Bucs slide to 0-2

This game was harder to watch than the loss to the Ravens.

Against the Ravens, it was an endless wait to see the Bucs get something going. The Ravens didn't really make any mistakes to allow the Bucs to stay in the game, even though the Bucs kept hanging fairly close until the fourth quarter.

Against the Falcons, the Bucs let opportunities slip away time and again.

First, credit where it's due. The Falcons' offense had a nice game even though they had trouble scoring. Getting over 300 yards on the ground is impressive even if near half of it occurs on passing plays and bootlegs by a quarterback who's one-half running back.
Also credit to Michael Vick for having a good day passing the ball--but I'm not going overboard with that since he threw an interception to Derrick Brooks that should have resulted in a touchdown for Tampa Bay except for the fact that the refs though that Ryan Nece bumping Warrick Dunn slightly from behind was an illegal block to the back. Nece was actually trying to avoid running into Dunn, fromt he appearance of the play. The fact that he put his hands up to may have doomed him, ironically. I'm supposing that the official took that as a sign that Nece was trying to make it look like he was covering up his dastardly deed with a showy play of innocence.
Whatever.
In any case, I won't use that as an excuse for my team even theough the Brooks INT could have been a key momentum-changer. Part of it falls on Simms again for some poor decisionmaking, along with his penchant for having passes tipped at the line of scrimmage. The offensive line actually played decently. Juran Bolden filled in okay for Brian Kelly.

I hate to sound like Dungy, but the team just needs to play better.

One complaint I will dwell on for a moment since the game announcers didn't pick up on it at all: That was an obvious clip by an Atlanta offensive lineman that sent Chris Hovan limping to the sideline. The Falcons are developing a reputation for dirty play by the offensive line. That one's going to strengthen that reputation.

As for the score, I'll take my lumps. The Falcons played better despite their hilariously inept field-goal squad (the Bucs' lack of success in that department tempers my ridicule, unfortunately).

Better luck next week against the hated Panthers, who dropped to 0-2 with their OT loss to the Vikings.