Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can Our Blokes Play Good Games Back-to-Back?

England swings like a pendulum do,

Bobbies on bicycles, two by two,

Westminster Abbey, the Tower of Big Ben,

The rosy red cheeks of the little children.

                    -- Roger Miller

Raheem and his band of blokes spent Tuesday touring London. Tuesday's are traditional "days off" for players in the National Football League and rather than hanging out at International Plaza or some other Tampa landmark, Raheem and the blokes got to tour London.

Adrian Clayborn got sick on fish and chips, some visited local schools and Luke Stocker said he may be well enough to play on Sunday.

Other than that, the guys can let their bodies adjust to the time zone—it's five hours ahead of us—they can chill and hopefully Aqib Talib can avoid incarceration abroad.

Now on to the serious business.

The Buccaneers went out and got themselves a quality win last Sunday. Now you'll counter with the fact that all wins count the same, but this was a win with a capital "W."

Consider that two of the four wins for these Bucs have come against teams that are absolutely, positively HORRENDOUS, and that would be your Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts.

One of the four was against an Atlanta team that in no way resembles last year's NFC South winner.

Which brings us to New Orleans and the question stirring in our minds:

Can these Tampa Bay Buccaneers play two really good games in a row?

Let's examine some of the strong points from the 26-20 win over the Saints:

1. For once, the Buccaneers led at halftime. They didn't dig a deep hole and no super comeback had to be invented.

2. Josh Freeman performed well with the football in his hands. He was more decisive in spotting his targets and he didn't throw interceptions.

3. Josh Freeman got help from his receivers. He spread the ball around. Mike Williams decided to show up, finally. Arrelious Benn made a splash, Dez Briscoe and Preston Parker helped and Kellen Winslow was okay when he wasn't busting a nut yelling at Josh Freeman.

4. Earnest Graham was the man. Graham was the key to the offense. His effective running opened things up for the passing game and kept the Saints honest.

5. Which leads us to the offensive line. Give them props for opening holes for Graham and protecting Freeman.

6. The defense made a stand and kept Drew Brees in check. Holding New Orleans to a mere 20 points is a mighty feat and stopping Drew Brees near the goal line with the game on the line is even more impressive.

7. Tanard Jackson proved a lot of people wrong (yours truly and Derrick Brooks included) and made a difference on defense. The defense came up with three interceptions, including one by Jackson and the one that sealed the game by Quincy Black in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

8. Once again, Michael Koenen is showing his stuff. Thus far, he might be the team's unsung MVP.

Got all that?

Now here's the $64 question: Can these Buccaneers put forth two really good efforts, back-to-back?

You'll notice they flew out on Monday, early, which actually gave them two days to get acclimated to the time zone changes, let them get settled in, take a day to goof off, and then get back to work on a normal week's schedule on Wednesday.

On the other hand, the Chicago Bears are doing what the Bucs did last time. They're staying at home, training and practicing at their facility, then they'll fly out late to get to London on Friday.

So which plan will work?

These Bears are certainly no world-beaters. They've struggled and the biggest struggle has come on their offensive line. Quarterback Jay Cutler is running for his life and really doesn't like getting hit.

Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

Pressure Jay Cutler and make him uncomfortable.

Hopefully field conditions will be better this year at Wembley Stadium. They haven't been that hot in the past and right now, the weather forecast looks like the rain that was supposed to show up, won't.

Spirits have to be running pretty high about now thanks to that effort against New Orleans.

Now we wait and wonder if the guys can perform two weeks in a row?

A win would put this team in really good shape with the bye week coming up and a chance for everyone to get over those dings.

Tally Ho!