From the Tampa Bay Times

[ladypanther]

Sometimes fun to read stuff from the opponent's home paper.  Among what I found there.....

 

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/greg-schiano-era-among-the-worst-in-bucs-history/2148754

 

All in all, I liked the Raheem Morris era better.

And, yes, if there was ever a sentence that tells you how bad this Misery Tour of the current Tampa Bay Bucs has become, it's that one.

For crying out loud, the Morris years were pretty much awful, a tangled, forgettable mess. Ditto, the Schiano years, where a more talented team is somehow accomplishing less. There is scandal. There is disease. There is dysfunction. And that's only in the playbook.

 

The point is this: For all the suffering that Tampa Bay fans have endured over the years, this is pretty close to the bottom. There hasn't been a positive headline out of One Buc Place for months now, and it may be months before there is another.

The whole building feels angry and desperate, as if protecting its secrets is more important than winning games, and the next thing you know, men in Hazmat suits are following the team around as if it is sheltering E.T. Who knows? It may be.

 

 

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/bucs-desperately-need-a-win-on-nfln-game-vs-carolina/2148516

 

Crews wearing hazmat suits did some heavy scrubbing of the visitors' locker room at the Georgia Dome once the Bucs left there Sunday.

 

 

 

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/nothings-changing-with-0-6-bucs/2148457

 

 

The games are, generally, close. The offense pretty much knocks off work at halftime and spends most of the day kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. The defense gives up a few too many big plays. And the officials get back spasms from picking up all the penalty flags after a Bucs player commits another penalty.

And here is the worst part: nothing is changing.

The loss in Week 1 looked like the loss in Week 3. The second loss looked like the fifth loss.

Forget how hard the players are working. Forget about how close the losses might be. Even forget that the Bucs are playing with a rookie quarterback.

It isn't getting any better. The Bucs still commit a slew of costly penalties and find ways to lose games instead of, as cornerback Darrelle Revis said, accidentally winning even one.

 

 

 

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=tampabaytimes&page=nfl/scores/live/preview.aspx?id=4190

 

It's hard to imagine Glennon generating anything consistently against Kuechly and Co. Meanwhile, Newton is starting to mature and become more of a game manager, not exactly a bad idea when you have a legitimate big-time defense backing you up.

Cam is usually good for two or three big plays to Smith so if the Panthers can limit turnovers and stay away from any game-changing penalties, expect a workmanlike win for Carolina.

"We have a tough challenge going on the road in a short week, but we know that's what we are facing, so we must do our best to prepare," Rivera said.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Panthers 23, Bucs 13

 

 

 

Instead of making their own prediction they use Sports Network.  For the record...I do not think it will be that close.  Bucs are a mess.

[Jackofalltrades]

An early lead will completely deflate them. Schiano has to be close to losing the team.

[ladypanther]

JOAT....have to think he may have already lost the team.  But you are right...any with hope left...it has to be fragile.  If the Panthers start out fast on both sides of the ball it will likely get very ugly.

[Bloodflood]

If they win, the Charlotte observer is gonna look very similar.

[ladypanther]

If they win, the Charlotte observer is gonna look very similar.

 

Not going to happen.

[the butch]

We are proving we can beat the bad teams. Let's hope we can continue that. We are teetering on the edge of becoming a legitimate team. We have gained confidence. Keeping that confidence is another story, though. This Tampa game could do just that. Lose, and doubt starts to creep back in.

[PantherRoar14]

I hope the team goes into this game with the same sense of urgency we have shown the last two weeks.  The players can't buy into what people are saying about Tampa's struggling offense, injuries, or coaching situation. 

[panthers55]

I figure the first half will tell the story. If the Bucks are close or ahead it could be a long night. If we jump ahead it should be like St Louis or Minnesota. Need to dominate early and crush their spirit early.

[ladypanther]

I figure the first half will tell the story. If the Bucks are close or ahead it could be a long night. If we jump ahead it should be like St Louis or Minnesota. Need to dominate early and crush their spirit early.

 

I think the Panthers will take care of business early and not let up.  

[the butch]

The Bucs truly are a horrible team.  I mean, Yas couldn't even think of anything to put in their NFL Nation article.  He's talking about damn fantasy value on the day before their primetime game:  http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/

[Snake]

Keep on gamblin river Ron.

[TruCatzFan]

Pick 6 the first play of the game... Errrr, I mean again this week...

[Happy Panther]

This is the kind of game you want to be up by 21 by the end of the third.

[PhillyB]

i hope this game has them revolting openly against schiano on the sideline by midway through the third quarter on national tv. i want at least a dozen hilarious gifs by friday morning.