Raise your hand if you thought the Bucs were sure to win when you heard Cam Newton wasn’t going to play. This week its even worse, as Rams QB Shaun Hill played only one half against Minnesota before being injured leaving way to 3rd stringer Austin Davis.
It’s a sure win right?
Before you say that, you should know the Rams threw for more yards than Carolina did, completing 10.3 yards per pass. They ran the ball far better than we did, getting 3.3 yards per clip. Even won the battle of Time of Possession.
But the Rams were wiped out by Minnesota, already itself not considered a good football team. So where does that leave the Bucs? It puts Tampa Bay as a team that has nothing to win Sunday.
Best case scenario the Bucs beat the rams 27-10. You may hear a wow somewhere in there, the Rams are a team that can barely beat themselves. That won’t impress anyone. Or the Bucs cut it close, escaping with a little W with a big effort, say Tampa Bay 17 St.Louis Rams 14. It will raise more questions than answers.
I can see the press conference now; Lovie being asked questions on how the Bucs can hope to get past Atlanta when barely squeezed by St. Louis.
Then god forbid the nightmare happens and the Bucs go 0-2 to start the season with losses to the teams without their starting QBs.
It won’t matter if Gerald McCoy sets the NFL record for Sacks in the game. No one will care if Josh McCown hits 15 different receivers stacking up Matt Ryan numbers along the way, or if Dashon Goldson actually DOES intercept the ball and run in back for a TD (Video of Goldson’s drop here) …There will be no consolation prizes, no medals, no glory.
Only a Win, but then again, isn’t that what the doctor ordered ?
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