I've heard over and over again this week how the Eagles lost because of their "conservative" play calling. The Eagles played conservatively because they knew being aggressive would play right into the Bucs' hands, and THEY WERE RIGHT!
2 examples: at the end of the 1st half with the Eagles driving into Bucs territory, already in FG range with under a minute left. Do they play conservatively, run the ball and take the FG? No. McNabb takes a 5 step drop, Simeon Rice gets a hand on it, fumble, half over.
2nd, at the end of the game, the Eagles finally open it up and move the chains against the Bucs. All of a sudden McNabb mistake and it's Ronday Barber 98 yds the other way.
If the Eagles had been more aggressive, sure there's a chance that they would've put up more points. But there's just as good of a chance that there just would have been more turnovers. The Eagles gameplan was just what it had been all year long. Get some early points, then rely on their great D to force the other team to make mistakes or get them good field position. The trouble was, Tampa was able to move the ball whenever they wanted (till the 2nd half, when they went very conservatively) and they never made the big mistakes the Eagles D (and O) thrives on. You can certainly debate my earlier point about whether or not the Eagles O had the right gameplan, but what about the fact that Tampa O was able to put up 20 legitimate points on the road against a great D? Did Jimmy Johnson and the Eagles D not have the right gameplan too? Or did the Bucs simply outplay them, and if so, what will they be able to do against a sub-par Oakland D?
I agree with the points that were made about Tennessee outplaying Oakland in almost every way, and then shooting themselves in the foot, so I won't rehash that here.
OK, I know it's not the same thing, but in baseball it's an iron-clad rule that good pitching will beat good hitting. Well, I think it's only slightly less true in football that a good defense will beat a good offense. This game is going to be Baltimore - NYG all over again. Not only do I think Tampa wins, I think they run away with it. I'll even go so far as to script the 1st half. Oakland gets the opening kickoff and drives to about midfield, then punts. Tampa takes the ball down and gets at least 3. Oakland is stifled on the next possession and gives Tampa the ball with great field position. Tampa goes in for th TD, and it's at least 10-0. Oakland starts to press, makes a mistake, and it's turnover city!!! Another Buc score and it's 17-0 into the 2nd quarter. Oakland has to completely abandon the run game and play right into the strength of the #1 pass D. They'll put up some points later in the game, but will never be able to cut the lead to under 10.
The only way I see Tampa losing this one is if Alstott puts the ball on the turf (which is certainly a possibility). But just the same, I'm loading up on:
Tampa +4
Tampa ML
Tampa -3.5
Tampa -7.5
I'll be looking for my props Sunday night
and I'll also be the first one on here to give them if it goes the other way.
And just so no one accuses me of betting with my heart, I am (unfortunately) a huge Bears fan and until this year the Bucs were a hated division rival so if anything I'm biased the other way. But I'm putting my money with my head.
2 examples: at the end of the 1st half with the Eagles driving into Bucs territory, already in FG range with under a minute left. Do they play conservatively, run the ball and take the FG? No. McNabb takes a 5 step drop, Simeon Rice gets a hand on it, fumble, half over.
2nd, at the end of the game, the Eagles finally open it up and move the chains against the Bucs. All of a sudden McNabb mistake and it's Ronday Barber 98 yds the other way.
If the Eagles had been more aggressive, sure there's a chance that they would've put up more points. But there's just as good of a chance that there just would have been more turnovers. The Eagles gameplan was just what it had been all year long. Get some early points, then rely on their great D to force the other team to make mistakes or get them good field position. The trouble was, Tampa was able to move the ball whenever they wanted (till the 2nd half, when they went very conservatively) and they never made the big mistakes the Eagles D (and O) thrives on. You can certainly debate my earlier point about whether or not the Eagles O had the right gameplan, but what about the fact that Tampa O was able to put up 20 legitimate points on the road against a great D? Did Jimmy Johnson and the Eagles D not have the right gameplan too? Or did the Bucs simply outplay them, and if so, what will they be able to do against a sub-par Oakland D?
I agree with the points that were made about Tennessee outplaying Oakland in almost every way, and then shooting themselves in the foot, so I won't rehash that here.
OK, I know it's not the same thing, but in baseball it's an iron-clad rule that good pitching will beat good hitting. Well, I think it's only slightly less true in football that a good defense will beat a good offense. This game is going to be Baltimore - NYG all over again. Not only do I think Tampa wins, I think they run away with it. I'll even go so far as to script the 1st half. Oakland gets the opening kickoff and drives to about midfield, then punts. Tampa takes the ball down and gets at least 3. Oakland is stifled on the next possession and gives Tampa the ball with great field position. Tampa goes in for th TD, and it's at least 10-0. Oakland starts to press, makes a mistake, and it's turnover city!!! Another Buc score and it's 17-0 into the 2nd quarter. Oakland has to completely abandon the run game and play right into the strength of the #1 pass D. They'll put up some points later in the game, but will never be able to cut the lead to under 10.
The only way I see Tampa losing this one is if Alstott puts the ball on the turf (which is certainly a possibility). But just the same, I'm loading up on:
Tampa +4
Tampa ML
Tampa -3.5
Tampa -7.5
I'll be looking for my props Sunday night
and I'll also be the first one on here to give them if it goes the other way.And just so no one accuses me of betting with my heart, I am (unfortunately) a huge Bears fan and until this year the Bucs were a hated division rival so if anything I'm biased the other way. But I'm putting my money with my head.
