vandals breaking down the gates to that grand old ballpark and flooding inside as the final inning approached.

I'll always recall the joy of being barricaded inside the stadium for hours after the game because we couldn't get to the bus for the ride back to the hotel. It was so cool the way those ruffians rocked the bus when we finally did make it.

Back and forth.

Forth and back.

And that's when you actually won something. Guess that hasn't happened too often, huh?

I love that town.

And the good news is, we'll all be there this weekend when the Bucs meet the Lions. Since a championship isn't on the line and Appalachian State isn't in town, I'll assume things will be a little tamer. One never knows though. I just read a report that ranks
Detroit as the nation's second-most dangerous city, right behind St. Louis.

Still can't beat those guys, can you?

But the subject today is football, more specifically what will happen Sunday.

I'm taking the Bucs, 17-10.

You may have heard that Tampa Bay's defense is back - back to swarming, back to tackling, back to knocking teams like yours on their collective backsides. Wait'll you get a load of rookie safety Tanard Jackson. If you watch the highlight shows you've surely seen his ferocious hits turn opposing receivers into plankton.

Now you're about to see it for real.

And remember Jeff Garcia? Surely you do - y'all just about ran him out of town, and we have only one thing to say about that: Thank you.

Oh, and how's Joey Harrington working out? Didn't most of you side with him in that lollapalooza of a quarterback controversy?

Not that we're complaining, of course. Jeff is about the biggest thing to hit here since ... well, he's big.

If the game is close Sunday and he has the ball at the end, just close your eyes and pretend that's your team he is driving down the field for the winning score.

If you can't wait, just find a tape of the Bucs' game last week with Tennessee. Consider it a preview of coming attractions.

We do like your coach, Rod Marinelli. We have nary a bad word to say about him. He's a class act and he'll get you guys going - eventually.

It just won't be this Sunday.

LIONS: No Worries In Motor City

TERRY FOSTER, The Detroit News

DETROIT — Here is all you need to know about the Buccaneers' chances of avoiding a good, old-fashioned Motor City meltdown: We rejected your quarterback.

We ran Jeff Garcia out of town because he wasn't good enough. And this town has not had an All-Pro quarterback since Bobby Bowden was in diapers.

Instead, the Lions turned to journeyman Jon Kitna to lead the team and it was a massive upgrade.

We don't need a quarterback with the voice of Kermit the Frog calling signals. When things got too rough here for Garcia his girlfriend called radio stations to defend him.

If he can't handle his own battles how is he going to lead the Bucs to victory over the Lions? And do you know that Garcia made NFL history here? He is the only quarterback to throw a pop-up during a game. Once the Lions saw that they knew it was time for him to go.

I really feel badly for the good citizens of Tampa and St. Petersburg, because I've enjoyed my visits there over the years. The people have been so nice, especially the ones in that spaceship-shaped building on Dale Mabry.

But their belief in the Bucs is about to be shaken.

Here is how bad Tampa is: The Lions are coming off a bye week and say they won't make any adjustments on offense or defense.

Why pull out new wrinkles against Tampa? The Lions are saving those for the Chicago Bears, a team that can actually beat them.

I feel sorry for my old buddy Joe Henderson because he loves traveling to Detroit to eat gumbo at Fishbones and write the rare winning game story. However, even he must admit deep down that the Bucs (4-2) are frauds.

Was that Kerry Collins you almost lost to last week?

Now I know Joe is going to land a low blow by talking about the bad management of Lions boss Matt Millen. Well ... next subject.

I have no defense for what Millen has done here.

Now we do respect running backs Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman and I am sure they are looking forward to running against the Lions. Oh, wait a minute, they're injured and now you are putting your faith in Michael Bennett and Zack Crockett.

What? Fred Sanford wasn't available?

Finally, a running attack worse than the Lions. And you still believe the Bucs have a chance?

Come on.

And here is a recommendation for any Bucs fans traveling to watch this loss. Go to Roma Café in Eastern Market rather than Joe's favorite spot Fishbones. The red wine will help you forget the debacle at Ford Field.

Lions 34, Bucs 16.

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