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Bucs Are Eager For Their Turn On National Stage

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Tampa Bay returns to Carolina tied with the Panthers for the NFC South lead, with the surprising Falcons only a game behind.

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - T.O. doesn't live here. Neither does Plaxico, Pacman or Donovan.

The NFC South may lack star quality, distractions and off-the-field controversy, but the division isn't starving for victories with a cumulative record of 32-16.

When the Bucs and Panthers meet at Bank of America Stadium under the Monday night lights, a substantial ESPN audience will gauge two division co-leaders who have been largely bypassed by the national media this fall.

"This is the big stage I've been looking for," Bucs free safety Tanard Jackson said. "But even if we win this game, people won't talk about us as much as we deserve."

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

If you're wondering why so much attention has been heaped on the NFC East, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress provides a smoking gun.

Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones are rarely out of the headlines for the Cowboys, while the Donovan McNabb saga continues to play out in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, the Bucs appear content to avoid the center stage.

"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."

The pundits may be starting to take notice, however.

In their only Monday night appearance since 2004, the Bucs dropped a 24-10 decision at Charlotte in 2006. Now, Tampa Bay returns to Carolina tied with the Panthers for the NFC South lead, with the surprising Falcons only a game behind in a cutthroat division.

Former Ravens coach Brian Billick, who has worked two Bucs games this season as an 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. 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."

By completing a sweep of the Panthers, the Bucs would head into Atlanta with a five-game winning streak and an opportunity to effectively wrap up a third NFC South title within a four-year span.

"The NFC South is without a doubt the toughest division in football," said Atlanta's first-year coach, Mike Smith.

The Bucs, Panthers, Falcons and Saints are a combined 22-2 at home and have won 10 of 13 games against AFC opponents.

Tampa Bay may be two games away from essentially securing a fourth NFC South crown since the league realigned to eight four-team divisions in 2002.

None of Tampa Bay's NFC South rivals has more than one division title.

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 gate-keepers is huge and a big part of Tampa's success."

Players realize a victory Monday night could end Tampa Bay's relative anonymity.

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

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

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