Taking the teams' temperature

By Times staff writers
Published January 7, 2006

BUCS THERMOMETER: Warming.

The Bucs have won four of five, including two straight at Raymond James Stadium, to win the NFC South at 11-5 and claim the No. 3 seed. But there have been some shaky moments.

They needed a blocked field goal in overtime to beat the Falcons 27-24 on Christmas Eve. Even their 27-13 win over the 3-13 Saints wasn't cemented until Dewayne White returned a fumble for a touchdown with 1:43 left. Tampa Bay's defense is ranked No. 1 in the league for the third time in club history, and its 30 turnovers is only one shy of the Super Bowl team. Offensively, Cadillac Williams, the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year, has averaged 94.5 rushing yards in the past seven games.

But it was only three weeks ago when the Bucs were shellacked at New England 28-0 as Chris Simms was sacked seven times.

- RICK STROUD, Times staff writer

No playoff team has more consecutive wins than the Redskins, who enter wild-card weekend on a five-game streak. The team had lost three straight to drop to 5-6 when a sign went up in the locker room: "Five in a row or we don't go." Washington claimed the NFC's final playoff berth at 10-6. In its final three games against East division opponents Dallas, New York and Philadelphia, Washington averaged 33.7 points. Clinton Portis has a streak of five 100-yard rushing games. The defense, led by coordinator Gregg Williams, is among the league's best. And the team erased a minus-13 turnover ratio over its final six games to finish plus-1. For the Redskins, the playoffs began five weeks ago, when the team knew it could not afford another loss.

- JOANNE KORTH, Times staff writer

[Last modified January 6, 2006, 18:14:02]