I like to make a playlist on Apple Music for all my road trips. It is usually tied to the historical musicians and music of the area. The regional sound or genre affiliation. Even concert venues or historic music events that have taken place there.
Seattle, Washington is home to some of the most iconic music in American history as well as 1976’s other NFL expansion team, the Seattle Seahawks. My music playlist for Florida would be heavy on Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffett and Cuban music for Tampa Bay flair. The playlist for Seattle would probably look something like this.
Come As You Are
(Nirvana)
The Seahawks are 6-2 and one game behind the NFC West-leading 49ers who are 7-0. With the Packers and Saints sitting at 7-1, and the Vikings at 6-2, this game is very important for the Seahawks to win. This game is even more crucial for a 2-5 Buccaneers team that really could use another west coast signature victory. Both teams should be expected to bring their “A” game.
Voodoo Child
The Buccaneers have been under a curse since the 2019 NFL schedule was released back in April. The team seems unable to get out of its own way at times. The last game on this extended road trip is this week in the Emerald City. Having put together full games against the Rams and Panthers (first game), this team knows what it takes to taste sweet victory. This team has also had wide receivers tackling running backs and balls snapped to the quarterbacks face, this team also knows futility. Can the Buccaneers get out of the Purple Haze and start winning? Stay tuned.
Even Flow
Facing a quarterback like Russell Wilson this week will be quite a test for this improving Buccaneer defense. Keeping the ball away from Wilson will test the Buccaneers offense. The noise that Seattle and their “12th man” fans bring will test the entire team. To secure victory against the fish birds, the Buccaneers will definitely need to find an even flow this Sunday.
Black Hole Sun
The late Chris Cornell of Sound Garden defines the Black Hole Sun as a billion times bigger than a sun. It is a void, a giant circle of nothingness. Then you have the sun, the giver of all life… What this reference means to the Buccaneers and the game this week is exact. In a season that has at times, felt like a huge circle of nothingness and a giant void. A win this week will not only end the losing streak, and the road trip on with a victory. It will resuscitate a season on the brink of heart failure. Huge game.
Learn to Fly
Will this be the weekend these young Bucs spread those wings, grab the wind beneath and fly off into success? There have been moments of exhilaration in 2019. There have also been moments of desperation as well. Somebody asked this week what was left to play for in light of recent results. I would argue it is a game just like this. Against a team that desperately needs a victory to try to retain control of their own destiny. A road win against a team as talented as the Seahawks is exactly where to make your stand.
Who knows. Maybe Tampa Bay fans are looking at Jameis Winston on Monday morning saying, “There goes my hero”. That would be music to every Buccaneers fans ears.
Photo credit: visitseattle.com
