Sweet Victory Tempered by Sad Loss As the clock ticked down last Sunday on our most improbable win of the year, I can’t have been the only one thinking back to our play-off game in the 2005 season when the Bucs literally battered the Redskins and somehow lost on the very same field, and in the very same fashion to last Sundays match-up. The Bucs had virtually zero offense courtesy of an impotent Quarterback in Bruce Gradkowski for 59 minutes of the game, but thanks to Redskin miscues and an opportunistic D that sucked it up, we came through. Derrick Brooks stuff of Clinton Portis on 4th & 1 inside the five-yard line late in the 3rd quarter was huge. It kept the crowd well into the game, staved off Redskins points and chewed up yet more clock. Add late 4th quarter picks by Ronde Barber, and then Brian Kelly to ice the game and it was just like 2001 all over again. The game highlighted once and for all that the only stat that really counts in a football game is the scoreboard, and that showed us as 19-13 winners. From where I was sitting that 4th quarter took about three hours alone, such was the tension, but I’m sure Gruden learned a lot more about his team and certain members of it at the culmination of the game. We all saw that Derrick Brooks can still bring it to the party when he’s needed, and our defense still has a sturdiness and savvy that enables them to put games and teams into their pocket. A few things I think 1. I think nobody is more pissed off with Bruce Gradkowski at QB than Joey Galloway, illustrated by him punching the ball in anger as yet another underthrown pass failed to reach an open number 84 last Sunday. At least with McCown under centre Joey might at lest be in play in the game. 2. Where is Michael Bennett? Just wondering. 3. I think I’m enjoying the Twits demise with glee. Problem is they’ll likely get rid of Keith Barron and bring in Carolina native Bill Cowher to replace him – not good. 4. I think when we look back in a few years time we will realise how good we had it with Ronde Barber and BK playing cornerback for us. Barber brilliantly baited an inexperienced QB last week, tricking him into a gimme interception whilst BK played the Cover-2 to perception, reading Campbell’s eyes and knowing he’d fallen in love with Keenan Mccardell on that final drive and nicking the ball. Its worth noting though that nobody loves Mccardell more than himself, or ESPN. 5. Did you see that Monday Night game that just killed my fantasy teams play-off hopes this year? 3-0 – are you f*****g kidding me? Its never a good sign when your starting QB and TE have to change their cleats for flippers and a snorkel in the 2nd quarter. 6. That was some comeback by Ricky Williams, less than two quarters and five carries into it and he’s done for the year again. The guy has more time off than Princess Fergie or Judith Chalmers. 7. Loving that elimination game competition from The Editor. God I hope I get knocked out this week though after picking the Cheats. Offensively its time to put this frankly stupid obsession with Bruce Gradkowski to bed; the guy has neither the arm, the smarts or the natural ability to play quarterback in the NFL and his only role would be of scout team QB mimicking Mr Magoo as the opposing team’s QB, or David Carr as The Twits refer to him. The loss of Jeff Garcia was a grave one and we won’t get so lucky again in a game if we have to play without him for any stretch of the remainder of the year. Gradkowski’s play rendered both the quarterback position and our most important offensive player, Joey Galloway, redundant in the game and meant Earnest Graham faced 10-man fronts every time he tried to run. Head on the Block Time Last week 12-4 (season 108-67) lock of the week is 3-2. This thing is coming around though some of the games this week are harder to pick than a broken nose. Let's have a punt with the following who will get the gold medals …. Romo’s Twits Skins Oilers Rams Iggles Vikes Peyton and his Friends San Diego Super Chargers Dolphins (that’s not a misprint) Raydurs The Fudge Aints (sadly) Da Bears Stillers Cheats (lock of the week). No matter how badly Luke McCown played in a short stint Seattle he’s got to represent a better option than Gradkowski and if he doesn’t, then what the hell's he doing on the roster anyway? The euphoria and glow of the win lasted around 36 hours for me until the dreadful news of the murder of Redskin safety Sean Taylor came through. I don’t profess to be a big fan of the Skins, or Mr Taylor himself but to see a young man, a father and a guy who seemed to be taking control of his life, taken down like that just kicked me in the guts and left me feeling awful for the rest of this week. I have no particular explanation why, but that news cast a shadow of sorrow across the NFL players and fan community in the world, and we are a sorrier a place for his absence and the circumstances around it. Maybe being a Parent myself has had an impact, as Taylor was in the house to protect his partner and young daughter, but you just cannot imagine the impact this has on so many lives. RIP Sean Taylor, my condolences to your family and The Redskins organisation. As thoughts slipped back to the Bucs next opponent, the reality of playing on the road in New Orleans without Jeff Garcia is coming into focus. In short I don’t think we can win without him. Sundays game gives us an opportunity to put the Saints and the Division away and that makes this game a pivotal contest. I hear the arguments for resting him for the stretch run, but if we win this game, then you can rest Garcia for three to four weeks and wait for the play-offs anyway such is its importance. Two predictions coming up then, if Garcia is physically able to play and stays the distance we will eke out a 23-20 victory, if doesn’t we lose, and big too – 31-13. If I was a betting man and I am for my sins, Id say he doesn’t suit up and we lose. The consequences of his absence and the loss that would follow will require repair over the final four games of the year. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Derrick Brooks Great stuff on 4th down fella – loved it. My missus didn’t as I woke two of our kids up with my screams of delight but it was worth it. Get in the Real World Award - Donovan McNabb Call me a cynic but its amazing how quickly he recovers from an injury when his back-up comes in and lights up The Cheats for 300+ yards isn’t it. Sit back down again son, you might not be needed for a while. Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Analysis of Eli Manning's mediocrity We are into the final quarter of the season which means two things – the Giants start to go in the tank, and the press then focus on the inescapable fact that Eli Manning isn’t the saviour, as seen in 2005, 2006 and again this year. He isn’t the second coming of Peyton, he’s flat out ordinary and we know it guys so stop flogging a dead horse with yet more column space on a non-issue.