It’s great to hear nice things about your team’s franchise quarterback, but who delivers that message can be extremely meaniningful. (more…)

When Joe read this, the only thing Joe could think of was how the great voice of Chicago sports radio, Mike North would react. (more…)

The first pass by Jared Goff on Sunday became Zyon McCollum’s first career interception. (more…)

“We’ll figure it out, Cade.”

So the Bucs got their thrilling road win against a big-time Detroit team today with no sacks, no running game and a pile of injuries. (more…)

Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask! He’ll also give you an extra $1,000 for your trade-in.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Stats don’t lie, they swear.

By the sheer numbers, the Lions mauled the Bucs Sunday at Ford Field, owning a whopping 463-216 advantage in total yards and a distinct lead in time of possession.

Ask any Buc fan if they care and you know the answer: hell no.

Tampa Bay won this game 20-16 because the Bucs matched Detroit’s physicality and played superb defense, despite being undermanned. Young players stepped up, especially in the red zone, as the Bucs opened at 2-0 for the fourth consecutive season.

The offense, hampered by a dismal ground game, did just enough and Todd Bowles’ group did the rest. The Bucs overcame Aidan Hutchinson, who lived up to his reputation as a game-wrecker with 4 1-2 sacks, primarily against a backup right tackle.

In the end, the Bucs made more plays when it counted. Even the national media has to finally notice what’s going on in Tampa, where a gritty franchise has quietly won 8 of its last 10 games.

“That’s a good team there,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell, who tried to throw himself under the team bus, suggesting the setback was decided on a late first-half miscue that cost Detroit three points. Although Campbell blamed himself for the loss, there’s a lot more to the story. (more…)

Injury info.

There is “hope” the Bucs may have dodged a major bullet.

NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport reports this evening that the initial diagnosis of Vita Vea’s injury is that he suffered an MCL sprain and there is hope it won’t be an “extended absence.”

Vita will undergo an MRI test tomorrow, per Rapoport, but Bucs types are crossing their fingers Vea’s injury is not major.

Vea suffered the injury under friendly fire early in the third quarter of today’s win over the Lions. YaYa Diaby fell into Vea’s leg and he buckled.

Joe issued a warning on Friday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast. (more…)

The numbers don’t lie. (more…)

Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht continues to see the fruit of his magic touch and prove that he’s worthy of having his name added alongside Bucs greats inside the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, aka The Licht House. (more…)

Clutch second quarter defense.

The game of football, maybe more so than hoops, is a lot about momentum and emotion. And all of that was evident in the second quarter in what Joe feels was the Bucs defensive stand of the game. (more…)

“Mike, I’m not texting Rich Eisen back.”

So the slimy Saints and the Buccaneers have become the undefeated bad boys of the NFC — with the 49ers getting upset today by Sam Darnold and the Vikings, along with the Bucs leading with defense in their takedown of the Lions in Detroit. (more…)

Yeah, Joe is thinking Super Bowl. Why not the Bucs after today’s thrilling theft of a victory in Detroit?

A depleted Bucs defense proved it’s not only physical, but it’s ready to grind through major adversity. (more…)

Huge game off the bench.

Let’s see that bingo card you had with the names of “Christian Izien” and “SirVocea Dennis” as fourth quarter heroes of the biggest Bucs regular season win in a while (maybe since the Bucs beat the Seahawks in Munich or Green Bay last year?), certainly the biggest in the Todd Bowles reign. (more…)

Status?

Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked on the Buccaneers Radio Network about the severity of the knee injury to defensive tackle Vita Vea. (more…)

As hard as the Bucs tried in the offseason and summer to repair and revive their running game, it’s still a struggle. And it simply hasn’t mattered as the Bucs’ sit with a 2-0 record.

Damn, that’s encouraging! (more…)

Bucs DB Christian Izien.

Yes, it is September and it is just fine and warranted to talk playoffs! (more…)

Who says you can’t beat a big-time passing offense on the road without a beastly pass rush? (more…)

Winning.

If the Bucs were just going to win the games they were expected to win, maybe the Bucs finish 9-8. Would that be enough? (more…)

Stunning win by the Bucs today in Detroit, and without hesitation, Joe will call the Bucs legit Super Bowl contenders.

The Lions’ five-game home winning streak was snapped by a nasty Tampa Bay defense that found answer after answer for Detriot’s vaunted passing attack. The many Bucs injuries didn’t matter. (more…)

Big game today in Detroit, but not a huge one. Still, it’s a chance for the Bucs to show the NFL world they are big-time contenders.

Comment all game long here with Bucs fans, a few Lions fans, and a few haters.

And stick with Joe for plenty of postgame stuff. Go Bucs!

“The Hoodie” talks Bucs.

Baker Mayfield has a fan in arguably the greatest football coach of all time. (more…)