Shibbs, I dismissed that line as a simple delusion. I’m not a Eagles fan, but I’ll be the first to concede that they simply have the best secondary in football. I’d be shocked if any “expert” disagreed with this. The main factor that makes the Bucs secondary so effective is the Bucs pass rush and the cover 2 (facilitated by the effective front 4 and occasional blitz from Lynch and Brooks). The Eagles however are good even when the D blitzes, and blitzes, and blitzes some more.
I think I could make the case that the Eagles have a better defensive front (I blaspheme, I know), the Bucs have a better linebacking corps, and that the secondary is close to a wash. Philly blitzes a lot more often, and the cover 2 works so well for the Bucs because they have the personnel that make it work. Remember that Brian Kelly led the league in interceptions (8), and that one reason that Ronde Barber only had a couple of picks this year is that no one threw anything near him. I think that Garcia only threw at Barber once during the game last week (although I can’t verify it) and Barber picked him for a TD*.
*which was called back since Simeon Rice was being a knucklehead
I’d agree that the Eagles have a better overall defensive front. Against the run the Bucs can be a little soft, especially on Simeon’s side. Simeon is also kinda streaky, but when he’s on he’s more disruptive than Douglas (and less of a scumbag). The Bucs have a much better pass rush, and are able to put pressure on consistently even without the blitz. The Eagles rely on the blitz way too much to accurately judge their front 4’s pass rush. The Bucs pass rush is vastly better, but the overall effectiveness and system tends to favor the Eagles just slightly.
I always think of Raider Nation fans as wannabe transvestites- They love to dress outlandishly and wear makeup, but need a “manly” reason to do so. 
So, I was up late but my kids woke me up early. It’s torture to have to wait until 3 pm for the first kickoff! I have so many other things to do but cannot focus. I tried watching ESPN’s NFL Countdown for a while, but there are just so many reasons that the Bucs can’t win, according to all of the experts. Of course that’s why they play the games, and I just keep my fingers cross and pray for the unlikely outcome.
As to prognostication, the stats and numbers would all indicate that both home teams deserve to be favored today. Nothing would suggest that trend is about to change. There is, however, a decent (about 25-35%) chance that a visiting team will triumph today. Which occurs slightly more often in AFC championships then NFC championships. Anybody have an idea on when the last Super Bowl matchup was between two #1 seeds? And how often that has occurred? Especially in whacky years like this; on the other hand, in a whacky year like this why not the number one seeds make it to the final showdown?
In almost every category I can think of, the Eagles matchup better than the Bucs. Throw in the cold weather, in the high 20s at kickoff, but much colder with the wind chill, and you have a Bucs fan recipe for disaster. Still I can’t pick against the Bucs in the NFC title game, it just wouldn’t be right. So I’ll pick with my heart, not my head:
Bucs 20 - Eagles 13
Back in Oakland, if the Titans defense can shut down the Raiders’ passing game, or if they can get to Rich Gannon, then this could be the upset game. Of course Eddie George needs to stay conscious, and Steve McNair needs to play through pain, but that’s about when the guy is most effective. If I were betting on an upset I’d look for it here. But I can’t pick two upsets today, so I’ll go with the slightly more rational choice here:
Raiders 35 - Titans 27
Now just three more agonizing hours to go…
I agree that they are close. It’s just a feeling I have watching them. The Philly secondary is really, really good. I was in no way trying to demean them.
My opinion is based on the fact that Tampa lead the NFC in interceptions, completion percentage against and yards per game against in passing. Part of that is the Bucs’ ridiculous pass rush, of course, but just watching the Bucs’ secondary makes me feel like they are more consistent.
As for the experts’ opinions, Omniscient, they may very well feel that way. I will certainly defer to their judgement if this is the case, as I am in no way, shape or form an expert on football. Anyway, it’s just the impression I have had from watching the two teams play. And I still feel that McNabb will do better against the Bucs than Johnson will, just because he’ll be able to create more options when the opposing defense starts causing chaos than Johnson will.
The Bucs’ defense has much, MUCH fewer schemes than the Birds. Statistically they may be neck-and-neck, but between the two, the Bucs are much easier to prepare for. Ask Atlanta (I can’t remember the player) who said they didn’t know what to expect every time they walked to the line, and as a result they could develop no rhythm. That’s what the Eagles bring, and NOBODY likes that aspect of their defense.
Brad Johnson is hurt and immobile, and the Bucs have no running game. Na-da. In an evenly matched defensive game, the Bucs have NO horses on offense. Plus, I just got back from church and it is COLD. Those hot-house flowers will wilt yet again, just as they always do when they aren’t playing a dog like Chicago.
It’s already over. If you haven’t got your bet down, take the kids’ college funds and put it on the Birds to cover. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Fly, Eagles, fly!..
It’s halftime…
Grinning along with you, ShibbOleth.
1 quarter left! :D:D
I guess your children will have to work their way through college?
Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl? Yeah, next thing you’ll be telling me that the Angels will be in the World Series or the Nets in the NBA finals or the Stanley Cup finals will have games played in North Carolina.
Games which TB has won where kick off temperature is under 30 F: 1
Playoff games which TB has won on the road: 1
NFC Championship games which TB has won: 1
Buccaneer trips to the Super Bowl: ONE
Go BUCs!
I won a lot of money today (on the Bucs, not the Oakland/Tenessee game - I wasn’t gonna touch that one).
I got the feeling all week that the Eagles were underestimating the Bucs. The feeling I got from every eagles player was “We play our game and we should win”. Those are two impressive wins that the Bucs have reeled off and if the Raiders make the Superbowl, it’ll be a hell of a game.
Well, the Raiders did win; now instead of the Super Bowl it’s going to be the Gruden Bowl. This could end up as the most hyped of the most hyped game. There’s almost no way it will be able to live up to it’s build up.
What I meant to say was…oh, never mind.
What a disappointment…
I don’t have much faith in the Pro Bowl selections. Not a single Titans player was chosen. That just doesn’t make sense. Steven McNair is pure gold!
I will quietly return to my sobbing now. But just wait until next year!!!
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Now I have to choose between the Raiders, who I loathe as an organization and Sapp and K. Johnson who I loathe as individuals? That’s easy, I don’t think I’ll be able to watch football anymore if Johnson and Sapp actually win something. Good God, they talk too much already. Especially Johnson - has a “great” receiver ever dropped as many key passes as he has? So, I’ll be cheering for the Raiders for the first time in my life, because I want to see Jerry win another one and go out on top, and see Gannon and Brown win one. I’ll conveniently forget that Al Davis still owns the team and will share in the glory, and will conveniently forget that Romanowski plays on the hated Raiders, as well.
The #1 offense (more or less) vs. the # 1 defense in the NFL? I suppose it’s time to have a reality check. The Bucs will probably win. Which is nice, I guess.
Question for ShibbOleth or any other Bucs fans - Is Ronde Barber as well liked in Tampa as his brother Tiki is in NY? Tiki is adored in NY. After yesterday’s win the camera showed Tiki & Ronde in a big hug…well heck, Sapp aside, I’m rooting for the Bucs!
Go Tiki Barber’s twin brothers’s Team!
Well, right now I’m sure that every Buc (even those of questionable virtue) is L-O-V-E-D, not just well liked. Ronde is not the big favorite, for sure, but you can tell that he seems just as personable as his “older” brother. And that game he had yesterday surely did nothing to hurt his reputation. I was pretty upset that he didn’t make the pro bowl again. But I’d say that there are other Bucs who were more popular, including Shaun King, who doesn’t even start anymore but is a local product. Brad Johnson’s stock is very high now, Mike Alstott has been popular for some time, Sapp and Keyshawn have that love him/hate him sort of following, Derrick Brooks is very popular, etc. So, I’d say he’s liked, he’s not yet on a par with some of the other bigger names, but that could be about to change.