The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to town, and they  did what buccaneers do? They stole? The game? Robbed? The 'Skins of a playoff chance? Sneaked away? With the game?

Well, they did-- If theft is taking what is given? If robbing is mugging someones who mug themselves, and who throw their valuables on the ground for anyone to pick up? If sneaking out of town is walking away from a gang of sleep walkers?

It is December and there will be no Christmas for the Washington 'Skins. No Santa Claus is waiting in the wings. The 'Skins have tossed away gifts all seasons. Okay, yesterday the field was wet.

Common wisdom is: Wet field, the teams can't run. The players will slip So it comes down to the kicking game.

The 'Skins sure-footed Ryan Torain, defied the common wisdom. He would have been the hero of the day, if not for the mishaps of others. He ran. The other team couldn't stop him. He rushed, had his biggest numbers ever, rushed for 173-yard, with 158 yards coming in the first half. Yes, he would have been the hero of the day -- But!

The 'Skins had no kicking game. Tampa Bay did, and scored a touch down.

The 'Skins -- two short field goals missed, kickoff fumbled away, and with nine seconds left in the game, in the steady rain, an extra point that would have tied the score -- But for the rain? A high snap and a slippery ball; went through the hands of the holder and the Buccaneers took possession of the ball and of the game.

The Buccaneers made all their field goals,

No joy. Didn't it rained at Fed Ex Fields? It rain all over Washington. The rain poured down cold. The sky was dark, and as the day wore on, the chances for the playoff went from dim to very dark, to -- forget it , fans.

The Buccaneers now (8-5) broke a two-game losing streak. The 'Skins (5-8), have lost five of six and four straight at home games..

You know buccaneers are smugglers? Did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers smuggle in the rain too? Well, it was a lot of rain.