by Carter Brantley

Hey, remember all those concerns we had last week about the Bucs potentially being able to even win the division?

Well, they’re still there, as the Bucs had one of the more impressive choke jobs in recent memory, losing 29-28 Thursday night against the Falcons, falling to 7-7 for the season. 

The Bucs put themselves in Prime (yuck, this feels like an ad for CEO, entrepreneur, born in 1964, Jeffrey, Jeffrey Bezos) position to get back on track by taking care of the ball early on and targeting the best receiver in Bucs history, as Evans had over 100 yards receiving in his first game back from a collarbone injury. 

And yet, the team blew it in epic proportions, surrendering a 2-touchdown lead in the 4th quarter to lose on a game-winning Zane Gonzales kick. 

The defense even had Atlanta pinned back in a 3rd and 18 situation with a chance to ice the game with under 2 minutes left to play. 

Nope. 

A few plays later, and Atlanta is watching the game winning kick sail through the uprights. 

To try to focus on the positives, Evans was not alone in his contributions, as Chris Godwin and Devin Culp hauled in a couple of touchdown passes from the seemingly rejuvenated Baker Mayfield, and Sean Tucker hammered in a short touchdown rush to finish off an early touchdown drive for Tampa Bay. 

The creamsicle jerseys were out and in full effect, as the stadium was hopping and charming with all of the retro decor, and even the pirate ship was covered in Christmas lights to celebrate the holiday season.

Baker Mayfield had an overall solid game but his late-game interception was all folks will likely remember, as it allowed this massive comeback from the Falcons to take place. 

Can’t be a creamsicle Buccaneers game without Tampa Bay doing something stupid. 

On defense they did a poor job limiting a Falcons offense that was led by tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson.

Pitts got off to a smoking start, with a pair of touchdown receptions and over 100 yards receiving in the 1st half alone. 

Robinson managed to rack up over 150 yards from scrimmage with a rushing touchdown sprinkled in to make the score respectable in the 4th quarter, but the former Longhorn suffered a costly turnover in the 4th quarter that set the Bucs up for an easy touchdown that should have put the game out of reach for those Dirty Birds. 

The Creamsicle Crew’s problems certainly aren’t getting any better, with the Carolina Panthers getting to play those now-3-10 Saints (thanks to these damn Bucs) this weekend, hoping to advance their cause in winning this sorry division. 

The Bucs have to face Bryce Young and those pesky Panthers twice before season’s end, 2 games that will play a large role in deciding who comes out on top of this garbage heap they call the NFC South. 

Obviously the return of Evans and 2nd year wideout Jalen McMillan looms large for the Bucs as they get a much-needed boost to what was a bit of a stagnant offense in the middle of this roller coaster season, but will it even matter? 

It’s certainly a Bucs life, because the Bucs are back in the loss column in embarrassing fashion for a 2nd straight week, with a trip to visit the Panthers coming next week. 

But hey, at least they didn’t commit like 100 penalties. 

The 115-year-old building will meet the wrecking ball early in 2026.

The doors are permanently closing at Matthews Arena in Boston. The final event, a hockey game, will take place between Boston University and Northeastern University on December 13^th. Northeastern University will tear down the 115-year-old Boston or Matthews Arena and replace it with a state of the art facility. The 1910 built arena was the home of the National Hockey League’s 1924 expansion team, the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics of the newly established Basketball Association of America in 1946. Northeastern University marketed the building as “the world’s oldest multi-purpose athletic building” and home to the “world’s oldest artificial ice sheet.” In March, 1911, the Montréal Wanderers and Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association played a two-game series in the new Boston arena. Two National Hockey League teams can trace their origins to the building, the  Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Carolina Hurricanes franchise began operations in the World Hockey Association as the New England Whalers in 1972. That franchise moved to Hartford in 1974 and joined the National Hockey League in 1979. The renamed Hartford Whalers remained in the city until 1997 when the franchise was relocated to North Carolina.

Northeastern University became the owner of the arena in 1979. In 2024, the school sent a letter to the Boston Planning and Development Agency outlining construction plans for a new athletic facility. The university plans to build a 290,000-square-foot facility complete with an arena and a fieldhouse with turf, basketball courts and other facilities. The Matthews Arena also played a part in the early days of Rock and Roll. On May 3^rd, 1958, a riot broke out in the arena during an Alan Freed ‘Big Beat’ Rock n Roll” show. Freed was arrested and the Boston Mayor John Hynes then banned Rock and Roll shows in Boston.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Alan Freed was arrested after a concert at the Boston Arena

Fans often start with sweepstakes casino because it’s free to enter, prizes are easy to understand, and play fits a halftime window.

Not every fan wants to track odds or grind leaderboards. Many just want a light burst of play that fits between work, dinner, and the late game. Free-to-play platforms hit that mark because they remove payment friction, keep sessions short, and wrap the experience in familiar sports rhythms. When the mechanics are simple and the rewards feel attainable, casual fans come back on their own.

The draw: zero cost entry with real community

The first hook is obvious. You can jump in without pulling out a card. That matters on busy nights when a viewer is flipping channels or catching highlights on a phone. The second hook is social. Free-to-play products build around streaks, badges, and friendly challenges that slot neatly into group chats and fan forums.

• Low pressure onboarding  Sign up, pick a game, start playing. No decision fatigue, no cashier screens. That is perfect for people who watch sports to relax.
• Progress you can see  Daily stamps, streak counters, and return tomorrow nudges create a routine that feels closer to checking scores than committing to a long session.
• Group energy  Light leaderboards and shareable milestones spark conversation without turning into high stakes contests.

Design that respects the clock

• Short session loops  Menus load fast, rounds resolve quickly, and you can finish a play streak in a few minutes. That pace makes it easy to stop at the next whistle.
• Clear rewards map  Small, frequent wins beat rare jackpots for everyday players. Seeing what today’s effort unlocks helps people decide if they have the time.
• Mobile first performance  Smooth on midrange phones with spotty Wi Fi. If the app stutters, most casuals bounce and do not return.
• Gentle reminders  Notifications tied to sports moments work better than generic pings. Your team is on in 15, grab today’s daily spins makes sense to a fan.
• Session guardrails  Reality checks, timers, and simple pause buttons help people stick to a plan. Tools you can set once and forget are the ones users keep.

Why sports calendars are the secret weapon

• Event tied drops  Small reward boosts on rivalry nights or during halftime feel like part of the show, not a sales pitch.
• Streaks that track the season  Seven day, 14 day, and month of matchdays streaks create habits without demanding daily grind.
• Theme matching  When the play theme and the on field story line up, fans lean in. A defensive duel on TV pairs well with slower, puzzle style mechanics. A high scoring night fits quick fire spins or mini games.
• Clean finales  A tidy season recap screen that shows badges earned and prizes unlocked lets people close the loop and step away feeling complete.

Responsible fun builds trust

• Plain language  Explain entries, prize odds, and daily limits in normal English. Burying rules kills trust.
• Easy exits  One tap to pause notifications, one tap to log off. When leaving feels simple people are happier to return.
• Support that answers straight  A fast reply to a basic question about prize eligibility or delivery times calms nerves and keeps word of mouth positive.
• Light touch verification when needed  If identity confirmation is required to claim a prize, say so early and list acceptable documents. Clarity beats surprise checks.

A quick starter plan for new users

• Pick a five minute window  Halftime, ad break, or a coffee line. Short windows keep it fun.
• Choose one daily checklist  Claim the daily spins or entries, finish a single streak task, then stop. Consistency beats volume.
• Review on Sunday night  Spend two minutes looking at what you unlocked. If it felt smooth, keep the routine. If not, adjust the window or the task.

Free to play platforms win casual sports fans because they match real life. Zero cost entry, short loops, and sports timed nudges make it easy to join, enjoy, and leave on time. When the experience is clear, friendly, and respectful of attention, people add it to their game day routine without thinking. That is how you build habitual engagement that lasts beyond one headline event.