A couple of Buccaneers know a lot about making playoff runs.

Yeah, that’s right. Joe’s talking playoffs. The Bucs are 4-5 and in the hunt. Joe will break down the fuzzy math tomorrow, but the reality is upon Bucs fans in mid-November.

Looking to talk playoffs after today’s glorious victory, Joe found a guard with a Super Bowl ring, and a guard who spent a career with the Belicheats. (more…)

Jameis is giddy over OC Dirk Koetter.

As Joe was told by players in the locker room after the Bucs beat the Cowboys to pull within 4-5 and keep their longshot playoff hopes alive, Dirk Koetter thought the Cowboys would bite big time on a run when the Bucs had the ball on the goal line after America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, used his Chico’s Bail Bonds card to dodge an ugly fumble. (more…)

Lovie’s defense came to play today.

After the game, Bucs coach Lovie Smith crowed about the Bucs defense. His defense. For good reason. (more…)

A leaner, less-meaner-looking Warren Sapp was patrolling his house this afternoon and was on the sidelines for much of the Bucs-Giants game. (more…)

Bucs corner Hey Jude makes a stop Sunday in the win over the Cowboys. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Each and every game it seemed like Lovie Smith shuffled the deck that was the Bucs secondary, as if he was a pit boss in a smoky, off-strip Las Vegas rub joint. (more…)

Cornerback Sterling Moore talks to Joe about Dez Bryant. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

You want a lockdown cornerback with swagger? The Bucs ran off Darrelle Revis, but never fear, Sterling Moore is here — and turning in standout performances.

Moore even was bummed out that Dez Bryant didn’t have more juice to him this afternoon. (more…)

Memory failing

Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, has a brain wired differently than most 21-year-olds. (more…)

Bucs passing game needs to diversify other than throwing constantly to Mike Evans. But can they? (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

People want to know why America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, is always throwing to Mike Evans despite his buttery hands. Real simple: When the rest of your receivers are undrafted rookies and a special teams dude that most fans don’t even know is on the roster, that’s why. (more…)

In Joe’s last 24-hour Lovie Smith confidence poll on Tuesday, only 1/3 of Bucs fans said they were confident or better in Lovie Smith. (more…)

Where was that allegedly mauling Cowboys offensive line? A line that was anchoring a hot running game and the NFL team leading the league in time of possession. (more…)

God bless America!

The Bucs have been waiting for what seems like generations for a young quarterback who can, in a pinch, put a team on his back and win a damn game. (more…)

Diversity paid off just in time for Dirk Koetter’s offense

Finally, finally, finally, the Bucs flashed a passing game today that didn’t feature Mike Evans. And it arrived just in time. (more…)

(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

How bout those 4-5 Buccaneers!

Your Bucs rose from a stench of an offensive afternoon and pulled out an old school victory.

America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, almost was America’s Goat on the goal line in the fourth quarter, but the football gods don’t treat Jameis like a typical Buccaneer.

Get used to it. (more…)

Can the Bucs prove they’re on the rise and beat a struggling Dallas club at home?

Playoff hopes will be just about killed if they can’t. And the fire Lovie chatter will escalate yet again.

Dive into the comments section and react all through today’s 1 o’clock game.

You can also chatter in the new JoeBucsFan Message Boards. It’s easy. If you haven’t already, just register, confirm the automatic email, and then sign in and play.

Have fun. Bad words and naughty posters will be filtered.

Go Bucs!

Game Nine

Cowboys (2-6) at Bucs (3-5)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. (more…)

What could Lovie Smith possibly say to Team Glazer and legions of Bucs fans, if the Bucs can’t win two of their final four home games? (more…)

Hands full today.

If you want a key to today’s game, it is pretty simple: Keep Greg Hardy off America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. And that responsibility lies with rookie left tackle Donovan Smith. (more…)

America’s Quarterback matched a signature Doug Williams moment

In these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe. (more…)

Proud to be an American.

Joe rarely writes about sappy stories, but this is different, mainly because Joe wants to troll the haters. (more…)