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Bucs Get A Chance To Show Their Prowess

Tribune photo by CLIFF MCBRIDE

The Bucs have a rare chance to perform before a national audience Sunday night against the Seahawks.

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

Published: October 18, 2008

Updated: 10/18/2008 02:12 am

TAMPA - Tampa Bay has one of the best teams in the NFL, but there is one problem.

Few people outside Tampa Bay realize it.

Teams such as the Cowboys, Giants and Packers naturally grab headlines, but the Bucs have been overshadowed by the Cardinals and even the Falcons this season. Tampa Bay has a 4-2 record, with wins against Green Bay and Chicago, and is 2-1 in the NFC South, yet has not garnered much national recognition.

Tampa Bay has a chance to be recognized as an elite NFL team Sunday when it plays Seattle (1-4) on NBC at 8:15 p.m. It marks the first time in almost five years that Tampa Bay has hosted a prime-time game, since a 19-13 win against the Giants on "Monday Night Football" in November 2003.

"We've been waiting for this," Bucs defensive tackle Jovan Haye said.

"We have a couple more prime-time games this season, but this is the first one. There is no other football on at 8 p.m. We just have to do what we're capable of doing and show people what we have going on in the Bay area. It's our time right now, and we have to take advantage of it."

The Bucs have played four prime-time games since that win against New York - all losses on the road. But it has been nearly two years since their most recent night game, a 24-10 loss at Carolina in November 2006. Tampa Bay was scheduled to play in prime time late last season at San Francisco, but the game was switched to the afternoon as part of NBC's flex scheduling policy.

Even though NBC announcer John Madden has decided not to travel to this game, many players are looking forward to this opportunity to showcase their abilities.

"You have the whole nation watching. And more importantly for us, you know that everyone else who plays the game, or played in the game, or reports about the game, or has anything to do with the game remotely is going to be watching this game," Bucs defensive end Kevin Carter said. "You have a larger audience. You also have an atmosphere with TV cameras, reporters, media, and it's cool. It's a very unique opportunity."

It is also a first for 14 Bucs who are either rookies or second-year players.

Defensive end Greg White had a team-high eight sacks last season, but the second-year player's accomplishments have not gained national attention. White knows a good performance against Seattle could change that.

"It's an NFC conference game. We're at home. And 5-2 sounds awfully good," White said.

"It's an important game for everybody."

Veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks said it is important not to get caught up in the hype.

"For a lot of rookies, this will be their first time, and second-year players, but we can't get caught up in the atmosphere. That's more for the fans," Brooks said. "We've got to stay focused on what's going on between the white lines, because it doesn't matter if we're teeing it up at 10:30 in morning or 10:30 at night. We still have a game to play."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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