Game Day: Week 14 Tampa Bay at Washington

Its the 4th quarter of the season, and the Bucs are IN the playoff hunt. First up; The Washington Redskins in Landover,Maryland. This is another series that is not lopsided against the Bucs. So far, Tampa Bay and Washington are all tied up 8-8, and have split a playoff series 1-1 too. Tampa Bay has won 3 of the last 4 games, but it was the ‘skins who took last year’s game 19-13 even though the Bucs were spotted an early lead. There have been some pretty memorable Skins/Bucs games over the last decade. In 1999 playoffs the Bucs spotted the Redsksins 13-0 before John Lynch picked off the ball and started the late turn around. Then you had the famous 2005 regular season game that put Chris Simms on the map. Then a few months later the next playoff game saw the Bucs give points away to team from the nations capital, and couldnt come back in time. At home the Bucs are 6-3 against Washington. RANKINGS- Its the Bucs 23rd ranked offense going up against the Skins 32nd defense. Specifically, the Bucs will run the ball with the 11th rushing offense against Washingtons 28th run Defense, or Pass the ball with the 24th Passing attack against Washington’s 29th Pass defense. When Washington has the ball, its their 20th Offense against our 15th defense, their 27th Ranked running game against our improving 26th Run Defense. Passing the ball, Donovan McNabb leads the 9th passing attack against our 7th Ranked Pass defense, so that is a very good matchup. McNabb has a 75.2 QB rating, while Josh Freeman’s is 86.4. LeGarrett Blount has 599 yards rushing even though he joined the game around week 5! Mike Williams has about 13 less catches than Santana Moss, but only 33 yards less. This would have been a great matchup of Pick off artists, as DeAngelo Hall and Aqib Talib both have 6 INTs each, but Talib is done for the year. Ronde Barber has 3 so far, and this may be his last chance to take another one away from McNabb! Know who else is doing good for the Bucs? Josh Freeman has only 6 interceptions, tied for 2nd, and has a 90.6 QB rating in the 4th quarter. Cadillac Williams is FIRST in Third and One rushing, 4-4 100% conversion. DIRECT CONNECTIONS- • Redskins Executive Vice President and General Manager Bruce Allen served as the general manager of the Buccaneers from 2004-08, helping the Buccaneers earn NFC South division titles in 2005 and 2007. • Buccaneers Wide Receivers Coach Eric Yarber was selected by the Washington Redskins as a 12th-round selection and played wide receiver for the team from 1986-88. • Bucs Tight Ends Coach Alfredo Roberts held a Minority Internship with the Redskins in 2000. • Redskins Director of Football Administration Paul Kelly worked as the assistant to the head coach/ football operations for the Buccaneers from 2004-08. • Redskins Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan worked as the offensive quality control coach from 2004-05. • Redskins Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster worked in the same capacity with the Buccaneers from 1996-01. • Redskins Offensive Assistant Sean McVay worked as an offensive assistant for the Buccaneers in 2008. • Redskins Pro Scout Richard Mann II served as a personnel assistant with the Buccaneers from 2007-08, and a college personnel assistant in 2009. • Redskins Assistant Equipment Manager Anders Beutel worked as an equipment assistant for the Buccaneers from 1997-2000. • Redskins Wide Receiver’s Coach Keenan McCardell played for the Bucs from 2002-03, helping the Buccaneers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. • Tampa Bay DT Gerald McCoy and Washington T Trent Williams were teammates at the University of Oklahoma and were selected back-to-back (third and fourth overall pick, respectively) in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. • Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan worked as the offensive coordinator of the University of Florida from 1980-82, and assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 1983. • Redskins Defensive Backs Coach Bob Slowick worked as a defensive assistant for the University of Florida from 1979-82. • Washington P Josh Bidwell punted for the Buccaneers from 2004-09, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2005. • Redskins CB Phillip Buchanon played for the Buccaneers from 2006-08, and played collegiately for the University of Miami (FL) from 1999-2001, and is a native of Ft. Myers, Florida.

• Redskins DT Anthony Bryant played for the Buccaneers from 2005-06. Redskins K Graham Gano played collegiately for Florida State University from 2005-08, and is a native of Pensacola, Florida.
• Redskins QB Rex Grossman played collegiately at the University of Florida from 1999-2002.
• Redskins WR Santana Moss played collegiately at the University of Miami (FL) from 1997-2000, and is a native of Miami, Florida.
• Redskins RB Clinton Portis played collegiately at the University of Miami (FL) from 1999-2001, and is a native of Gainesville, Florida.
• Buccaneers Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Kurtis Schultz played basketball in high school at DeMatha High School in Washington, D.C.
• Buccaneers WR Arrelious Benn is a native of Washington, D.C., and attended Dunbar High School.
• Bucs CB Ronde Barber is originally from Montgomery County, Virginia. Barber attended the University of Virginia earning All-ACC first- team honors each of his three seasons. He also finished his career with 15 interceptions, the third-highest total in school history and just two shy of UVA record (17 by Keith McMeans, 1987- 90.)

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