Evidently my blogs weren't good enough for the 'Next Great Sportswriter' competition.  Nonetheless I would like to thank those of you who read my blog and provide some feedback.  I appreciate it and hope someone will someday give me a chance to earn a living as a sportswriter.  With that said, let me share with you my views about the NFL playoff game everyone should watch. 

Every football fan in this great American nation should watch this Saturday the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins.  This game features two of the most improved, and currently hot, teams.  Not only that, both teams feature great running backs that can electrify any football stadium.  If you need another reason for watching this game, then just revisit the last game these teams played between them. 

Let's begin discussing the game focusing on the big picture of both teams.  The Bucs come to Saturday's game as the NFC South Division Champions.  They came out of a tough division, which includes good, sometimes-unpredictable teams such as the Panthers and the Falcons, with a winning record of 11-5 and winning their last two games.  Also, the Bucs won their Division perhaps still experimenting with the talent of their rookies.  We all watched 'Cadillac' Williams running over 100 yards during the first three consecutive games of this season.  We also watched rookie TE Alex Smith stepping up and making some good plays.  Yet no one knew if these rookies could constantly perform in that manner throughout the season.  Furthermore, the Bucs rolled the dice with their third-year QB Chris Simms when starting QB Griese went down with an injury.  Somehow everything worked out and the Bucs earned, two seasons after winning the Super Bowl, their trip to this season's NFL Playoffs.  

On the other hand, the Washington Redskins come to Saturday's game with a 10-6 record.  The Redskins come to the playoff game with a winning streak of five games.  Among those five games were the wins against the Cowboys and Giants.  When every analyst thought that the Redskins were out of the playoffs, the Skins just proved how wrong those analysts were.  Perhaps the reason why the Redskins are in the playoffs, besides their coach Joe Gibbs, is the experienced players.  When you have guys like Brunell, Portis, and Santana Moss running your offense, you always have a good chance of winning. 

The key to this game might be what team can run the ball.  Both teams have good rushing defenses.  The Bucs ended the regular season with the fifth best rushing defense in the NFL while the Redskins were ranked number 13.  On the other hand, the Redskins rushing offense ranked number 7 overall in the NFL while the Bucs ranked number 14.  So who wins a running match?  I have to go with the Buccaneers.  Good defense wins games, and remember that Tampa Bay ended the season with the number one ranked defense in the NFL.  Plus you can't bet against the Bucs in a defensive game when they have a defense coordinator named Monte Kiffin.  Portis will have his chances to run the ball against the Bucs, as will Williams against the Redskins.  But I believe the Bucs will rectify their mistakes quicker than the Redskins and that will allow them to win the game.

If you're not yet convinced about how good of a game this could be, then you didn't watch the last game between these two teams.  On November 13, 2005, the Bucs received the Skins at Raymond James Stadium.  After a disappointing defeat in San Francisco two weeks before and a disastrous defeat in Carolina, the Bucs faced the Redskins desperately needing a win.  At the end of the third quarter, the game was tied at 28.  The Skins scored and made the extra point.  With only 58 seconds remained to end the game, Simms completed a 30-yard pass to a diving Edell Shepherd in the end zone.   

Coach Gruden wanted to play some more football so he sent in kicker Matt Bryant for the extra point.  However, after two penalties on Washington, Gruden changed his mind and went for the two-point conversion.  In one of the most controversial calls this season, Mike Alstott ran the ball down the middle and wiggled his way into the end zone for the win.  Once again 'The A Train' came through for the Buccaneers.   

That game on November 13 changed the rest of the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  After that win, QB Chris Simms gained more confidence on his abilities and began playing up to his potential.  The whole team began playing in unison.  The rebirth of the defense during the last couple of games is also a positive sign for the Bucs.  Barber has been playing up to the high standards he set for himself and Brooks has been showing why he's the face representing the Bucs' defense.  This team is vintage Buccaneers football with new faces.  I won't go as far as saying that the Bucs will win Super Bowl XL, at least not yet, but this playoff game against the Redskins will be an instant classic.  I'm looking forward to a suspenseful ending and the Buccaneers winning by a field goal.  If you watch just one game before the Super Bowl make sure it's this one.  You'll thank me for recommending it.