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Bucs Get A Chance To Impress On National Stage

Tribune photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

The Oct. 12 meeting was a bit of a laugher for Jeff Garcia and Bucs. Tampa Bay won, 27-3.

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2008

TAMPA - As the Bucs prepare for a rare Monday night appearance, they realize their relative anonymity may be about to end.

Tampa Bay has received scant national attention this season despite a 9-3 record that is tied with Carolina for the NFC's No. 2 mark behind the New York Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions.

While the Giants and Dallas Cowboys dominate the NFL headlines, often for off-the-field issues, the Bucs have been content to cruise under the radar.

"It's great to have it, but at the same time we're quietly 9-3, and we'll take it," said defensive end Greg White, referring to Tampa Bay's lack of national acclaim. "We would like to be quietly 10-3 or 11-3. It doesn't matter what other people say."

In their only Monday night appearance since 2004, the Bucs lost 24-10 at Carolina in 2006. Tampa Bay returns to Charlotte, N.C., on Monday tied with the Panthers for the NFC South lead, with the surprising Atlanta Falcons only a game behind.

Former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, who has worked two Bucs games this season as a television analyst for Fox, is impressed with Tampa Bay's poise under pressure.

"I don't know that Tampa has really stumbled all season long," Billick said. "Right now, based on the teams I've seen, Tampa has as good a chance to challenge the Giants as any team in the NFC. In fact, I think this is the club that WILL challenge the Giants.

"I think a wild card in the mix is their quarterback, Jeff Garcia. I think there's an efficiency there with his style of making plays outside the structure of the offense. And the Bucs are playing defense about as well as they ever have, which is saying something."

The Bucs beat Carolina 27-3 on Oct. 12 in the teams' first meeting this year. If they complete a season sweep before a national TV audience, the Bucs would have a five-game winning streak going into their next game at Atlanta. It would create an opportunity to effectively wrap up a third NFC South title within a four-year span.

"You keep winning and they have to talk about you," Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan said. "They don't have a choice."

Billick remembers a conversation he had with Bucs coach Jon Gruden before the season opener at New Orleans.

"Jon was really excited about the veteran leadership he had at each position," Billick said. "Guys like Garcia, Ike Hilliard at receiver, Jeff Faine up front, Derrick Brooks at linebacker, Kevin Carter on the defensive line and Ronde Barber on the back end. He has a guy in each group that he can go to and say, 'Hey, we've got to get these guys to do such and such. We've got to practice better or strip the ball better or block better.' To be able to go to those key gatekeepers is huge and a big part of Tampa's success this season."

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