Joe has compiled his weekly look at what various members of the national fourth estate think about the Bucs.

Jason McIntyre, publisher, editor in chief and custodian of TheBigLead.com isn’t overly impressed with the Bucs at No. 7.

Should crumble on the road against Carolina and Atlanta next.

SI.com’s Peter King is likeminded also choosing the Bucs at No. 7.

You can abuse the Jets defense. You definitely cannot abuse the Bucs defense. Opposing passer rating against the Bucs: 70.0.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com is very high on the Bucs at No. 3.

The way that defense plays they will be in every game. They control their own destiny in the division race, starting Monday against the Panthers.

NFL.com’s Vic Carucci has the Bucs at No. 4.

If they play the same opportunistic defense vs. the Panthers that they played vs. the Saints, the Bucs are poised for a season sweep.

Vacation Man of BSPN.com has the Bucs at No. 4 as well.

The defense was able to shut down Drew Brees. QB Jeff Garcia has played well of late, and that needs to continue in Monday night’s showdown at Carolina.

Former Bucs beat writer and current SI.com columnist Don Banks is somewhat high on the Bucs at No. 4.

I know I’m coming late to the party, but these Bucs are pretty good. Not dominating, mind you. Just good enough to beat you, and not themselves. So good in fact that I had to bump them up three spots into the top five, a vantage point that should well prepare them for their showcase game of the season, Monday night at Carolina. With Tampa Bay in position to claim the NFC’s No. 2 seed, its hopes of becoming the first team to play a Super Bowl on its home field are entering the realm of realistic. Would they still get to fire those cannons after Super Bowl touchdowns, or does the premise of a neutral site win out? It’s another pressing issue for Roger Goodell and his merry band of brothers to unravel.