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Fennelly: At 8-3, Bucs In The Thick Of NFC Race

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber celebrates after making his first interception of the game against Detroit in the second quarter.

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2008

DETROIT - Why not the Bucs?

Why not the Bucs get hot and play for the NFC title?

Why not?

Yes, they were asleep to start Sunday's game with the woeful Lions, just as they were at Kansas City a few weeks back.

They're no juggernaut.

They have flaws, lots of flaws.

But they keep winning.

And they keep not losing games they shouldn't.

They're 3-3 on the road and the three wins, in overtime at Chicago and K.C., and now Sunday's 38-20 comeback blowout at Ford Field, which has not been repossessed from Ford yet.

These are the kind of victories that can make a season special.

This is the game you don't want to step in.

The Bucs didn't.

The 0-10 Detroit Lions, you don't want them on your shoes as you head down the stretch.

You don't want to lose at winless, not ever.

The Bucs didn't.

They made the Lions 0-11, this after falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter.

And Carolina's loss at Atlanta on Sunday put the Bucs in a tie for the NFC South lead at 8-3, with a tiebreaker over the Panthers.

And the Bucs would, as of now, be the No. 2 seed in the NFC behind the Giants.

You get the big picture?

These Bucs, some way, somehow, are in it in a big way.

Like we said, the Lions led 17-0 after one quarter Sunday.

Detroit had scored 21 points in the first quarter all season -- all season.

But then: 35 unanswered Bucs points, a sweet touchdown run by the sweet Warrick Dunn, a Garcia to Ike Hilliard touchdown connection (Garcia getting smashed as he released the ball) and Garcia to Jerramy Stevens after Ronde Barber's first interception of the season. Oh, and another helping -- just like in Kansas City -- of Clifton Smith return magic. Or Barber again, down the sideline, 65 yards for a touchdown after a second pick.

That's 35 points in a row.

That's a 38-20 win.

That's 8-3.

"That's a heck of a win," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said.

"We've proved we're a gritty team," Barber said. "We've got to be proud of our ability to stay in games and not get down, not let it affect us."

Why not the Bucs?

Why not the Bucs when their defense is wide awake?

Why not the Bucs when the offense makes a few plays?

Look, they made tons of mistakes Sunday. Garcia was hit, and hit hard, way too much. He fumbled twice. He also had a passer rating of 137.5.

Look, the defense gets sluggish at times and the offense sputters. Is there really enough juice to make a serious playoff run? Given recent Bucs playoff history, like since the 2002 Super Bowl, serious means, well, one win.

It's serious right now.

The Giants appear to be the class of the conference.

But if the Bucs can get the No. 2 seed, they get the first week of the postseason off, then get to host a playoff game -- maybe two, but more likely one -- before facing the top seed for the NFC title.

Think it can't happen?

It did when the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2002.

I don't know if this offense is that offense, though Garcia is as efficient as Brad Johnson, and maybe capable of making a few more flash plays.

I certainly don't think this defense is equal to the 2002 Bucs defense, one of the all-time greats.

But how can you not think about it?

How can you not think something is up as Smith, who was on the practice squad as late as late October, returns a punt for a score after having done the kickoff thing at Kansas City. No Bucs has ever returned one of each.

How can you not think something is up when Barber, who didn't have a pick all season, who hasn't entirely been himself, steps up and makes two big plays?

How can you not think something is up when you look up and realize that Sunday's 38 points were the most ever scored by the Bucs in a regular-season road game?

Then there was the comeback.

This team doesn't blink, at least hard.

Granted, do not underestimate just how awful the Lions are. You can't put it into words, and if you could, you couldn't put them in a newspaper, or online, or on a subway wall.

Frankly, I'm blaming their slow start Sunday on narcolepsy. I have never, in my life, been in a quieter football stadium -- old Tampa Stadium included back when the Bucs were awful -- than the sounds of silence in this half-empty house before Sunday's game. There are Black Holes that make more noise.

But there is no getting around this team that never knows when it is beaten, even though it has been beaten three times. Combined points of defeat in those three games: 11.

What does that tell you?

They're never out of it.

Down 24-3 at Kansas City.

Down 17-0 at Detroit.

"We are a very resilient team," Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks said.

Why not the Bucs?

Why the Cowboys, or Bears, or Vikings, or Cardinals?

Why not the Bucs?

They can play better.

They can't keep doing this.

It's no way to get to an NFC title game.

Or is it?

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