Inside linebacker Alex Anzalone.

Joe has gone back to the Alex Anzalone film against the Bengals. [read more]

Rough start.

Rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay’s first-round draft pick, had a rough Week 1.

Joe thought Bain looked a little gassed and perhaps dogged by his healed/healing(?) shoulder. [read more]

Starting cornerback Jacob Parrish was lost in the first half yesterday with a back injury.

It’s not that bad, Todd Bowles said today.

X-ray and MRI tests were clean, per Bowles, so Parrish simply has a sprain and how he can handle it will determine his availability.

Bowles praised the play of second-year man Benjamin Morrison in Parrish’s absence.

Todd Bowles said this month that the biggest change in the Bucs seen by fans this season would be the leadership sparked by the arrival of A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches. [read more]

Those who watched 2026 training camp practices noticed how Baker Mayfield rarely threw deep.

Joe speculated once or twice that perhaps Mayfield had an arm concern, or the Bucs simply had him on a calclulated ramp-up plan. [read more]

Learning on the job.

Joe thought this was an awful matchup for the Bucs. [read more]

Baker Mayfield scores on a nine-yard run late to pull the Bucs within a touchdown Sunday in Cincinnati.

The Bucs defense looked weird to Joe yesterday, not so high up in the press box of Mike Brown Stadium. [read more]

Emeka Egbuka celebrates a first down early in the Bucs’ loss at Cincinnati yesterday. He vanished in the second half.

What a depressing Sunday. What a letdown on opening day. Grab your coffee and let’s roll and power through what should be a sad week. [read more]

Streak continues.

The football gods are apparently angry with KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be so lopsided. [read more]

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe’s readers ease into their busy workday with a few football links, wacky news and a pleasant distraction. [read more]

Fire up the JoeBucsFan Show at 7 p.m. on WDAE radio, 95.7 FM and AM 620. Full buffet with Joe and Ira Kaufman, the Sage of Tampa Bay Sports presented by Pin Chasers.

Also listen online or via the iHeart Radio app, or click the player below. (Joe has been back on the WDAE airwaves every week for the past 19 months. But this is a brand new time for football season!)

Presented By Pin Chasers!

Bowling, Food. Fun.

Baker Mayfield throws one of his many passes behind the line of scrimmage yesterday.

There is a reason for that. [read more]

It wasn’t perfect for Bucs cornerback Benjamin Morrison today against the Bengals, but it sure was damn encouraging.

Joe has to acknowledge the young man. [read more]

Click through to visit BillCurrieFord.com and see their extraordinary September discounts. Family-owned in Tampa since 1960! Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Give yourself a chance to win the darn game.

That’s the mantra of a disappointed Buc Nation after Tampa Bay self-destructed in a 33-27 setback at Cincinnati that ended a streak of five consecutive Week 1 victories. [read more]

Ball security wasn’t an issue for Baker Mayfield on this play. It was too many times otherwise.

NFL defensive coaches hate turnovers, maybe worse than Joe hates warm beers. [read more]

Rookie Bucs inside linebacker Josiah Trotter (45) stares down Joe Burrow (9) Sunday. Trotter had a record-setting afternoon.

So how about the guy so many people whined and kvetched over who couldn’t defend the pass. [read more]

Keionte Scott, Alex Anzalone, Benjamin Morrison and others had shoddy tackle attempts today. [read more]

Antione Winfield and the Bucs defense didn’t have an awful day today. But they needed to be perfect.

Whether it was a young player or a veteran, each was in agreement: The defense needed to play better. [read more]

The NFL has countless billions of dollars and can play games in Australia and track players via satellite, but it can’t figure out how to make sure a speaker in a helmet doesn’t glitch out. [read more]