Click Here to Watch the Video FULL size The pivotal Redskin extra point attempt typified the special teams play for Washington on the dayl The two players to I.R. a week trend continues, but the Bucs keep on winning. Of course we have to wonder how much damage the Bucs can do now with almost half a team, but the truth is the Bucs were so young, that the players going to Injured Reserve are being replaced for the most part with players of equal age. Not only that, but these new players are getting valuable experience as they come in as replacements. Biggest loss could be Gerald McCoy who was coming on stronger of late. McCoy injured his bicep muscle and word should come in soon how long that will sideline him. The Bucs rush defense was improving as of late, and the loss of McCoy was obvious. However, the Bucs defense did tighten up in the second half. It will need to now that the Bucs are officially in the playoff race, a mere half game of conference play behind the NY Giants as far as tie breakers go. The Bucs and Packers are half a game behind the Giants with New York playing tonight in Detroit against the Vikings. Tampa Bay has the current advantage over the Packers with the Bucs 6-3 conference record to Green Bay’s 6-4 record. The Giants are 6-2 in conference play, so a loss to Minnesota would logjam all three teams together with the Bucs and Giants tied together; 3 games left to play in the season. New Orleans now plays the tough part of their schedule with games at Baltimore against the Ravens, and the rematch at Atlanta. It now serves the Bucs interests for the Falcons to beat New Orleans, especially if the Saints lose on the road to Baltimore. It would also give the Bucs a chance to catch up to New Orleans who is 10-3 while the Bucs are 8-5. Speaking of 8-5, the Bucs win at Fed Ex field gives them their 8th win, and guarantees the Bucs will not be a losing team in 2010; a major accomplishment for a team that finished 3-13 a year ago, and is now a 5 game improvement over itself from a year ago. One win in any of the next three weeks makes Raheem Morris a winning coach in only his second season, something probably deemed impossible only one season ago. Why is it coaching? Because it’s the coaching that makes the difference when its close. And close has been the 2010 season in a nutshell; The Bucs have now won 5 games this year by 3 points or less, a franchise record. Tampa Bay hasnt had that many close wins in the last three years combined! And how important was that 2 point conversion? At the time it felt like some icing for the cake didn’t it? If Josh Freeman doesn’t give that push, the Bucs probably lose 16-15 and that high snap doesn’t matter one bit. But it’s fun to watch anyways right?
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