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Mega Bucs: Win Over Saints Should Change Tampa's Expectations

(Sports Network) - After spending seven days devising lists of head coach and quarterback prospects, fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had entered a strange new world by mid-afternoon on Sunday.

The Bucs' thorough 31-14 pasting of reigning NFC South champion and preseason division favorite New Orleans, coupled with Carolina's simultaneous tank job against the Houston Texans, changed the outlook immeasurably for Tampa Bay, embattled coach Jon Gruden, and quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Just a week after the Buccaneers showed little improvement over last year's 4-12 showing in a 20-6 loss to the Seahawks, the team awoke loudly from its slumber.

The offense functioned well, matching last year's highest point total of the year and handing Garcia (10-of-16, 243 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) his first win in a Tampa Bay uniform.

The quarterback staked his team to a double-digit lead with a pair of second- quarter touchdown passes to ageless wideout Joey Galloway, who scored on plays of 69 and 24 yards in the midst of a 135-yard receiving day.

Running back Cadillac Williams, not even expected to play earlier in the week due to sore ribs, also found the end zone twice after scoring just a single touchdown in all of 2006.

The defense was also terrific, holding the NFL's top-ranked offense of last season off the board for the first 41-plus minutes of the game and only relenting when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

A complete effort against a respected opponent, and enough to give rise to plenty of expectations around the greater Tampa area.

"This is a whole new team," said Gruden after the win. "We have seven new starters on offense. I don't know how many new guys we have. Rookie players are contributing on special teams and winning the football games. With [cornerback] Brian Kelly not even performing today against a team like [the Saints], that says a lot. We needed a win, heck that's why we work."

What Gruden's modest postgame comments did not reflect was the shifting sands of the NFC South race, which is clearly up for grabs in light of Sunday's results.

Like Tampa Bay, Carolina has also had a night-and-day experience in its first two contests, not showing up at home against the lightly-regarded Texans one week after pummeling the Rams in St. Louis. If the Panthers can play that way on their home field, is there anyone that can't beat them?

The Saints and Falcons have been more consistent, in that both have been terrible in Weeks 1 and 2. New Orleans, which has yet to play a home game, figures to rally at some point but no longer looks like the unquestioned playoff team that many expected it to be. Atlanta, meanwhile, might be the worst team in the league.

Which leaves Tampa Bay, a team that not too many were talking about in the preseason but clearly expects to be a player in the quest for a division title. The next two games, a home affair with 0-2 St. Louis and a road trip to Carolina, could be pivotal.

The Buccaneers need to show they're more than a one-week wonder, and need to make the employment status of Gruden and playing status of Garcia non-issues.

If nothing else, Sunday's win gave the Bucs a blast of confidence that should help propel them forward.

"[The Saints are] a very good football team, everyone knew that coming in," said Galloway. "I don't think anyone really gave us a chance to win this game except ourselves. To go out and get a big win this early in our season, we have to build on that."

LB LIFT

A notable element of the Buccaneers' defensive dominance on Sunday was the play of a new-look linebacking corps, one that controlled the New Orleans offense through disciplined, assignment-conscious football and a smattering of big plays.

Strong side linebacker Cato June had his first big outing since coming over from the Colts as a free agent in the offseason, logging five tackles and setting up a Tampa Bay touchdown with a third-quarter interception, his first as a Buc.

In the middle, Barrett Ruud held off any talk of Jeremiah Trotter rising up the depth chart to take his job, recording a team-best 11 stops and forcing and recovering a Deuce McAllister fumble to set up the Bucs' first touchdown of the day.

And Derrick Brooks was Derrick Brooks, recording nine tackles and forcing a Reggie Bush fumble that was retained by New Orleans.

"That's the way you want to hit and run," said June. "That's what football is all about. You have to tackle, hit and run, block, catch and just protect the football. It's pretty simple...Just hit and run and play fast and have a good time out there."

THE AGELESS ONE

When the Saints issue a scouting report for their Dec. 2nd meeting against the Buccaneers in New Orleans, they might want to make Joey Galloway's name stand out in a different, bolder font. Or be highlighted in a different color. Because Galloway absolutely owns the Saints, who have been pretty slow to get the hint.

Galloway has now faced New Orleans six times since coming to Tampa Bay, and has scored at least one touchdown in all six contests. Sunday marked the third time over that stretch that he has burned the Saints for two scores, and the 36-year-old veteran has averaged 114 yards per game in his last three tests against the team.

Galloway, who ranks among league leaders with 207 receiving yards through his first two games of 2006, has totaled 23 receptions, 473 yards, and nine touchdowns in his last six games against New Orleans.

ROSTER NOTES

After serving as the No. 2 quarterback in the opener against Seattle, Luke McCown was listed behind Bruce Gradkowski on this week's depth chart. McCown was designated as the third quarterback, and Chris Simms was once again inactive...With Brian Kelly (groin) out, Phillip Buchanon started at right cornerback against New Orleans, making one tackle and breaking up two passes...Trotter and another offseason free agent pickup, ex-Broncos pass rush specialist Patrick Chukwurah, were inactive for a second straight contest.

NEXT UP: THE RAMS

The Rams lead the all-time regular season series with Tampa Bay, 9-6, including a 28-21 home victory when the teams last met, in 2004. St. Louis had dropped the four previous regular season matchups, including a 26-14 road loss in 2002.

In addition to the regular season series, the clubs have participated in two memorable playoff contests, both won by the Rams. St. Louis prevailed in the 1999 NFC Championship, 11-6 at home, and the then-L.A. Rams pitched a 9-0 shutout in the 1979 NFC Championship.

Gruden is 1-1 against St. Louis all-time, with both of those meetings coming since he has been head coach of the Bucs.

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