Joe’s calling for calm.

The Bucs are 6-3. Tell yourself that five times.

Seattle (6-2) had its doors blown off in Buffalo today. (more…)

Handling Antonio Brown.

Joe has to hit the brakes on this one. (more…)

He knows.

Mike Evans spoke for Bucs fans far and wide after Monday night’s game. (more…)

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

We’re on to New Orleans.

That should have been the mantra for Bruce Arians after Monday night’s forgettable performance at the Meadowlands.

The only positive the Bucs can take out of that slop is they managed to walk out with a win on the road, remaining atop the NFC South. They played better in the second half — in large part because the opening 30 minutes were absolutely unacceptable.

It’s not a stretch to suggest some of Tampa Bay’s minds were already on the Saints, despite all the pleadings from the coaching staff to take the Giants seriously. Those pleas fell on deaf ear holes as New York rolled up 15 first downs in the first half.

The Giants were well prepared for Todd Bowles and his exotic blitzes and a slapdash offensive line opened up big holes for Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris, two journeymen who will never be confused with Derrick Henry.

“They hit us in the mouth in the first half,” acknowledged Lavonte David.

The Bucs looked wobbly, but they never went down. Perhaps a better opponent would have put them away, but the Giants are 1-7 for a reason. Tom Brady likes to say that if you’re not on your game, you’re in trouble against any NFL team.

The difference is this Buc team has the talent and fortitude to overcome a lethargic effort. The Bucs will have to play a better game against the Saints Sunday night — and they will.

Here’s how the Bucs forged their first 6-2 getaway since the 2002 championship season: (more…)

Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.

Offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.

That was a saying for decades in the NFL. Thankfully, we have evolved as a society and embraced the fact if you don’t score points, it’s hard to win a scoreless game. (more…)

Future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski has been ballin’ this month like it’s the old days. (more…)

Bucs WR Antonio Brown.

Here is a timeline list Joe cobbled together of all of the stunts new Bucs receiver Antonio Brown has found himself entangled with dating back over the last two years.

So when people ask Joe why he’s not fond of the Brown signing, perhaps this helps enlighten readers to understand Joe’s reservations of the Bucs getting into bed with the talented yet mercurial Brown, just as the team seems to have turned the corner and is a legit Super Bowl contender. (more…)

Very cool stuff happened yesterday that many fans gave little attention. (more…)

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

By one key metric, you could make a credible argument that the Bucs have been the most dominant team in the NFL this season.

No, they’re not unbeaten, but the Bucs have outscored opponents 222-142 in fashioning a 5-2 record. That plus-80 mark in point differential is tops in the league.

Quite a rebound from that bitter setback at Soldier Field two weeks ago. Tampa Bay followed up a majestic final three quarters against Green Bay with a very solid win on the road against a Raiders team coming off a bye week and a confidence-boosting victory at Kansas City.

Jon Gruden wanted this win in the worst way and the Raiders hung in until a turnover and the relentless pressure exerted by Tom Brady proved decisive.

Since that shaky opening quarter vs. Green Bay, the Bucs own an 83-20 scoring advantage. The Packers are very good, the Raiders aren’t bad and the Bucs just might be outstanding.

It’s all coming together for this woebegone franchise. Antonio Brown is on his way, but at this point, the Bucs don’t need much outside help in ending that 12-year playoff drought. They’ve been the talk of the league since Brady arrived and they still generate more than their share of national attention.

Here’s how an all-in franchise cashed out in Las Vegas: (more…)

Late February has arrived early at One Buc Palace.

The misdirection smoke now seen swirling usually is the kind reserved for pre-draft chatter when NFL executives and coaches lie regularly. (more…)

Bucs GM Jason Licht

One might think a general manager who hates free agency wouldn’t sign a player like Antonio Brown, who has failed repeatedly from the neck up in recent years en route to disappointing three franchises and three head coaches with Super Bowl rings. (more…)

What a coincidence, Bucco Bruce Arians was talking diva wide receivers on national radio this week.

Of course Joe was listening. (more…)

Jamel Dean and The Dean of the Bucs defense

Yes, you can finally wear your Bucs t-shirt to Neighborhood Walmart with immense pride.

No more late-October cradling of a package of paper towels to cover the logo. (more…)

Doubted by Tony Dungy

Two generations have passed since Father Dungy coached the Bucs.

But he still pays attention, especially since he lives in Tampa and his ex-roommate is their head coach. (more…)

Bad blood

So yesterday we were treated to an old-fashioned hatefest between Bucs defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. (more…)

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

For nine days, the Bucs heard all the chatter. The naysayers were out in force, pointing out the relatively easy early schedule and Tampa Bay’s self-destructive tendencies.

And then, on a muggy October Sunday, the Bucs buried their skeptics in the soft turf of Raymond James Stadium. For an added bonus, they pushed the smarmy face of Aaron Rodgers into the sod for good measure.

Jamel Dean lit the match and every Buccaneer danced on the flames during a nasty beatdown of the previously unbeaten Packers. The final three quarters ushered in a dominant performance by the home team in front of an adoring crowd.

Any early enthusiasm by Cheeseheads in attendance melted once Rodgers suffered his first interception of the season. The Packers led 10-0 at the time and even though they didn’t know it, they would offer only token resistance the rest of the way.

This was the team Buc Nation envisioned once Tom Brady arrived — focused, physical and brimming with talent. The Packers flew home to Wisconsin Sunday evening, probably wondering how Tampa Bay managed to lose two of its first five games.

If this was a crossroads moment for this franchise, the Bucs chose the right path, the one that leads to postseason play. Here’s how they ransacked Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood: (more…)

Probabilities.

With the shameful display along the lakefront in Chicago last week and the slimy Saints rallying from a 17-point deficit to beat the Chargers in overtime to force a three-way tie for first in the NFC South, teams’ playoff chances have been recalculated. (more…)

“Next time I’m gonna pull your hair.”

The Buccaneers’ offensive line had a four-frowny-face Thursday night and the numbers reveal it was worse than it looked. (more…)

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Buc fans woke up Friday morning on what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday, lamenting a hard day’s night.

Bucs beating Bucs.

Again.

CBS analyst Scott Pioli called out Tampa Bay as a dumb football team after the sloppy setback in Chicago — and he has a point. If you viewed the mug on Bruce Arians following the 20-19 loss, you saw a face of disgust.

He surely wasn’t happy with the officials, but most of all, Arians is frustrated with yet another defeat sowed by mistakes and penalties. Officials marked off 11 flags thrown at Tampa Bay, and there were others that weren’t accepted.

At least Arians didn’t make excuses at the end of a 3-game winning streak. He didn’t want to hear about the absence of Chris Godwin or O.J. Howard. That’s because he knew the Bucs were still the better team — a better team that deserved to lose. (more…)

Nothing drives Joe to scream at the TV quite like when announcers in the last two Bucs games talked about how the Bucs have really just completed ___ preseason games, so they’ve not yet jelled because the starters haven’t — or have barely — completed the equivalent of their August snaps. (more…)

Remember when Josh Freeman was flagged for back-to-back delay of game penalties coming out of a timeout? It was a classic 2013 Schiano moment.

Joe thinks Tom Brady topped it last night with a senior moment on what could have been the game-winning drive. (more…)