Opportunity Knocks at The Georgia Dome After the first 4 weeks of this topsy turvy, oddball Buccaneer season you would have got long odds on us putting up 34 points on anybody, and yet there were those same Bucs last Sunday, right in the middle of a shoot-out game we absolutely had to have. Due to our putrid start every game now ritually plunges us into a must win situation and though, as previously stated in this column, I still think we may fall short this season a victory over the Falcons on Sunday would certainly put us within reasonable distance and may just plant just a seed of doubt in their minds. Seven things I think One for every Carolina Panther loss this season! 1. Not only did Joey Galloway take the field last Sunday but he also makes 2 catches – I am officially stunned. However I note normality was restored when he left in the 4th quarter with another injury. 2. FUAT – the noose is tightening. You dare not make another balls up. 3. A nod of acknowledgement towards Dwight Smith. Not only for the incredible six point save on his strip of Eddie Kennison which was the play of our season so far, but also the way he was all over the field last Sunday with a forced interception on a blitz, and a pick of his own. He was a man for us back there in the secondary. 4. I think if anybody is still mumbling that Chris Simms should be playing right now, they should admit the debate is over as to who pilots the Bucs for the foreseeable future. As founder member of the Brian Griese fan club (membership growing by the day) I stand by what I said 4 weeks ago – we have only looked like an NFL offense when he has been in the game, and that’s a fact. Look at the numbers, look at the players and look at the fans at RJS – no more debate on the quarterback situation is required. Simms can step in and play later in the year if we are out of contention, for the moment the best chance for the team to win is with Griese under center. 5. I think I’m not surprised to see us pick up Chidi Ahanatou this week, as he will be as familiar as anybody with Monte Kiffin’s scheme. What did annoy me a little was his claim that “Tampa will always be my football home.” Well Chidi, we haven’t forgotten how you slagged off Sapp and the Bucs in general in 2001 when you played for the Rams, and last year when as a Faulty Whiner you called us soft, and stated that the Niners shoved it down our throats. Time to repay us for those jibes Mr Ahanatou, it what likely represents your last stop in the NFL. 6. Loved the article on the madcap world of Dan Sileo. Message to Dan – you never sacked Joe Montana in 1987 because it was me who sacked him as I played 3 games for the Bucs that year. You see Dan, it’s easy – anyone can invent an NFL career! In fact, Paul Stewart is the Bucs leading all-time pass catcher, and Phil Jones still heads Warren Sapp in career sacks and etc etc …….. it’s time for me to have a lie down I think, and unlike Dan I’ve not been on the steroids. 7. Draft Watch – with 3 wins on the board the Bucs are appear to be distancing themselves from the dross of the NFL – ie The Panthers, and with the Dolphins firing Wannstedt this week the team with the “best front five in football” could possibly become the “team with the top draft pick” though don’t rule out those Faulty Whiners having a say in this particular race. The subplots to this game are many, with the media focusing particularly on Gruden versus McKay, and Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn against The Bucs D. To a point I think we can contain the Falcons offense; granted Michael Vick is a special player and they have some weapons, but we too have some people on the defensive side of the ball who can still hurt them. However in my mind the deciding factor will once again fall upon how well our offense performs, and what sort of headway we can make with our running game. Assuming we can avoid falling behind early, the onus will once again fall upon Michael Pittman and the re-tooled offensive line to establish our run threat and if successful, thus open up many other passing lanes and options for us. The Michael Pittman who played in Superbowl XXXVII appeared to have been hiding this past year, but he has re-emerged magnificently in the last 2 weeks, to drive us on and key two morale boosting home victories. I’m a great believer on riding players on hot streaks, as we did with JJ in the 20002 play-offs, and Pittman should be given plenty of touches to test out a Falcons team who, lest we forget, surrended 8 rushing TD’s to the Chiefs less than a month ago. I’m sure Mr Gruden will have loved devising his strategy this week in determining how best to attack them. This is an interesting game for The Bucs, as we finally seem to have some momentum going and it will be a good test against what we know is a decent opponent. With the added ingredient of it being against a divisional foe and on the road, this should give us all the motivation we need to find an edge and prevail, in order to lift ourselves back further toward respectability. Plenty of TV and media pundits were only too keen to put the boot in and have a dig at us when we were 0-4; the key for the players is to remember these detractors and shove it back down their throats. Can we do it ? Definitely, as to whether we will is another question. This is potentially the most difficult game we have faced so far, but once again I think we will be up for this and with my pewter tinted spectacles on I give another tentative vote for the Bucs. Big games are especially needed once again from Michael Pittman, and maybe more so from our 3 linebackers Gold, Brooks and Quarles who with their legs and their brains must keep Michael Vick and the ball in front of them at all times. Bucs to sneak it 24-21 and enthusiasm to once again fill the Bay Area – I just hope I haven’t jinxed our run by tipping us to win.