Rivalry??

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:37 am

Could the Redskins vs Bucs turn into an inter division rivalry? If you look at the past 4 matchups between these two teams, it appears so.

The 1999 playoff elimiation game. The 2001 overtime victory by the Skins. The big defeat the Bucs handed us 35-13. The season opener last year. This year's phantom 2 pt conversion.

Each of these games has been hard fought and important for the most part, and this game is no different.

The Bucs are breaking out their "Battle Flags" for the game, and trying to create a frenzied atmosphere. These two teams are similar in a lot of ways. We both are run oriented, have a speedy big-play receiver, and a great defense. We also both have left-handed quarterbacks.

Regardless of the outcome of this game (Skins win by the way) this could turn into a rivalry and with these two teams poised to be good in the future, we could see them regularly.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:00 pm

I think that this game will only become a rivalry if (a) this is an extraordinary playoff game, (b) we play each other in the regular season in the next couple of regular seasons, and (c) each team gets stronger in the next few years. I don't think all three will happen (I haven't checked the schedule, but it seems like we might not play the Bucs for a year or two since we've played them in each of the last 2 regular season games).

However, if those 3 conditions were met I think we could see a rivalry similar to that of the Eagles / Falcons rivalry that was brewing prior to this season, before both teams started stinking it up a bit.

Of course, the only question in my mind is whether or not the Bucs will get stronger as a team so that a rivalry is relevant. I know the Skins will be getting stronger over the next couple of seasons.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:08 pm

This is already a rivalry of sorts for me.

I have numerous family members who are Bucs fans and whenever we meet, there is always a bit of trash talking involved.

Punu · Post by **Punu** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:10 pm

it's becoming similar to colts/pats

gay4pacman · Post by **gay4pacman** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:22 pm

ha ha colts / PATS.................

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:39 pm

I think the key to this becoming a rivalry will be coaching.

Gruden is a coach that will keep his team in the playoff hunt as a division champ or wildcard. Gibbs and Williams are also excellent coaches.

Because of that, I think that whether we meet regularly in the season or not, there is a chance that we will have to go through each other year in and year out to get to the SuperBowl.

Greg Williams gets a lot of hype and deservingly so, but Monte Kiffin is a good defensive coach as well and those competitions can make this a rivalry should we meet regularly in the post season.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:34 pm

This thread was probably inspired by this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00857.html

These are two VERY even teams. It is going to be tough.

We'll see if their fans are as supportive as we are. :wink:

Cooley47 · Post by **Cooley47** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:16 pm

I love to be a rival to those losers, I hate them about to the extent that I hate the Giants and Eagles, not even in the same stratosphere as the Cowpukes

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:48 pm

We are definately even as far as our players but we have the edge on some intagibles. Gruden and his staff are good but they dont have the exeperience and leadership of our coaching staff. We also have a veteran QB on our squad, in a game like this it makes a world of difference. Where Brunell would throw it out of bounds a younger/immature QB will try to thread the needle which leads to int's.

Rilvary? No. I dont think so. I think there is some resentment but not a rilvary.