TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bucs Down But Not Out With Two Games Left

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: December 16, 2008

TAMPA - A thick blanket of gray clouds cast a pall over One Buc Place on Monday morning. If you looked hard enough, though, the cloud cover was lined in silver.

Though the Bucs have lost the past two weeks, they remain in control of their playoff destiny.

The scenarios that lead to that conclusion are harder to calculate than a passer rating, but the bottom line is simple: If the Bucs win their final two games, they'll not only reach the playoffs, but also could win the NFC South.

"That really is the silver lining in all this," linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "I mean, you hate to go into the last two games needing five teams to lose and this or that team to win. This way, it's still on us."

It still won't be easy. Though both games are against teams with losing records - San Diego (6-8) and Oakland (3-11) - and both are at home - where Tampa Bay is unbeaten - the Bucs have a long list of issues to address.

The most concerning, according to Coach Jon Gruden, is a mountain of injuries that grew even larger Monday when it was announced linebacker Derrick Brooks could miss Sunday's game against the Chargers with a rib injury. Brooks has not missed a start in his 14 NFL seasons.

Throw that on top of the fact safety Jermaine Phillips is done for the season with a broken arm and defensive linemen Chris Hovan (knee), Jovan Haye (knee), Gaines Adams (ankle) are all hurting, and the Bucs could have a hard time winning even one game. The Chargers, who remain in the AFC playoff hunt, still have one of the game's premier running backs in LaDainian Tomlinson, and the Bucs have allowed 474 rushing yards the past two games.

On offense, the Bucs rank 31st in the league - ahead of only St. Louis - in red-zone touchdown percentage, and questions remain as to who will play quarterback Sunday. The Bucs hope Jeff Garcia can be ready after missing the Atlanta game with a sore lower calf, but may have to turn again to Brian Griese, who took four sacks against Atlanta, or Luke McCown, who hasn't played a down all year.

"I think he feels better," Gruden said of Garcia. "Hopefully in the next 48 hours he feels a lot better and he can become our starter again. We certainly need him."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT