There’s a reason for the old cliché, “It’s tough to win in the NFL.” [read more]

Flash poll posted at 7:25 a.m. Poll closed at 8:59 a.m.

What happened to heart?

Joe didn’t expect Todd Bowles to pull a Bobby Knight yesterday. [read more]

Anyone else remember how the Bucs needed witchcraft and a miracle forced fumble to beat the Panthers last year in Week 18 to make the playoffs?

Joe sure does. [read more]

Already a star? (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Welcome to a hollow Victory Monday. Yeah, a win is a win, in theory. And the standings. But man, there was nothing winning about that game yesterday. Coffee mugs full? OK, let’s go. [read more]

Available, says insider.

Last week there seemed for Joe to be unusual chatter from a respected league insider that linked currently unemployed six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick to the Bucs. [read more]

Earlier this year when the Bucs hosted the Dixie Chicks, Antoine Winfield sure looked as if he stripped Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts of the football before he reached the goal line. [read more]

Happy coach.

Santa Claus came early for the Bucs yesterday in more than one way. [read more]

Das Boot.

This is very likely just precautionary, as Baker Mayfield returned to the game and sure didn’t play like he had a sprained ankle or worse. [read more]

Record still within reach.

Mike Evans has never not had 1,000 yards receiving in a season. To do this for his 11th straight year, he’s going to take it down to the wire. [read more]

Some easily could argue that Bucky Irving is on pace for the greatest season ever by a Buccaneers running back.

Yeah, it’s been that good. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Had it all the way.

The Bucs took advantage of some major breaks to avoid a broken heart Sunday during a 26-23 OT victory at Charlotte that left Carolina fans stunned and Buc Nation elated.

The Panthers had the better of play for much of the afternoon before dynamic rookie Bucky Irving took command and Baker Mayfield rebounded from what looked like a serious leg injury.

The result, coupled with a loss by the reeling Falcons, leaves Tampa Bay and Atlanta tied atop the NFC South at 6-6. The Falcons own the tie-breaker edge with five games remaining, but the schedule favors the Bucs and Kirk Cousins is playing so poorly, the calls for rookie Michael Penix Jr. under center are sure to grow. [read more]

“Greeny, we only buy the groceries. That’s all we can do.”

Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has handed his head coach a stellar young offensive line, an upper tier quarterback, a Hall of Fame receiver, a Pro Bowl rookie running back, the best kicker in Bucs history and a load of talent on defense.

And still the Bucs struggle. [read more]

“What happened, Baker?”

Joe’s eyes nearly bugged out seeing this stat from the official NFL gamebook of the Bucs’ escape from Charlotte. [read more]

A happy stinker.

Hey, what happened to the old adage that says any NFL road win is a thing of beauty? [read more]

Escaped postgame hassle.

[UPDATE 10:16 p.m.] Video has surfaced on social media of a Bucs staffer and a Bucs security member holding back wide receiver Sterling Shepard from going after some Stinking Panthers players. [read more]

So the Bucs had only one official pass defensed today, a huge one by Zyon McCollum, while sad Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a career high 26 completions and 20 incompletions. [read more]

Mulligan of a game.

The Joe typing this here post has been a monster fan of Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen for the job he did this season, sometimes under trying circumstances. [read more]

He threw two ugly interceptions and ate an overtime sack that simply cannot happen. [read more]

Defensive progress invisible.

Anthony Nelson saved the season. That’s great, but for Joe, it’s like a dude standing in the middle of his burning house hollering, “It’s fine, it’s all fine!” [read more]

Do the Bucs look like a contender?

Who cares? They are a contender. [read more]