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Bucs' Collapse Leaves Team's Prospects Doubtful

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2008

TAMPA - What a fine mess.

Three weeks ago, what was the over-under on the Bucs getting coal in their stocking?

Well, they're sliding down more than the chimney right now. And even if it's just a chimney, there's a fire down below.

What we're watching right now is nothing less than a monumental gag and collapse by Jon Gruden's not-so-fighting Bucs.

This is what happens when you go oh-for-December.

This is what happens down the stretch when you have a two-man offense (Garcia or Griese to Bryant) and, even more shocking, a no-man defense, the kind that got rubbed out by the Chargers on Sunday.

As we said, monumental.

The Bucs looked stunned on Sunday.

Monte Kiffin was shaken. Gruden looked lost. Derrick Brooks cleared out of the locker room as fast as he could. Jeff Garcia, battered and beaten, with that massive, goofy bandage on the bridge of his nose, looked like Rocky Dennis in "Mask."

The Bucs have been unmasked.

Understand: Since realignment in 2002 and going into this season, 36 NFL clubs started 8-3. Every single one of them made the playoffs.

Uh, the Bucs started 9-3.

No matter.

Their fate, at least part of it, is out of their hands.

Yes, they have to beat the Raiders on Sunday.

But the Dallas Cowboys have to lose at Philadelphia, too.

There's still a chance.

But that it's only a chance is inexcusable.

The Bucs needed just a single win the past three weeks to quit their worrying. They couldn't get it done.

Once upon a time, they beat the Raiders to be kings of the world. Now they have to beat Oakland and pray it's enough to squeeze their way into a wild card.

Think 700-year-old Al Davis wouldn't love to pop out of his bunker and stick it to Gruden? Tennessee isn't on the schedule, so getting Lane Kiffin is out, but what about his pops, Monte? Oh, Uncle Al is dreaming.

The good thing for the Bucs is that Davis has also run his franchise into the ground, and even the Bucs, these Bucs at this point, should be able to beat Oakland.

But I'm not so sure about Dallas losing to Philadelphia. Yes, the Eagles still have a playoff shot, but I like the Cowboys.

We'll know how it shakes out by late Sunday afternoon.

Thing is, the Bucs are already shaken.

Is there a precedent for a collapse like this in franchise history?

Well, almost.

In 1979, the Bucs were the best story in football. Only three seasons removed from that 0-14 inaugural, only two removed from that historically bad 0-26 start, the Bucs began the '79 season … 9-3. Then they lost three in a row and the playoffs were in doubt.

Sound familiar?

The '79 Bucs won their final regular-season game over Kansas City and they were in.

Will history repeat itself?

I'm not so sure.

There have been some amazing NFL stories this season. It doesn't get much better than the Dolphins ascension or, better still, the Vickless Falcons clinching a playoff spot.

The Bucs would be a story in reverse, full reverse, if they don't make it in. They'd be the worst folding house in Bucs history.

And that's saying something.

They need to speak loudly on Sunday.

Oh, now they have to watch the scoreboard, too.

"Honestly, it sucks," Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud said Sunday.

Honestly, that's the grave the Bucs dug.

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