Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio:
NOT GOOD, BUT NOT DONE: Any playoff possibilities begin, or end, with the Bucs needing to win their final two games. If you believe in that fantasy, they have a shot at the wild card if Seattle loses at least one game and either Dallas, Green Bay or Minnesota loses two in a row. The best hope may be Green Bay winning the NFC North and the Vikings collapsing.
IMPENDING HEADACHE: Not since Warrick Dunn has Tampa Bay had a back hit holes as quickly as Thomas Jones. So it is no coincidence that Jones' 223 yards the past two games is Tampa Bay's best two-week performance since Dunn in 2000. Not to jump ahead, but the emergence of Jones could mean the Bucs will face difficult roster decisions in the backfield. Michael Pittman signed a five-year, $8.75-million contract in the spring of 2002; Mike Alstott signed a four-year, $8-million deal a month later. Can Tampa Bay afford those salaries for what could be a pair of situational backs?
CATCHING A BREAK: Andre Johnson needn't bother with a flu shot. From the look of Sunday's game, Houston's first-round draft pick is not capable of catching anything. He dropped deep passes on both sidelines and across the middle, leaving about 150 yards behind.
FAST START: The Bucs had gone 20 consecutive regular-season games without scoring a TD on their opening possession. They were so pleased after their opening score Sunday, the offense took the rest of the afternoon off.
A VOTE FOR MVP: Forget the numbers. When considering the team MVP, ask which player has provided the most thrills, most comfort, most reason to believe? That's easy. Keenan McCardell.
A LIST OF FIVE
Five reasons for the McKay-Gruden split:
5. McKay tired of being called "lawyer boy."
4. Recent staff meetings scheduled at the Atlanta Marriott.
3. McKay shed nary a tear during Elf.
2. Keyshawn was on McKay's fantasy team.
1. Egos.
FIVE REASONS TO REMAIN PESSIMISTIC
The Bucs, who have topped 20 points once in the past nine weeks, are averaging 18.6 points. That's lower than the Clyde Christensen offense (20.2) of 2001.
2. It took three months to put together a two-game win streak. What are the chances of turning it into a four-game win streak?
3. Nothing went right once the sun went down. Tampa Bay got a break when Seattle, San Francisco and Minnesota lost early games, but had a rough time with the later games. Dallas blew out Washington, Green Bay came from behind in the fourth to beat San Diego and Carolina kicked a late field goal to beat Arizona. The Bucs need more help than that.
4. The special teams have not committed a major blunder in two weeks. How can you expect that type of luck to hold up?
5. The Bucs will be going for their seventh consecutive victory against the Falcons. They've never beaten a team seven in a row.
FIVE SUPER PICKS
Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston:
1. PATRIOTS: Does this mean Belichick was the brains behind Parcells?
2. EAGLES: Andy Reid is NFL's winningest coach since 2000.
3. RAMS: Will Lovie Smith go from Super Bowl to Falcons job?
4. COLTS: Edgerrin James gets healthy and the Colts get scary.
13. BUCS: Last win against Houston? Versus Oilers in 1983.
