Tampa Bay Buccaneers: These Kids Just Aren't Ready Yet

They're not ready.

They simply aren't.

This youthful gathering of talent that is the 2010 version of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is simply not ready for prime time. They are not ready to be a part of the NFL playoffs, and they simply do not belong there—YET.

That is this judge's ruling after a firsthand look at the lads Sunday afternoon/evening at Raymond James Stadium, as they lined up against the now-10-2 Atlanta Falcons, who are ready for the playoffs and looking like the guys who could end up with home-field advantage throughout.

This one hurt, and it hurt big time.

It was simply there for the taking. The crowd was up for it, nearly 54,000 strong and hardly a dirty-bird supporter to be seen.

And this one was there for those upstart Buccaneers to take. They had it.

There is a saying that nearly every close NFL game's outcome is determined by two or three plays, and this was was no exception.

The Bucs fooled the pants off the Falcon defense with 10:24 to play when Earnest Graham looked as if he was trying to run a sweep, then simply stopped in his tracks and flipped the football to the totally open and uncovered John Gilmore for a touchdown that sent the Buc fans into a frenzy.

It was 24-14, and surely this time the defense was playing well enough to melt "Matty Ice" Ryan and collect that signature win that this club so badly needed.

Then there was Eric Weems.

The ensuing kickoff looked like something out of a Keystone Cops film. Weems was weaving all over the place; he started in the middle, somehow got to the Atlanta sideline where it looked like he stepped out of bounds, and if that wasn't bad enough, there were two BLATANT blocks in the back that only Helen Keller would have missed.

Sadly, Weems somehow ended up in the Bucs end zone after that 102 yards of sheer madness, and you could feel the air come out of Raymond James. It was one of those supreme "Uh-Oh" moments, one of those true "OH NO" moments.

It was 24-21, and we knew what was going to happen.

It was going to and did happen because the young Bucs looked young and inexperienced, making the mistakes down the stretch that young, inexperienced players make.

How in the name of Vince Lombardi did Matty Ice hit a 25-yard out rout on 3rd-and-20?

Tell us, please.

Sure, it was a great catch by Roddy White, but it should never have happened.

It did, and the Falcons did what they do. They came from behind once again and claimed victory and have the best record in the NFL.

The Buccaneers can try and spin this all they want.

But this one showed they aren't playoff material, they simply are not. Not yet.

Horrible penalties, untimely mistakes and now they've probably lost Jeff Faine, again, and that's not good. Aqib Talib is hurting and missed half the game.

This one hurt.

It was great to watch for 50 minutes. Horrible to watch for 10. It would be nice to see them have a winning record this year, say 9-7.

But this playoff talk is a pipe dream, and it sure looked that way Sunday. Playoff teams do not do what the young Bucs did over the final 10 minutes.

They're good, yes.

They're ahead of schedule, yes.

Ready for prime time?

NO.