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Bucs Can Answer Their Doubters Today

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By MARTIN FENNELLY

mfennelly@tampatrib.com

Published: December 14, 2008

Updated: 12/14/2008 12:12 am

Welcome to "Name That Anamoly."

And let's greet our next contestant.

Who are the real Bucs?

The gladiators who bedeviled the Saints, or the schleps the Panthers used as a mop?

Hands on the buzzer, please.

"This is where we can answer," Ronde Barber said.

Nine wins against four losses give a slight benefit of the doubt to Jon Gruden's team. But never - not this season, at least - has there been a better chance to answer, clearly, like today in Atlanta.

It's a road game in the division where road teams go to die.

It's the Falcons, with another running game.

Throw in the still-questionable status of Jeff Garcia.

And Jovan Haye and Chris Hovan.

Throw in that embarrassment at Carolina - again.

Throw it all in.

Hands on the buzzer, please.

It's December.

"And December matters," Barber said.

Forget the radar. The Bucs are off it again. They're back where they started, taken for granted, though they can still win the division, do this, do that.

It wasn't just that the defense was thrashed so badly Monday.

"Everyone was watching," Barber said.

I remember 1999, the Bucs getting smashed by the Raiders out in Oakland. They clinched the NFC Central the next week. They eventually reached the NFC title game.

Remember 2002? That national-television pounding the Steelers handed the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium. We all know how that season ended, don't we?

No, this team isn't either of those teams.

But the point is that, sure, teams can always bounce back.

They can always answer.

This is that kind of game.

Yes, the Bucs might make the playoffs regardless of what happens. They're 6-0 at home and finish in Tampa against the disappointing Chargers and the disemboweled Raiders.

But what kind of team is this?

What kind of season?

Hands on the buzzer, please.

"We expect to rebound," Barber said. "We have to demand that."

The Bucs need to put down a serious road win against a serious team.

Chicago was grand, but it was early.

Kansas City and Detroit were comebacks, but against who?

Don't think they need to lay down tracks?

This franchise has won only one road game in its playoff history. Granted, if I had to pick one, it would be at Philly for the NFC title that 2002 season, but you get the idea. The Bucs have to do more than get it today. They have to do it.

They have to do it against Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who when he last faced the Bucs was making his first NFL road start, and was saddled with a nutty early game plan, namely running away from star runner Michael Turner and going pass happy. The Bucs defense smacked its lips and shut Atlanta down in a 24-9 win.

But now there's no Earnest Graham to grind for 100 yards, as he did against the Falcons in September. That's starting to tell. It wouldn't hurt for Gruden to remove Joey Galloway from the doghouse. But we're not even sure it has a door anymore.

No matter who plays quarterback, be it Garcia, Luke McCown or, hey, isn't that Brian Griese, someone is going to have to make plays.

This team has shown a great ability not to play lousy twice in a row.

This defense has made a life's work of it.

"We usually rebound," Barber said.

This is one of those games that will tell us a lot about these Bucs, whether they're serious or just another playoff short-timer.

It's December, and December matters.

Do the Bucs?

Hands on buzzers, please.

"This is where you answer," Ronde Barber said.

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