Todd Bowles walks back to the locker room after the Bucs beat the Cardinals.

The playoffs have begun. [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]

Burned Arizona’s blitz in Sunday’s 20-17 win.

Fun stuff about the Bucs’ franchise quarterback from NextGen Stats. [read more]

At 7-5, the Bucs are gunning for a 12-win season.

An 11-win season by Tampa Bay will guarantee the Bucs win the NFC South (again). Yes, that’s the math. [read more]

Losing streak snapped.

Joe isn’t too over the top typing the following. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

We’re not judging a beauty contest — style points don’t count.

There wasn’t much beauty to be found on the field Sunday as the Bucs slogged their way past Arizona 20-17, ending a 3-game slide and keeping them a nudge ahead of the surging Panthers atop the NFC South.

While Carolina was shocking the Rams, Tampa Bay held on to hand the Cardinals their ninth loss in 10 games. True to form, seven of those setbacks have come by four points or less. [read more]

Cornerback Zyon McCollum squares up against Arizona receiver Marvin Harrison today. McCollum and the Bucs defense sealed the win with a four-down stop.

Sometimes it seems so rare for the Bucs defense the past month to force a three-and-out, Joe might need to buy a round of shots. [read more]

Chris Godwin celebrates a catch in the win over Arizona.

Yes, Joe knows Chris Godwin has been on the active roster since the Bucs hosted the Eagles earlier this year. [read more]

Joe was somewhat surprised. Baker Mayfield looked very healthy today.

He would have had a special day on the stat sheet without two heinous drops, one each by Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka. [read more]

Bucs GM Jason Licht

The Bucs had big-money edge rusher Haason Reddick return to the lineup today along with electric running back Bucky Irving after long absences.

Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht had another guy in mind before kickoff. [read more]

Sharp words for his defense.

Even though Arizona scored the second-fewest points of the season, too often the Bucs seemed to be rolling over for the Cardinals. [read more]

Graham Barton (right) lifts Tristan Wirfs into the air after Wirfs scored his first NFL touchdown on a two-yard catch.

Joe learned a couple of things in the Bucs’ locker room after the shouldn’t-have-been-that-close 20-17 win over the sad sack Cardinals Sunday at The Licht House. [read more]

Joe knows too many fans are going to cry and whine about how the Bucs didn’t win by enough points and how the Cardinals moved the ball too easily on Tampa Bay. [read more]

Winning in the postseason requires talent.

There are no smoke and mirrors come January. [read more]

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Bucs inside linebaker SirVocea Dennis. 

Who led the Bucs in tackles today?

Who was a dangerous blitzer?

Who closed out the game on the final play? [read more]

Chris Godwin speaks.

It seems Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht was telling the truth. [read more]