Just when the Red Sox depart the Trop this weekend, another sports team rolls into town to renew hostilities with a Tampa Bay area rival. ...more

October 9, 2008

Although the calendar says it's only Week 6 of the grueling NFL schedule, Sunday's home matchup against the Panthers looms as a critical game for the Bucs and their chances of repeating as NFC South champions. ...more

October 8, 2008

Gus Frerotte stabilized Minnesota's wobbly passing attack for at least one week, after Antoine Winfield and the rest of defense propped it up once again. ...more

September 22, 2008

There's a reason the Bucs treated Sunday's matchup against Atlanta as a must-win game - the difference between a 1-1 start and losing your first two games is enormous. In the past two seasons, only two (2006 Chiefs, 2007 Giants) of the 21 clubs that opened 0-2 made the playoffs. ... The Panthers have averaged 24 points per game in QB Jake Delhomme's five starts since the beginning of the 2007 season. Without Delhomme in that span, Carolina averaged 15 points. Jacksonville's struggling ground game is putting too much pressure on David Garrard, who has already matched last year's total of three interceptions. ... A week after rising up against Tampa Bay, the Saints' defense returned to normalcy in the nation's capital as the Redskins rolled up 25 first downs and 455 yards. ... Eddie Royal, an undersized WR drafted in the second round out of Virginia Tech, has enjoyed a spectacular start for the surprisingly potent Broncos. ... They won the turnover battle, committed only two penalties and outgained Indy 180-25 on the ground. So just how did the Vikings manage to blow a 15-0 lead at the Metrodome? ...more

September 16, 2008

The latest jarring hit by the Chicago Bears left Jake Delhomme holding his head and the Carolina Panthers staring at yet another home flop. ...more

September 15, 2008

We all know the hooded figure on the New England sidelines is a great coach. Now that Bill Belichick is no longer tethered to Tom Brady, we'll see just how great. ... The Lions started four former Bucs on defense at Atlanta (NT Chuck Darby, DE Dewayne White, CB Brian Kelly, SS Dwight Smith) yet still managed to surrender 474 yards to Tampa Bay's next opponent. Detroit defensive coordinator Joe Barry doesn't seem to have any answers when the Lions hit the road. ... Let's just admit it - the Cowboys have the most talent in the league. ... A 10-point win in San Francisco is a decent start, but I'm not buying into the Cardinals until they beat a good team on the road. ... Every time you watch Drew Brees play, you appreciate him a little more. ... The Jaguars have a heck of a time beating Tennessee because the Titans are one of the few teams that match Jacksonville's physicality. ... Disgraceful effort by Cincinnati's offense at Baltimore, averaging 3.1 yards on 50 snaps. ... Texans owner Bob McNair keeps waiting for a breakthrough season, but Houston just can't play with the big boys. Still, DE Mario Williams, LB DeMeco Ryans and WR Andre Johnson can play with anybody. ...more

September 9, 2008

Their eyes met - the tight end under the goal posts and the quarterback who was moving up in the pocket, trying to keep the play alive. ...more

September 8, 2008

Sunday, Sept. 7 New Orleans Saints • Louisiana Superdome ...more

September 7, 2008

Looking ahead to the heart of Florida's snowbird season, 32 NFL vultures have earmarked Tampa as their prime winter destination for the week ending Feb. 1. ...more

August 31, 2008

The Carolina Panthers got an experienced backup for starting quarterback Jake Delhomme on Friday when they acquired veteran Josh McCown from Miami for a 2009 late-round draft pick. ...more

August 30, 2008