Barring a major upset, Sundays’ game was about as close as the Bucs are going to get to victory in a long time. With that said good teams sometimes take bad teams lightly just look at what the Raiders did to the Eagles this Sunday, so it just goes to show you never know. If you’re counting, that’s 10 straight losses dating back to last season. Oh yeah, if you’re keeping track, I’m now 5 – 1 vs Bucs spread, the kids’ college tuition is covered… thanks Bucs!

Two players that did make a difference were Tanard Jackson and Jeff Faine. The Bucs defense shut down the Panther’s passing game and limited it to 65 yards, 1 TD, but more importantly caused 2 INT’s. One of the those INT’s was by Tanard Jackson and he took back 26 yards for a TD and it was nice to see. Jeff Faine instantly improved the Bucs’ running game. Cadillac Williams was the biggest beneficiary of Faine’s presence during Sunday’s game. The Cadillac had 77 yards and 1 TD, which was a big improvement over previous weeks. The NFL trade deadline is October 20th and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cadillac is shipped to a new garage. After watching Gaines Adams go to Chicago, it’s clear the Bucs are thinking about the future.

The story of the game was the power running game of the Panthers. It wasn’t quite as bad as last season’s MNF match up, but once again the Panthers manhandled the Bucs up front. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart combined for 3 TD’s and 262 yards. They are a great 1 to 2 punch, but DeAngelo Williams is special that kid can run the ball.

This season might go down as one of the worst ever, but the Bucs are making some strides. Some times it’s best to trim the fat and cut your losses e.g. Gaines, Adams and anybody else who isn’t cutting the mustard. There are a few things to to look forward to this season and 2 of them are right around the corner:

1. Bucs go to London, England to play in Wembley Stadium.

2. Maybe the greatest thing to happen this season is the throw back uniforms the Bucs will wear during their match up with the Packers. The irony is going to be deep.