Bucs seek to reclaim home-field edge
Facing a critical threegame homestand, coach Dirk Koetter indicated this week that the Tampa Bay Bucs at Raymond James Stadium don't have the same home-field advantage as other NFL teams.
He said Tampa Bay's 3-15 home record since the start of 2014 is largely responsible for it. The Bucs (3-3) are 0-2 at home entering a matchup against the visiting Oakland Raiders (5-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday on CBS (WKMG-Ch. 6).
“Every place you play on the road is different as far as how hard it is to play there and how hard it is to hear there,’’ Koetter said. “We're not fooling anybody that some teams travel a lot better than others.
“And, you know, players notice. Coaches notice. That's the truth. And I'm 1,000 percent aware that the more you win, the better it gets. But with that said, do we have a homefield advantage? That's our job to create it.’’
After the Bucs' 34-17 road victory against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, Koetter pleaded for Bucs fans to fill the lower bowl of Raymond James Stadium against the Raiders, who have a national following similar to the Denver Broncos. In fact, Broncos fans outnumbered Tampa Bay fans by the end of the Bucs' 27-7 loss in Tampa on Oct. 2.
“Go take a picture of any of them,’’ Koetter said. “Denver, Chicago, Giants. Take a picture. See what you get. We've got to take care of the stuff on the field, but some places are harder than others.’’
Koetter said it's hard for the visiting team to communicate on the road because of crowd noise. But that same hurdle has existed at times for the Bucs at home.
“When you can't hear, it's rough,’’ Koetter said.
Koetter said the loudest Raymond James Stadium has been this season was after the weather delay in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams, when less than 5,000 fans remained for the Bucs' final drive that fell short in a 37-32 loss.
“That was the loudest it was the whole game, just from noticing it,’’ Koetter said.
The Bucs will begin a stretch Sunday of three home games in 15 days. After playing the Raiders, they host the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night before welcoming the Chicago Bears on Nov. 13.
The Bucs are ranked 30th in home attendance, with an announced announced average of 57,692. Only the San Diego Chargers and Oakland, teams attempting to relocate, have drawn fewer fans.
Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said nothing beats playing, and winning, at home.
“I'm not about to downplay it. Winning on the road is great,” McCoy said. “It's cool. It's not OK; it's great. Going into somebody else's house and leaving with a W, there's no better feeling than that.
“However, to win at home and go home and put my feet up on the couch within an hour instead of having to sit on a plane all night, then probably get home and put my feet up … the fans are telling you, that guy who says his day is better, his workday is better on Monday because the Bucs won and know you had something to do with that, it's a great feeling, man.’’