The Buccaneers’ Defense was awesome in this football game as they gave rookie QB Matt Ryan fits all night long.  Linebacker Barrett Ruud led the way for the Bucs with 8 tackles in this game.  Safety Jermaine Phillips (6 tackles) and DE Gaines Adams (6 tackles, 2 sacks) each pitched in for the Bucs on defense.  The Falcons finished up with 105 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 33 passes for 129 yards.

Brian Griese managed the game well for the Bucs as he completed 18 of 31 passes for 160 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  Earnest Graham had another very solid game with 116 yards rushing on 15 carries (7.7 ypc) with a 68-yard TD run.  Warrick Dunn pitched in with 49 yards rushing on 12 carries (4.1 ypc) with a 17-yard TD run.  He also caught 3 passes for 21 yards in this game.  Ike Hilliard was the leading receiver for the Bucs in this game with 4 grabs for 41 yards (10.3 avg).  TE John Gilmore pitched in with 2 grabs for 41 yards (20.5 avg) with a 5-yard TD reception.  The Buccaneers finished up with 164 yards rushing on 28 carries (5.9 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 31 passes for 147 yards.  The Buccaneers improved to 1-1 on the season with this win.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers swept the Falcons by a combined score of 68-10 last season.  But, the Falcons are a much different team this season especially on offense.  The Falcons rushed for a amazing 318 yards (7.6 ypc) last week against the Lions and they will attempt to run the ball early and often in this game.  Barrett Ruud, Cato June and Quincy Black will have a hard time corraling Michael Turner who rushed for 220 yards (10.0 ypc) last week against the Lions.  Jerious Norwood will test the perimeter of the Bucs’ defense as he rushed for 93 yards (6.6 ypc) last week.  If the Falcons can establish the running game that would take a lot of pressure off of rookie QB Matt Ryan.  The Falcons will run a lot of their pass plays off of play action against the Bucs.  The Bucs did allow 343 passing yards to the Saints last week so look for the Falcons to take a few shots downfield against them.

Brian Griese will get the start for the Bucs in this game in the place of the injured Jeff Garcia.  The Bucs would be smart to run the ball more often this week as they rushed for 146 yards (7.3 ypc) last week against the Saints.  Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn will test the middle of the Falcons’ defense which only allowed 62 yards rushing (3.0 ypc) last week against the Lions.  The Falcons allowed 262 yards passing last week so Griese will likely be looking deep to Joey Galloway often in this football game.

PREDICTION:  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 23, ATLANTA FALCONS 17

Jeff Garcia’s ankle has been barking so Brian Griese will get the start for the Bucs this week.  He might get to play much longer as Garcia and John Gruden are having a tiffy fit.  Garcia completed 24 of 41 passes against the Saints for 221 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  Griese is not totally rusty as he did play in 7 games (6 starts) for the Bears last season in which he completed 161 of 262 passes (61.5%) for 1,803 yards with 10 TD passes and 12 interceptions (75.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 13 times for 28 yards (2.2 ypc).  If Griese plays well against the Falcons this week look for him to be the starting QB for the near future.

The Buccaneers could have won this game if they just played some defense…..but they didn’t.  Jeff Garcia was a busy guy in this game as he completed 24 of 41 passes for 221 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  Earnest Graham was outstanding in this game and the Bucs should have given him the ball more.  Graham carried the ball 10 times for 91 yards (9.1 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 27 yards.  Warrick Dunn was also effective running the football with 9 carries for 54 yards (6.0 ypc).  Joey Galloway (6 rec, 56 yards) and Ike Hilliard (6 rec, 45 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Bucs against the Saints.  The Buccaneers finished up with 146 yards rushing on 20 carries (7.3 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 41 passes for 206 yards.

The Bucs’ Defense was awful in this game as they allowed the Saints to throw TD passes of 84 yards, 39 yards and 42 yards in this game!  Linebacker Barrett Ruud led the Bucs with 10 tackles but he couldn’t do it all himself.  CB Phillip Buchanon only had 4 tackles but he did intercept a pass that he returned 26 yards for a TD.  The Saints finished up with 101 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.7 ypc).  They also completed 23 of 32 passes for 337 yards.  The Bucs better get ready because the Falcons are coming to town fresh off a 34-21 win against the Lions.

This will be a good football game but the Saints always seem to rally around hurricanes.  The Bucs are hoping that Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway are ready to go after missing most of the preseason with injuries.  The Bucs would be smart to keep the ball on the ground and throw short passes.  Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn will have to deal with Saints’ first round pick DT Sedrick Ellis when they try to run up the middle.  If they get past him then they have to deal with Jonathan Vilma and that won’t be pretty either.  The Bucs would be smarter to run outside and challenge the Saints’ OLBs Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita.  Joey Galloway has had some huge games against the Saints and he will likely draw Mike McKenzie in coverage.  That should be a fun matchup to watch on Sunday. 

The Saints will likely be wide open on offense and that will be a challenge to the Bucs’ defense.  Despite all of Drew Brees’ heroics in the passing game the Saints like to run the ball too.  Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister will keep the pressure on the linebacking corps of the Bucs.  But, Barrett Ruud, Derrick Brooks and Cato June is one of the better linebacking units in the NFL so Bush and McAllister will have to work hard.  The Saints do have edges against the Bucs’ secondary and it will be up to the O-Line to keep Brees clean so that he can look downfield.  DEs Gaines Adams and Kevin Carter are pretty good pass rushers so the line better be ready.  The Saints will attack with WR Marques Colston who will likely draw Ronde Barber and maybe a safety in coverage.  If they double Colston look for Brees to throw the ball a lot over the middle to TE Jeremy Shockey.  This will also be fun to watch as Bucs’ safeties Tanard Jackson and Jermaine Phillips love to hit.  Should be some good collisions in this football game.  Devery Henderson and David Patten could make some big plays if Phillip Buchanon is covering them for the Bucs.

PREDICTION:  NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 27, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 20