Tampa Times III: Taking Control of the NFC South
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by Nejoshi
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Beat #3
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept their drive towards a second division title in three years alive with a dominating 31-7 victory over Atlanta, opening up a two game lead in the NFC South and preserving their undefeated divisional record. The blowout victory was characterized by a stifling defense and a rejuvenated running game that is showing no ill effects from being forced into playing with their third string tail back.
Earnest Graham had his second consecutive 100-yard game, becoming the first Buccaneer to do that since Cadillac Williams opened his career with three straight 100-yard games to open up the 2005 season. Graham has done a tremendous job filling in for Williams and Michael Pittman, giving Tampa Bay a solid running game to hang their hat on. For the game, Graham finished with 102 yards on 17 carries and a 26-yard TD run that put the exclamation point in the victory.
Jon Gruden’s club has never been an explosive bunch, but against the Falcons, the Buccaneers used big plays to tear apart their bitter division rival. All four touchdowns came off plays of 20 yards or more, with four different players scoring.
Jeff Garcia got things going when he hit Joey Galloway for a 44-yard pass where the veteran blew past DeAngelo Hall to hit pay dirt. Galloway has had a touchdown reception in three consecutive games, and continues to defy logic as the team’s leading receiver at 36 years of age. His speed is unrivaled, and his presence gives Tampa Bay a deep threat to balance with the ferocious rushing attack that has developed over the past few games.
When the Buccaneers get a score on the defensive side of the ball, they are nearly impossible to beat. They have won their last eight games when the defense has scored and that dominating trend continued when Ronde Barber took a Byron Leftwich fumble for 41 yards for Tampa’s second touchdown. It was the team’s first defensive score of the year; Monte Kiffin’s defensive unit has been notorious for scoring touchdowns in the past, and will need to continue that stretch in the coming weeks.
Tampa Bay’s lead grew to 24-0 late in the third quarter when Garcia hit tight end Alex Smith for his second TD pass, his 11th of the season. Smith had been battling injuries all throughout the team’s bye week, but returned to action with a solid performance in the trenches.
Sitting at 6-4, the franchise’s hopes for the postseason appear to be growing stronger in the NFC. Past history indicates that the Buccaneers are a lock to make it. Six previous times in their history, Tampa Bay has started 6-4 and all six times the team has made the playoffs. The Bucs have always been a team that hits their stride late in the season, and another strong finish to the season will ensure yet another surprising playoff spot.
