Doug Martin on one of his 24 carries in the win over the Jags today. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

If one was to point to a key to the Bucs’ win, yeah, you could argue six sacks on a mobile Blake Bortles was a key.

But more so was the running game led by the Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin. (more…)

The importance of todays’ win against the bumbling Jaguars wasn’t lost on Gerald McCoy.

In the happy Bucs locker room, McCoy explained to Joe and others that there was a lot on the line. (more…)

Unexpected good game today filling the void of Logan Mankins at left guard.

Last year, Lovie Smith was roundly raked over the coals — and for good reason — for starting virgin center Garrett Gilkey.

The results were predictable. Gilkey, who never played center in his life, was expected to do well on football’s highest level. Naturally, it was a trainwreck. (more…)

New Bucs defensive lineman Howard Jones dropped a deuce on the Jaguars. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

When it comes to defensive linemen walking the streets, the Bucs’ scouting department has found some gold nuggets in the dirt. (more…)

Safe. For now.

Bucs fans are giddy. A win at home. Really.

By beating the jughead Jags, the Bucs broke an ugly home losing streak that stretched 11 games dating back to December 2013. (more…)

Where would Marcus Mariota be if he didn’t get to play against the porous Tampa Bay defense? He’d be winless and sucking his thumb somewhere. (more…)

Kevin Pamphile shocked a lot of people today in his left guard debut

Making his first career start at guard, and enjoying his first regular-season playing time at guard, former Milk Carton and 2014 Bucs fifth-round pick Kevin Pamphile stood tall today.

Filling in for injured Logan Mankins, Pamphile was good enough in the Bucs’ glorious home win against the Jags. (more…)

Don’t mess with Doug Martin. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The sweet smell of a home victory! It’s been nearly 23 months!

It wasn’t always pretty against the shaky Jaguars, but Joe couldn’t give a damn.

That warm, unusual October feeling in your groin? It’s something called hope. (more…)

Can the Bucs beat the worst road team in the NFL, and turn frowns into smiles at the Den of Depression?

Joe would do cartwheels if that occurs this afternoon.

Dive into the comments section and chat all through the 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!

Logan Mankins and Kevin Pamphile were attached at the hip through many spring practices

Tampa Bay’s depth will be tested today in a huge way. (more…)

Game 5

Jags (1-3) at Bucs (1-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. (more…)

Career crossroads today?

Should the Bucs keep (3-17, 0-10 at home) Lovie Smith? A lot of folks don’t think so. Joe isn’t there (yet) but has to admit, Lovie is sure making his own bed.

Can Lovie still turn things around? Sure he can. (more…)

THE OPTIMIST lays out the evidence

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…)

Popular sports radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo continued his attacks on Gerald McCoy.

For some reason, Bucs fans love to go after talented defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. For some reason, they think he should be getting 20 sacks a year.

Maybe it is his personality. Maybe it is his not-quite-Hall-of-Fame numbers, but GMC irritates many Bucs fans. (more…)

The stat sheet — and Paul Posluszny — says today won’t be a big one for Doug Martin.

So what NFL team allows the fewest yards per carry?

That’s the Jacksonville Jaguars, the guys standing in the way of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 12 short hours. (more…)

Six-win team?

While there are quite a few noisy people locally that have already called for Lovie Smith’s head on a platter if the Bucs fall to the Jags tomorrow, Woody Cummings is not one of them. (more…)

Smooth-talking Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620 has his weekly sitdown with Joe talkin’ Bucs.

Yes, it is that time of the week when Joe has his sitdown with cool cat Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620.

In this podcast, Joe tackles the elephant in the room:  the job security of Bucs coach (3-17, 0-10 at home) Lovie Smith, and how tomorrow’s game with the Jags could very well be the beginning of the end for Lovie. (more…)

Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback has been a model of inconsistency since opening day.

So who is Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, and why should fans be excited? (more…)

A bizarre thing happened in Chicago last Sunday. On the third play of the game, the Bears lost their starting center.

Chicago’s left guard moved to center, and Patrick Omameh, the guy who started 16 games at right guard for Tampa Bay last year, jumped in at left guard for the rest of the game. (more…)

You asked for it, you got it. It’s the TV map for tomorrow’s game between the jughead Jags and the Bucs, live from the Den of Depression. (more…)