Last Dance, Last Chance

To steal a line from Donna Summer, this is it for several teams this weekend. And for the die hard fans of the greatest game on earth, it's a melancholy time. (unless you are a Lions fan) This is the weekend where the reality hits that there are only 4 more weeks of football remaining. And no, the ProBowl doesn't count as actual football. February ushers in the start of those mindless sports. One where drivers turn left for hundreds of miles and the other, where dozens of men walk 6,000 yards a day, 4 days in a row following a small white ball. Thank God for the NFL Network.

So, as I usually dissect the upcoming Bucs game, I want to look at four key games this week.

Bucs vs Raiders
There is so much history here. Gruden coached the Raiders right up until the famous Tuck Rule game against New England in 2001. Bucs ownership, the Glazers, sent a bounty to the Raiders after the 2001 season in order to obtain Gruden as head coach. 2 1st round picks, 2 2nd round picks and 8 million in cash. The Bucs ironically played the Raiders the next season in the Super Bowl and destroyed them, 48-21 to win the first Buccaneer World Championship in the teams history.

Those of you who had HBO in the 1980's can associate the Raiders owner, Al Davis, with the late night host, the Crypt Keeper. Davis was a maverick before John McCain made being a maverick cool. Davis must be in contact with the lab which has Walt Disney's head frozen for regeneration so Al can come back in a decade to see if his decisions have paid off. His decisions haven't paid off since his team's last Super Bowl appearance. 23-72 since 2003.

The Bucs a 13 point favorite? Are you kidding me? The Bucs will win, but take Oakland and the points. Mortgage the house. Oh shit, I forgot, this is South Florida, you can't get a pawn shop to take a title loan on that bet.

Bucs win 31-21

Dallas vs Philly
Jerry Jones came out this week and said Wade Phillips won't be fired. Wades' done such a superb job. 70-48 career coaching record and a Schottenheimer-esque 0-4 playoff record. And as the Dallas team heads to Philly this weekend, they will miss the playoffs once again. Regardless of the score of the Tampa Bay/Oakland game, Philly will want to knock the Cowboys out of the playoffs. The Cowboys have become the Yankees of the NFL. Lots of money, no delivery.

Philly on the other hand has to deal with the ever present issue regarding the QB diva, Donovan McNabb. This past week, Donovan said he wanted to leave everything on the field. He does. He left chunks on the 20 yardline in the south endzone in Ray Jay. His performance on the field and the endorsement of Chunky Campbell Soup is a bit disturbing.

Philly beats Dallas 24-21

Miami vs. Jets
Oh this is the largest game of the year for the Northeast corridor media sports writers. You know those, the ones on ESPN, the ones who anointed Lord Favre after he was traded to the Jets the J-E-T-S would be an immediate playoff team. Hmmm. The anointed one has thrown 21 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. 6 of those td's were thown in week foor and since, Farve has been 9 td's and 15 picks.

Jets home wins have been against Arizona (week 4) Cincy, KC, St. Louis, and Buffalo. Jets have lost at home to two teams battling for a playoff spot. New England and Denver.

Jets lose to Miami. 27-20

San Diego vs. Denver

8-7 Denver
7-8 San Diego

This is a piss poor division in the NFL. Denver's coach Mike Shanahan will end his 4th season hovering around .500. Norv Turner in San Diego is heading up a mismanagement situation with talent. Shanahan won back to back Super Bowls but has not won a playoff game since 1998.

Both San Diego and Denver play in perhaps the weakest division in the NFL. Oakland and Kansas City are a combined 6-24. A 8-8 Division winner is pretty sad.

San Diego beats Denver 38-30.