Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Once upon a time this was the game to watch starting with the NFC Championship game in ‘99 (I still think Bert Emanuel caught the ball) which the Rams won 6-11. The teams met the next season in an offensive explosion won by the Bucs 38-35. And in 2001 the Bucs won a hard fought game between the two teams 24-17. Since then both franchises have experienced enough struggles to make them long for the good ol’ days.

BY THE NUMBERS (DVOA and DAVE explained here)
Buccaneers
Offense: ppg, 18.5 - DVOA, 5.4% (#15) - DAVE, 3.5% (#13)
Defense: ppg, 17 - DVOA, -5.3% (#14) - DAVE, -6.9% (#9)
Rams
Offense: ppg, 14.5 - DVOA, -4.4% (#18) - DAVE, -7.1% (#23)
Defense: ppg, 22 - DVOA, -0.9% (#18) - DAVE, 9.7% (#28)

The numbers suggest the Bucs should be the favorite in this game, something which Vegas agrees with by making the Bucs four point favorites. Especially surprising is that the Bucs have a better offense than the Once Greatest Show on Turf, although when it’s this early in the season you never know how these numbers will play out during the season.

BY THE PLAYERS
Barrett Ruud vs. Steven Jackson
Since Scott Linehan took over the Rams from Mike Martz, he has turned the franchise into a run first team. And while runningback Steven Jackson has struggled his first two games (2 lost fumbles) he is still one of the more dangerous backs in the game. The Bucs defensive kryptonite has always been a power running game which is why Defensive Player of the Week Barrett Ruud will need to continue dominating the line of scrimmage. If Ruud can shut down Jackson the way he shut down Deuce McAllister last week the Bucs will be able to drop back into their heralded Tampa Two zone and pick apart the Rams passing game. If Jackson is able to run wild through the defense then all bets are off.