Jameis Winston dives for a critical first down in the final drive Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Welcome to Victory Monday, Bucs fans!

So it is official. With four games left, the Bucs are an even .500, 6-6. In December. They are in second place in the NFC South and own a tiebreaker over the Dixie Chicks.

The Bucs will enter mid-December with a chance for a winning record. It seems ages ago when this was last possible because recent seasons have been such a nutkick.

The last time the Bucs were .500 in December was the first year of former Bucs commander Greg Schiano. The Bucs, after losing to Denver on the road on Dec. 2, 2012, were 6-6. Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman went mental and the team spun out of control, closing the next four weeks with a 1-3 mark.

This just in: the anti-Josh Freeman is now the Bucs quarterback, and that is America’s Quarterback. Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.

The rest of the season is laid out quite nicely. Next is New Orleans, with a horrific defense. Even firing Bad Santa didn’t work for Sean Payton. Then comes the circling-the-drain, maybe-moving-to-Los-Angeles Rams. Then it is bratty Jay Cutler and the beatable Bears at home before traveling to Carolina to end the regular season.

But the Bucs, thanks to crappy play in winnable games earlier this year, have painted themselves into a corner. The Bucs need to win at least three more games or hope Seattle and/or Green Bay meltdown. But baby steps. The Bucs are currently the seventh team looking to get into the six-team NFC playoff field.

If any Bucs fan would have told Joe the Bucs would be in a wild card hunt in December this past summer, Joe would have told you to put the bottle down and sober up.

These next two or three weeks ought to be fun. Isn’t it refreshing to be talking about real football in December for a change and not the draft?

Props to the Defense

Before yesterday’s game, Joe had no faith in the Bucs if they couldn’t score 30 points. Joe had no way of believing the Bucs could pull off a win by scoring less than 30 points.

The Bucs were without Gerald McCoy. They were without Jacquies Smith. They were just coming off a game in which their corners were torched when 11 completions in 14 targets by a 40-year old quarterback. It appeared grim.

But surprise, surprise. The depleted defense played out of its mind. With stud running back Devonta Freeman back for the Dixie Chicks, the Bucs held Atlanta to 64 yards rushing. Impressive. And while Matty Ice did throw for 269 yards, it was much less than what he threw for the last time the two teams met, when he tossed for 397 yards.

All in all it was a solid day for the Bucs defense. A defense that had been riddled. A defense that had a lot of injuries. Strong outing.

“Legendary?”

Joe isn’t sure if it is just fans latching on to the never-say-die, 20-yard run by Jameis in the fourth quarter to keep a drive alive, but just watching local TV sports reports and hearing analysts, Joe has heard the word “legendary” used more than once to describe the play.

It was a helluva play by Jameis. It was Mike Alstott-like. It not only charged up his Bucs teammates, but it also charged up the fans. Look at the end zone angle on the video and you see the camera shake from the crowd at the Den of Depression freaking out. Joe cannot remember the last time the crowd was so into it after a play that the camera (meaning the stadium) was shaking.

Joe can’t call the play “legendary” quite yet. If the Bucs make the playoffs, sure. If Jameis turns into the stud quarterback for years to come that he seems on the cusp of being, yeah. Joe’s not going to get caught into the hyperbole quite yet.

If the Bucs make the playoffs, then that run will be remembered for decades. Sort of like Alstott’s run(s) against Cleveland in the Super Bowl season.

Jameis’ Team

Let there be no mistake any longer. This team is Jameis’ team. The Bucs are the drink stirred by Jameis. Joe will have more on this later, but Joe spoke with quite a few offensive and defensive players to get their reactions to watching Jameis’ 20-yard, game-saving run. Joe already shared Demar Dotson’s reaction and Vincent Jackson’s.

Some Bucs actually said Jameis coming to Tampa Bay is evidence of a higher authority. Some said they turned into giddy fans on the sidelines watching the run. Others said they would, in so many words, follow Jameis to the gates of hell, if that’s what it took to get into the playoffs.

And these quotes are coming from veterans talking about a 21-year old. That’s the kind of impact Jameis has had on the Bucs in recent weeks.

Joe does know that one reason – not the only one and not the most important one – they wanted Jameis over Marcus Mariota was Jameis’ personality. They thought Mariota was just too timid and believed a big personality like Jameis possessed would help transform the locker room. Right now, that factor has been an absolute bulls-eye that Joe is pretty sure not even the Bucs thought would turn out like it has.

And the kid hasn’t played a full season yet.

Kwon’s Conundrum

Yes, Joe was told the day before Thanksgiving that the Bucs were notified by the NFL of Kwon Alexander’s pending four-game suspension for blowing a PED test in training camp, which Alexander claimed was from a sports drink of some sort.

Joe also was told at that same time that Alexander would appeal the suspension. However, the timetable for the NFL to hear the appeal is unknown. It could be today; it could be next week; it could be after Christmas.

So Alexander is in a holding pattern. He will continue to play up to or until the NFL tells him not to. So unless the NFL rules on his appeal, Alexander is scheduled to play against the Saints on Sunday. Again, that is unless the NFL hears the appeal and Alexander loses.

Joe hopes the NFL takes its time. If Alexander misses a playoff game or two, so be it. Right now, the Bucs need Alexander for this stretch run. The win yesterday over the Dixie Chicks was nice, but the Saints game is a must-win, as well. If the Bucs lose, they are really painting themselves in a corner.

NFL Thoughts

Packers: There really is only two words to describe the Packers comeback Thursday night: “The Lions.”

Bills: So the Bills remain in a playoff hunt by beating the previously surging Texans. Bills scored 10 points late in the final quarter to pull away.

49ers: Where did this come from? On the road in chilly Chicago and the woebegone 49ers win? Damn. Blaine Gabbert (!) tossed a 70-yard touchdown for the game winner. This Gabbert has risen from the dead, man.

Bengals: All Andy Dalton does is win. If Joe was a Browns fan, he’s go straight to their headquarters and friggin’ burn all his Browns gear in a bonfire outside the place. The way they have shat on the fans by not playing Johnny Football is beyond the pale. And stop with the “Joe Thomas doesn’t want to block for him” nonsense. As good as Joe Thomas is, the Browns have had just one winning season with him on the roster — Thomas’ first year with the Browns in 2007. Since when was Thomas named general manager? Imagine the draft picks that can be had by trading Thomas?

Dolphins: They scored 15 points in the second quarter and nearly chocked the game away. That team is a mess and it is starting to look like Ryan Tannehill is South Florida’s version of Nick Foles with a hot wife.

Seahawks: Russell Wilson went wild yesterday with three touchdowns. For what should Joe root? Seattle to take an unexpected nosedive or for the Vikings to collapse.

Jets: Gang Green beats the Giants in overtime and it sure seems like Tom Coughlin will be coaching his final four games with the Giants. He belongs in the Hall of Fame before Father Dungy.

Cardinals: The most dangerous team in the NFC pounded the rancid Rams, and it sounds like overrated Jeff Fisher has thrown in the towel.

Titans: So Mr. Goody Two Shoes had a nice day against the Jags and their rotten defense. Whoop-tee-do!

Chiefs: The job Andy Reid has done with the Chiefs since the bye is unreal. That team was dead in the water and now, even after losing Jamaal Charles, has exploded offensively. Chiefs lead the wild card hunt at 7-5.

Broncos: Yes, the Broncos won, but this Brock Osweiler sure came back down to earth. Barely beat a team that is circling the drain.

Eagles: Joe isn’t much of a Chip Kelly or Eagles fan, but after beating the Belicheats in New England, all Joe has to say is “I-G-G-L-E-S… IGGLES!”

Stinking Panthers: They just keep winning. The sad Saints blew this game. Joe is hoping the Stinking Panthers lose just once so when the Bucs travel to Carolina, they will be more inclined to sit starters since they will already have home field locked up and playing to be 16-0 will be off the table.

Steelers: Damn, what an offense! And that’s without Le’Veon Bell. Holy smokes. They just ran up and down the field on the Colts at will. Impressive if not scary.

Non-NFL Thoughts:

* OK, it’s time to start stocking the liquor cabinet, and no, not for that cheesy amateur night called “New Year’s Eve.” It is for college bowl season, which begins in two weeks. Joe loves college bowl season. How can you not like football on virtually every night/day for a month? Joe just doesn’t understand the rabble which proclaims, “There are too many bowls!” No there is not. Don’t like them? Don’t watch them. They exist because they make money, and because we as red-blooded Americans love football. The sooner people realize we live in a football world, the better.

* Joe cannot quibble at all with the college football final four: Clemson vs. Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and Michigan State and Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Strong games, lotsa talent. Joe will be sure to be parked on his recliner New Year’s Eve. Looking forward to it.

* Not sure if anyone watched the Texas-Baylor game, but that was wild. Because of injuries, Baylor was down to their fourth string quarterback and they were running a single-wing offense in the second half. Damned near pulled off an upset. Also, some dude for Texas apparently has watched RAW way too much.

* That Michigan State-Iowa game was unreal. Sure, smashmouth, snot-knocking football doesn’t translate for the video-game, quarterback-ratings society we  live in. But, as Moe Howard once said, that’s football, chump! Joe can’t remember a game where just getting three yards was such a physical price to pay. These teams were beating each other up. And that 22-play drive at the end of the game by Sparty to win the B1G championship was beautiful. Even when Sparty did get a first down, it seemed only by mere inches. It was a shame some team had to lose.

* Either North Carolina was way overhyped, over Clemson is really that good. Not to take away from the fine job Larry Fedora has done, but wow, Clemson just toyed with them if you ask Joe.

* What the hell is the matter with Clemson’s punter?

* Outside of the big-named bowls, is there a cooler bowl than the Bahamas Bowl? Try to tell the players and fans of Middle Tennessee and Western Michigan that bowl is meaningless. Folks get to hang at the Atlantis Resort for Christmas weekend? What exactly is wrong with that?

* The Rose Bowl between Iowa and Stanford ought to be fun.

* Memo to the fathers of college football (read: TV execs): How about staggering the games out next year, huh? We could have had 12 straight hours of good football (granted, the Texas-Baylor game wasn’t bad) but instead, we had to bounce around from three different games with the remote. That’s just not only wrong, but dumb. Could have had much bigger audiences for each game rather than splitting up the eyeballs.

* Nice going Cardinals. You let John Lackey slip to the friggin’ Cubs. Now you really do need pitching.

* Note on Indianapolis: Last Monday, after Joe checked out of his Indianapolis hotel, Joe had two hours to kill before catching a plane, so he got something to eat in downtown Indianapolis and bounced around. Really cool how you can get around the downtown area via all the skywalks, rarely having to step outside. Indianapolis is one of the most underrated cities. That place should get a chance to host a college football national championship.