by Carter Brantley

The fact that the Buccaneers still had hope at the end of the game what’s a potential Baker Mayfield game-winning Drive was more of an indictment of the team they were playing against then a reflection of how well Tampa Bay had played. 

They were down 24-20 against the 2-10 (now 3-10, not to spoil the ending) New Orleans Saints, with under two minutes left and no timeouts. 

Instead of continuing the heroics that have saved this team from embarrassment all season, the Buccaneer offense went away with a thud as they turned it over on downs for the fifth time Sunday afternoon to end their miserable effort against one of the worst teams in football. 

It was an ugly game with the weather matching the mood, as both teams committed silly turnovers, with both quarterbacks throwing an interception, and both defenses looked out of their depth at times. 

SirVocea Dennis had several plays where he looked absolutely lost including a key third down conversion where Saints receiver Chris Olave managed to pick up a first down in the fourth quarter to continue a key Saints drive that led to a field goal. 

The pass rush managed to get after Saints rookie QB, Tyler Shough, with 3 sacks, yet they failed to prevent disaster at the end of the game with the Saints managing to score an ultimately game winning touchdown on a play where Bucs defenders missed at least 2 chances at bringing down the QB. 

There is still a road to Tampa Bay winning this horrendous division, as there always is when the opposing teams are as bad as they are in the NFC south. 

Yet Sunday’s game was as deflated as it gets, and it calls into question why it even matters if the Buccaneers make the playoffs or not, as the chances of them winning a game against a playoff caliber team are slim to none. 

Head coach Todd Bowles has preached the need for the defense to improve their tackling yet no changes have come to fruition. 

The offense looked as lifeless as it’s ever been as even without starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs, a two touchdown performance is not going to cut it against one of the league’s worst defenses. 

Now, it’s just a battle of who can suck the least between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, as Carolina was on a Bye week and now the teams are tied for the top of the division. 

If the Buccaneers want to take home yet another NFC South crown they will have to be Carolina at least once which at this point seems like an unlikely proposition. 

Their next game takes place Thursday night at Raymond James versus the Atlanta Falcons. 

It is indeed a Bucs Life, and things look bleak for the Buccaneers. 

Let ’em Run is breaking down races at some new venues, and we will continue to expand our horizons with a variety of tracks, as we listen to what our viewers and readers have to say.

We are breaking down interesting races at Laurel Park and Turfway Park (a little nighttime action) that will be run on Saturday. Then we turn our attention to Aqueduct on Saturday, where there is The Remsen Gr2, a Kentucky Derby prep, and the signature race…The Cigar Mile.

Saturday Roundup Reminder

Be sure to tune into the Saturday “Let ’em Run Roundup” at 12:30 where we will bring even more insight after any scratches and other changes. So catch us this weekend on multiple streaming apps and social channels!!

Saturday 12/6 — Laurel Park

Race 6 — 2:23 EST — The Maryland Juvenile — 125K — 7 Furlongs (Dirt)
Some talented 2 y.o.’s line up for this race, at the always tricky distance for young runners at 7 furlongs. I am going to lean on #3 Sometime 9-2. Was ambitiously placed in the Iroquois against some of the best milers in the division. Breeding out of Take Charge Indy, who came in 1st at The Florida Derby and The Clark Handicap, so the talent is there. The #4 Biker Bailey 4-1 came out of a Md 20k, but took over the field and posted a 70 BSF. Could go to the front and not look back.
Bet = $10 Ex Box 3,4 = $20

Saturday 12/6 — Turfway Park

Race 7 — 8:55 EST — The Boone County — 125K — 1 ¼ (Synthetic)
Big field to choose from gives us plenty of options and value to boot. Jockey Fernando De La Cruz hops aboard #10 Swift Delivery 5-1, 1 of 2 Mark Casse entrants. A failed turf experiment, in between two Gr3 races on synthetic, make this horse the one to beat. Tough post, but De La Cruz can work out a trip and close on the field. The #1 Funtastic Again 5-1, is the horse for course and surface. Has ran in a steady diet of 6 Graded races last 6x, and now gets relief and a good post to go to the front. Jockey Gerado Corrales is very familiar with this runner.

Saturday 12/6 — Aqueduct (Races 7–11)

Race 7 — 2:11 EST — Alw 88K N1X — 1 Mile (Dirt)

Nice start to the late P5 for Let ’em Run, with a big field of 12 runners. Hard to look past #6 Life and Times 8-5. As a student of pace figures, this runner has an early pace figure of 142!! Out of Justify, and 2nd time out runners for that sire often improve…scary. Likely to have some company up front, but just too fast.
Bet = P5 = 6 / All / All / 6 / 2 = $78 (based on current entries)

Race 8 — 2:39 EST — The NY Stallion Series — 500K (Fillies) — 7 Furlongs (Dirt)

Another full field of 2 y.o. fillies running at 7 furlongs. Going with #12 Daniella Marie 6-1, the entry for the “other Chad”… trainer Chad Summers, who is heating up and excellent with 2.y.o’s. Jockey Kendrick Caramouche stays on, and never really asked her in last, when she won by 9 ¼ lengths. Likely post time fave #10 Hot Currency 7-2, looking to improve with stud jockey Flavian Prat retaining the mount.

Race 9 — 3:08 EST — The Remsen Gr2 — 250K — 1 ⅛ (Dirt)

Kentucky Derby prep race, with 12 runners ready to go. The #11 Talkin 5-1 for trainer Danny Gargan is my top choice. Gargan is looking to hit the Derby trail again with a good one here, out of top Sire Good Magic. Runner beat Further Ado in Maiden, and that runner is labeled as a Derby favorite, so why not this guy. Jockey Kendrick Caramouche has options from a tough post, with interesting Brisnet early and late pace figures both high, and nearly the same (early 106 / late 102). Once again the Flavian Prat runner #2 Paladin 3-1 will get much deserved attention.

Race 10 — 3:37 EST — The Cigar Mile Gr2 — 500K — 1 Mile (Dirt)

Really can’t see anyone beating the fast and talented #6 Phileas Fogg 8-5. Two new wrinkles; with blinkers going on and jockey Joel Rosario taking the mount. Trainer Rodriguez Gustavo gave him a break pointing to this race, and said “it’s showtime“; when asked how he was doing!!

Two notes per Brisnet, lone E speed, and best pace to the 6 furlong distance, by a lot. So should have company early, but will then pull away to the wire.

Race 11 — The NY Stallion Series — 500K — 7 Furlongs

Once again the Big A putting out a big field for bettors. Trainer Butch Reid has #2 Parker Boone 8-5 ready to make some noise. Runner won by 12 ¼ 1st time out and was under wraps early. Naysayers will say “who did he beat”, but runners out of Solomini are often very good, very early. Will have other speed to deal with, but a ground saving post should seal the deal.

Final Notes

Stay tuned as we continue to grow, and tune in on Saturday for our 12:30 Podcast, with scratches and changes affecting our picks. And as the saying goes, Let ‘em Run.

The declaration of war stopped the relocation.

In a vastly different world, Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Browns franchise would have won the 2025 World Series beating some team from the National League. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7^th, 1941. The American League’s St. Louis Browns franchise was headed to Los Angeles with a vote on moving Don Barnes’ franchise scheduled for December 8^th. America declared war on December 8^th on Japan. What if Barnes did move his Browns to Los Angeles, would have Major League Baseball hastened its westward movement? The American League and the National League each had eight teams, but the New York Yankees shared the market with two other teams, the National League’s Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. Philadelphia was a two-team town with the American League’s A’s and the National League’s Phillies. Boston had two teams, the American League’s Red Sox and the National League’s Braves. Chicago had the Cubs and White Sox. St. Louis had the National League’s Cardinals and the American League’s Browns. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Washington had just one team. Major League Baseball was a Northeast and Midwest league. Moving to Los Angeles would have created problems. Teams travelled by train but Barnes worked out a deal with TWA to fly players in and out of Los Angeles along with the Chicago to Los Angeles Santa Fe Railroad.

Cardinals ownership was willing to give Barnes a $250,000 parting gift  , which would be $5 million today. Barnes was going to buy the Pacific Coast League’s Los Angeles Angels and move the team to Long Beach, California. The team would have used Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field. The baseball owners met in Chicago and everyone including Barnes voted against the move. The Browns’ franchise ended up in Baltimore in 1954. Walter O’Malley took his Brooklyn Dodgers business to LA in 1957.

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