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. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The injury-riddled Buc defense was ravaged Thursday night, but let’s not overlook a dismal second-half performance on the other side of the ball.

Led by a spry Kirk Cousins, Atlanta rolled up 550 yards — the most by a Tampa Bay opponent in eight years. Cousins threw for 509 of those yards, setting a record for a Falcons franchise that began play in 1966, when Todd Bowles was still a toddler. (more…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

After some time to breathe Sage Ira Kaufman and Joe dive into the Bucs’ crushing loss in Atlanta. The passion — and reason — is flowing. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

Bring canned foods to help local food banks and/or a toy for a local child.

Bill Currie Ford, a mile north of the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, is the place to watch the Bucs on Sunday.  The watch party runs from noon through the end of the game. Come anytime!!

Martin Gramatica will be there all day and Bill Currie Ford will feed you! Raffles and 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. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The Bucs had a clear path to win this football game. It was right there in front of them as a national audience looked on in prime time.

Then they stumbled all over themselves and ended up on the side of the road, broken down and beaten.

Tampa Bay almost overcame an awful defensive performance but in the end, the Bucs’ second-half offense was equally culpable in a hard-to-believe 36-30 setback in OT. Instead of bolting to a 4-1 start, the Bucs will now have extra time to prepare for another division road game at New Orleans.

It might take a while to get the bitter taste out of their mouths because they had every opportunity to beat the Falcons in a shootout. Atlanta just kept coming as Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards, primarily against wide-open targets who exploited a soft secondary. (more…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

Pregame for Thursday Night Football with The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports & Joe. Fast-moving, fun and insightful. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

Ira and Joe are all fired up about this somewhat historic and landscape-changing win. Recorded at the stadium Sunday night. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

THAT’S how you rebound from a clunker.

The Bucs polished off a 3-1 September with a dominating victory against the Eagles on a field so sizzling that an Eagle player needed to plop into an ice bath near the locker room while the game was still in progress.

Tampa Bay was equally hot on both sides of the ball in a 33-16 triumph that wasn’t even that close. In taking a 24-0 advantage midway through the second quarter, the Bucs owned a 252-0 advantage in total yards.

You read that right.

The beatdown was in stark contrast to last week’s humiliating 26-7 loss to Denver. After seething for six days, Tampa Bay took its frustrations out on the favored visitors.

Baker Mayfield threw for 237 yards in the opening half and the Bucs ended a 23-game streak of not scoring a touchdown on their opening possession.

Everything was clicking early against a Philadelphia defense that limited the Saints to only 12 points last week. The Bucs own the top spot in the NFC South heading into a Thursday night matchup in Atlanta.

Bright lights, big city. (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. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

From the football field to the negotiation table, Chris Godwin’s sense of timing couldn’t be better.

The 28-year-old wide receiver has been Tampa Bay’s most consistent player through three weeks as he approaches potential free agency in March. If Godwin is allowed to hit the market, he figures to be the premier wideout available. (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. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

For a defensive coordinator, there’s no good time to face Saquon Barkley. For Todd Bowles, there couldn’t be a worse time. (more…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

A very feisty and full episode with The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports and Joe. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

Sunday’s groin-stomp loss to the Broncos, and the aftermath, dominates today’s episode with The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports and Joe. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

I found a silver lining in Sunday’s Horrorshow against the Broncos … it was over in less than three hours.

It was quick, and yes, it was brutal.

The 26-7 beatdown was Tampa Bay’s worst home setback since midway through the 2020 season, when the Saints marched into town and administered a 38-3 seal clubbing. That Buc team went on to win the Super Bowl.

This Buc team is just trying to recover before the Eagles arrive in Week 4.

One loss, as thorough and dispiriting as it was, isn’t going to wreck the 2024 Buc season. But once again we are reminded that you will get your asses beat in this league if you aren’t ready to compete.

It was ugly from the start and never really got better. When the Bucs finally built some momentum by reaching the end zone on a terrific grab by Chris Godwin late in the half, they allowed the Broncos to drive for a field goal to make it 20-7. That was a telltale sign it was not going to be Tampa Bay’s day.

Denver applied steady pressure against Baker Mayfield while Bo Nix usually had enough time in the pocket to find favorable matchups.

Nix, who struggled in his first two games at the pro level, looked poised and confident against a Buc defense missing three key starters. He threw the ball accurately and on time while also hurting the Bucs with 47 yards on the ground, including a TD run around right end.

The Buc offense lacked juice, except for rookie back Bucky Irving. The protection in front of Mayfield was awful, especially up the middle. It was a game Graham Barton, Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch will try hard to forget.

We’ve seen this Buc act before. (more…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports and Ira have plenty on the buffet to prime you for Week 3 against the Broncos. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

An instant classic with Joe after this historic victory. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

Pregame with the mighty Sage of Tampa Bay Sports. All kinds of meat on the Week 2 Bucs buffet with Ira and Joe. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

When the Bucs signed Baker Mayfield as a free agent 18 months ago, they didn’t realize they were hiring an escape artist. (more…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

You want Sage Ira’s thoughts on the Week 1 clubbing of the Falcons? Here’s his initial postgame reaction with Joe. Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

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! Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Four days after Todd Bowles slammed a podium and shouted “I’m excited,” his football team matched his enthusiasm.

Although the Bucs weren’t perfect in Sunday’s 37-20 victory against the Commanders, you really have to get into the weeds to find fault with their performance. We’ll know a lot more in Week 2 when Tampa Bay travels to Motown. (more…)

Click to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan can help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The Commanders aren’t blessed with many proven weapons, but they have one who is keeping Todd Bowles up at night. (more…)

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

Pregame with the mighty Sage of Tampa Bay Sports and Joe. Ira’s 40th season covering the Bucs kicks off. Is it Sunday yet? Enjoy!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com, Other platforms, too.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

(This is a February photo from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Don’t worry. Ira’s not wearing sweaters in the Florida summer.)

So JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman is in his 40th year covering the Buccaneers. That’s why he’s got the nickname, “The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports.”

On a recent Ira Kaufman Podcast, he made 20-plus predictions for the Bucs’ 2024 season.

Here they are: (more…)