ATLANTA (3 - 10)
at TAMPA BAY (8 - 5)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/16/2007 1:00
PM
Bucs destroy Falcons 37-3 to
clinch playoff spot
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Postgame Recaps, Storylines,
and News |
The Buccaneers offense wasn't
great but it didn't need to be
in the team's NFC
South-clinching victory over the
team no one wants to coach or
apparently play for.
Ronde Barber returned an
interception 29 yards for a
touchdown on the Falcons' first
series of the game and Micheal
Spurlock followed with a 90-yard
kickoff return for a touchdown,
the first in Tampa Bay's 32-year
history, eight minutes later to
give the Bucs what turned out to
be an insurmountable lead.
Suiting up for the first time
since head coach Bobby Petrino
exited for Arkansas, Atlanta
barely showed up. The Falcons,
with QB Chris Redman making his
second start of the season,
recorded just five first downs
and 133 yards of offense...FULL
STORY
Bucs rip Falcons, clinch
division title
Sports Network
Another Falcons
fumble set up a Bryant field
goal just before the half.
Warrick Dunn coughed the ball
up, and the Bucs took over at
the Atlanta 26 with 55 ...
Micheal Spurlock's KO return
helps Buccaneers clinch NFC
South, 37 ...
The Canadian Press
End Falcons’ cursed season
Atlanta Journal
Constitution
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Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News |
FALCONS: This team has
been though the emotional
wringer this week, from Michael
Vick getting sentenced to 23
months in prison on Monday to
Bobby Petrino turning his back
on them Tuesday. The Falcons
have not put up much of a fight
over the past month, in part
because players had lost faith
in Petrino. Whether the coaching
change elicits a spike in effort
will be worth watching. If so,
maintaining it could be the hard
part.
The Falcons' biggest task
won't be trying to corral Jeff
Garcia or trying to move the
ball against the Bucs. It will
simply be to keep things
together on the field after this
week's events. Safety Lawyer
Milloy said players have to be
at their most aware because they
are playing a team with playoff
hopes. If the Falcons get too
caught up in the madness that
took place Monday and Tuesday,
they could be in major
trouble...FULL
STORY
BUCCANEERS: The Bucs
really don't know what to expect
now that Bobby Petrino is no
longer calling plays for the
Falcons. The job now falls to
offensive coordinator Hue
Jackson. Interim head coach
Emmitt Thomas said he will not
interfere in the play-calling
and the Falcons can't change the
offense 13 weeks into the
season.
But the Bucs will look for
more of a commitment to the run
on Sunday by the Falcons. Tampa
Bay's defense did not play well
against the Texans last week,
allowing Houston to convert 10
of 16 third-down situations...FULL
STORY
Drawing A Blank: Falcons, McKay
Painfully Enduring 3-Year Funk
Tampa Tribune, FL
The Falcons are
embarking on their third head
coaching search since McKay
bolted the Buccaneers four years
ago to join an NFC South rival.
...
Quiet Dunn unloads on Petrino
Florida Today
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Prediction |
Spread |
ATS Pick |
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Falcons @ |
Bucs
-16.993 |
TAM
-12 |
Bucs |
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Bucs |