Did Detroit steal our defense?

Sweet Jesus. What the hell happened tonight? The lone bright spot tonight was my favorite offseason free agent signing of Antonio Bryant. I predicted he would have 80 receptions for 1200 yards and 8 scores. Last night, he snagged 8 for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns, while making one of the most remarkable one handed grabs you'll ever see. Bruce Allen, sign him to a multi year contract tonight on the flight home. Other than that, not much to see here, move along.

Let's review my 10 observations.

1. Peppers.
He was pretty much held in check all night until he flipped over to the rightside versus Trueblood and had a sack. Peppers also blocked a PAT in the 4th quarter when the Bucs got within a touchdown, making it an 8 point game.

2. Slay the two headed monster.
Two headed monster? The Carolina backfield looked like a T-Rex romping through Jurassic Park, running for 301 yards, an 8 yard average per carry and 4 touchdowns. This Bucs defense had only surrendered 1 100 yard runner and 1 rushing touchdown all season. The defense had piss poor tackling technique tonight and with Michael Turner and LT from San Diego next up, they better start remembering how in the immediate future.

3. Steve Smith.
100 yards and a score, atleast he was controlled.100 yards and a score was a gimme.

4. Stevens.
Wasn't really in the gameplan until late in the third quarter. He had 5 targets and 4 catches. Alex Smith dropped two and Gilmore had 1 catch early on. Cadillac only had 9 carries and 1 reception. He did look strong on his rushing score, driving Beason backwards. Dunn had some flashes tonight, but in the second half when it mattered, he dropped 5 screen passes.

5. Delhomme.
This cat could have played in a white tux tonight and gone out on the town after the game. No touches, no real pressures and most definitely, no sacks.

6. Carolina's Tightends.
When you have an 8 yard per carry average, rush for 4 touchdowns and 300 yards, punting once, who needs to throw to a tight end?

7. Return game.
Clifton Smith only got to field two kickoffs and one punt. The return game was a non issue tonight for either team.

8. White Tiger.
Did Galloway even take the flight from Tampa? Is he still on the roster?

9. Trueblood.
Jeremy you got schooled by Peppers. At least you didn't go Rambo on a Panther defender.

10. Keep Carolina outside the 35.
Yeah. That was a great suggestion. Perhaps my observation should have been, keep Carolina out of the endzone.

So, the Bucs are 9-4 and Carolina is 10-3. The Bucs remaining games are at Atlanta next week and then finish up with two at home where they are 6-0 against a demoralized San Diego and a pitiful Oakland Raiders. Carolina has the Denver Broncos coming to visit next week in Charlotte and then travel for their final two games against the New York Giants and then to New Orleans. If the Bucs win out in their final three games and the Panthers drop 1,the Bucs still win the NFC South and most likely get the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Bucs did not get it done tonight. The defense is due to have a bad game once out of 16 games and I'm glad it was tonight and not in the playoffs. Even if Monte is leaving to join his son in Tennessee, he wants one last chance to make it to the Super Bowl, especially since it's in Tampa this year, what a way to go out. I was on several Bucs internet message boards tonight and I'm sure I-275 is backed up from the Skyway all the way to Ulmerton with possible jumpers tonight. Calm yourselves. Sit back, take a deep breath and look at the standings picture in the NFL. I never thought I'd see Bucs fans panicking at 9-4 back in 1977. Then again, I never thought I'd live to see the Rays make it to the World Series. That's what makes sports so much fun. Enjoy Bucs fans, all is not lost, it is a mere speed bump. This loss builds character.