You have to love Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Simeon Rice. In a league where players spew out one-game-at-a-time clichés, Rice gives much more than the obligatory sound bytes.
He is talkative, informative and usually very entertaining, which is why when he pulled a Joe Namath this week, guaranteeing his team will beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte, it came with a little jab at his teammates.
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If Michael Pittman runs effectively, it might give QB Brad Johnson more time to throw. (AP) |
What made his guarantee so good was the pressure he put firmly on the heads of Tampa Bay defensive tackles Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland. It's no secret that Sapp and Rice aren't exactly best buddies.
"I guarantee the victory," Rice said. "I'm not sure of the score. Write it down. It's definitely on Warren's and (defensive tackle Anthony) McFarland's back. If they ball, we're going to win. It's all over. Then it's on my shoulders and I'm running it through. It's all over, once they (the DTs) do their thing. Because if we shut down the run, I'm going to take over. I'll single-handedly beat this team by myself if we can shut down the run."
Rice is no dummy. Carolina's offense is keyed by its running game. When Carolina beat Tampa Bay 12-9 Sept 14, it was Stephen Davis who made the difference. He rushed for 142 yards, adding more credence to the theory that running right at Tampa Bay's defense is the key to beating it.
Rice knows that McFarland and Sapp must have big games against the interior of the Carolina line if Tampa Bay is to edge a game closer in the NFC South.
As it stands right now, the 4-4 Bucs trail 6-2 Carolina by two games. A loss in the SportsLine.com Game of the Week will put the Bucs essentially four games back -- counting the head-to-head tiebreaker -- with seven to go.
Can you say wild card?
"You don't try to put any more pressure on one game than any other game," said Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson. "This franchise has been in this kind of situation the last four or five years. Last year was the exception. Obviously, it's a big game. You kind of have to be careful with your words and don't say 'must-win,' or 'we've got to have this win,' until maybe the last game. But it's definitely a game that we've got to respond back from. We've been win-loss, win-loss, that type of deal. But we've got to find a way to get our fifth win."
The Bucs have not won consecutive games this season, but they have bounced back from every loss with a victory. To do that Sunday, the Super Bowl champs will have to control both lines of scrimmage.
Tampa Bay's defensive line has to keep Davis, who is banged up with an ankle injury, in check if he plays. If he doesn't play, DeShaun Foster, who has more quickness, will start. He is more than capable of ripping off a 100-yard game.
On offense, Tampa Bay's patched-up line will have to keep Carolina's dominant front four off Johnson. To do that, they will have to establish their own running game. That means we could see heavy doses of Michael Pittman.
When a team like Tampa Bay, one loaded with veterans and coached by an intense maniac, gets pinned to the wall it usually comes out flailing. If Tampa Bay can go into Carolina and win, we'll know that a repeat is still very possible. If not, then it might be time to start digging the hole for the champions.
"When you win a Super Bowl it kind of jades you from your perspective at hand," said Rice. "This season I think we are gearing up for the second half of the season and (we) kind of understand that we have a lot to do. And with that in mind we have to go out there with those intentions to prove to be what we are."
Of course, it's up to Sapp and McFarland to do the dirty work to get there.
Speaking of dirty, the Panthers took exception to a block by Tampa Bay receiver Keenan McCardell in the first game on defensive end Kavika Pittman. McCardell was fined $12,500 by the league for two illegal blocks in that game, one costing Pittman his season when he was lost with a torn ACL. The Panthers also claimed offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker punched defensive end Julius Peppers in the face.
Carolina danced off the field that day when they won on a game-winning field goal by John Kasay in overtime. The game went to overtime when Kris Jenkins blocked an extra point after Tampa Bay had tied it on the final play of regulation.
If Carolina dances again, it will mean Tampa Bay is in big trouble. If the Bucs do the dancing, Rice's guarantee might be just what they needed to get their season back on track.
| Who needs to step up more? |
Simeon Rice |
Warren Sapp |
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Game of the Weak
For the second time this season, we have the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in this spot.
Easy now, Bears fans. We know that your team has played better as of late, and the Lions are coming off a victory over Oakland, but take a look at this week's board. Is there another game that deserves a chance to be here?
We considered the Jets at the Raiders, but it just doesn't look right putting those two teams in this spot -- even if any Oakland game from here on out could make it. In fact, that's why we went in another direction. It's a good bet Oakland will be here very often the rest of the way.
And anyway, it allows us to pull out that old joke: What do you get when you mix Lions and Bears? A dog.
It was just two weeks ago that we had to endure Lions-Bears, which makes this one even more tortuous. Couldn't the schedule maker at least spread these out?
Chicago won that first meeting 24-16 at Soldier Field, and they are a much healthier team than they were then. Six starters missed that game, and most will be back.
The Bears have come alive a little behind veteran quarterback Chris Chandler, while the Detroit offense is sputtering behind second-year quarterback Joey Harrington. There have been some calls for the Lions to bench Harrington and play Mike McMahon.
Let's see, a McMahon in a Bears-Lions game?
Once upon a time, that might have been interesting. Now it's a sign of how deserving these two are of being in this space twice in the past three weekends.
10 things to watch
- Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was 0-4 against Florida in college, including 0-2 in the state of Florida. So far this season Manning is 2-0 in Florida, beating both the Bucs and the Dolphins on the road. He can make it a clean sweep of the Florida teams if the Colts beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville. It looks easy on paper, but the Jaguars have done a nice job taking away Marvin Harrison when the two teams meet. Look for Fernando Bryant on Harrison again, which could mean a lot of Reggie Wayne against rookie Rashean Mathis.
- In 1996, Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells led the Patriots to the Super Bowl, where they lost to Green Bay. This Sunday, Bledsoe gets to face his former coach when the Bills and Cowboys get together in Dallas. Bledsoe has been struggling as of late and he faces a Dallas defense that is ranked first in the NFL. You know Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will have something cooked up for Bledsoe.
- Something has to give in the Jets-Raiders game. The Jets have won nine of 10 in November the past three seasons -- losing last week to the Giants -- while the Raiders have won 10 of 12 from the Jets. If Oakland is to beat the Jets they will have to do so behind Rick Mirer, who will be their quarterback. He last started a game in 1999 with the Jets. Loser of this game is essentially eliminated from the playoff chase, although it's likely not going to happen for either team anyway.
- Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is angry with Colts safety Mike Doss, and said he will be looking for the rookie in Sunday's game. Taylor said Doss pushed his head into the ground after forcing a fumble in the first meeting between the teams. Taylor fired some verbal shots at Doss this week, which should make for some interesting collisions if the two do come face to face, which is likely. Doss said he would be waiting.
- The two biggest rushing days of the season have come against the Cleveland defense. You don't think Priest Holmes is licking his chops heading into Sunday, do you? The Browns gave up an NFL-record 295 yards to Jamal Lewis earlier this year and 200 to San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, so expect Holmes to find plenty of running room against this group. The Chiefs will spread the Browns out and run Holmes, hoping to rip off some big plays. Warning for the Browns linebackers: better wrap up.
- Bengals coach Marvin Lewis angered some fans this week when he said they didn't have anything invested in the team. Lewis backtracked from those words later, but it lit up the phones on local talk radio. It will be interesting to see how the fans react to both Lewis and the Bengals. If Cincinnati doesn't play well, look for the fans to get all over this team. If they do, it will set up an interesting game the following week against the Chiefs.
- After losing two consecutive games at home to fall to 6-2, the Vikings might be happy to be on the road this week. For starters, they are playing a very beatable San Diego team that struggles on defense. In addition, the Vikings have won their past six road games. Look for them to make it seven straight against the Chargers.
- The Texans will have David Carr back at quarterback after he missed last week's game with an ankle injury. Considering the Bengals have had trouble defending the pass, and Houston will be without starting corner Marcus Coleman, look for a lot of points to be scored when these two get together. Cincinnati's pass offense can be very good when it gets clicking. This might be one of those up-and-down-the-field games we love.
- The last time the Cardinals played a game in Pittsburgh they were still the St. Louis Cardinals. It happened in 1985 and Gary Anderson helped the Steelers beat the Cardinals 23-10 that day by kicking three field goals. Funny thing is, Anderson is still kicking in the league, doing his thing for the Titans now. The Cardinals-Steelers game essentially amounts to an elimination game for both teams. Loser has no chance at the playoffs -- although both are facing long odds anyway.
- The Ravens have been good at playing on the road in tough conditions, but this week they will be trying to end the winning streak of Rams quarterback Marc Bulger. He has won nine straight home starts and if he makes it 10 he will tie for the third-longest streak since 1970. The Rams struggled last week on the road against the 49ers, but with Marshall Faulk expected back in the lineup and Mike Martz likely to try and show off for the national television audience, look for Bulger to have some success throwing it down the field.
Matchup we can't wait to see: Titans quarterback Steve McNair against the speed of Miami's outside rush ends, Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye. If McNair can continually break outside contain, he will cause problems for the Dolphins secondary. If not, Miami may upset the Titans.
Mismatch of the week: Giants quarterback Kerry Collins leads the NFL in passing yards with 2,185. He faces an Atlanta secondary that has been torched by the pass. Heck, they made Donovan McNabb a 300-yard passer last week. Look for Collins and his receivers to have a field day against the Atlanta defense.
Fantasy tip: Play Miami receiver Chris Chambers and expect a big game from him. The Titans are a tough team to run on, so look for the Dolphins to go with their passing game to try and keep up with McNair. Chambers will get six catches and at least one touchdown. For more fantasy tips for Week 10, check out Start 'Em & Sit 'Em and Lineup Rankings.
