Players aren’t joking.

Joe has heard a lot about how playoff games are more intense than regular season games.

Joe has always been suspicious of this. It’s almost like saying dudes take off plays in the regular season or that guys aren’t giving their all and saving themselves for the playoffs — if they get to the playoffs.

So Joe asked around the Bucs’ locker room to get young players’ take on playoff intensity and regular season intensity.

Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey said playoff games are ramped up more than regular season games because of what is at stake. But he told Joe that doesn’t mean he drags his tail in the regular season.

“It is pretty much the same for me,” Kancey said. “We just know that the next game [in the playoffs] is not promised.

“Not saying that guys are not going to give it all they have or leave it all on the field in the regular season, but [the playoffs] is do-or-die. Intensity is way higher.

“The win-or-go-home nature of the playoffs energizes players, Kancey said.

“The playoffs actually gives you extra juice to go out there and make more plays,” Kancey said. “Make sure you come out with a win. Once you are in the playoffs, anything can happen.”

K.J. Britt said knowing the team will be different is a motivating factor. There is natural attrition every year and no guarantee the Bucs will be stronger next year, so this may be some players’ last chance.

“This team will never be the same,” Britt said. “This is the only time the team will be like this. You will have another team [next season] that you try to make your own. So, you don’t want to go home. You have to play.”

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter used to say rosters usually change by 30 percent from one year to the next. Guys get traded, cut, replaced or they retire; new draft picks come in.

Joe remembers last year there was a Pat O’Connor jersey draped over the chair at Lavonte David’s locker with a long farewell message. It hit Joe: O’Connor was in a contract year.

David debated retiring. Aside from maybe a Bucs’ Super Bowl reunion, it is likely O’Connor (who is on the Lions roster) and David are teammates again.

“You never know when one play will determine a football game,” Britt said of the intensity of the playoffs. “You have to play each and every play because you just don’t know what play [can win a game or end a season].”

So that’s one reason players ball out in January and you hear how playoff games are more intense.

Lose now,and you don’t know what the future will hold maybe never playing in a playoff game again.