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

The playoffs have begun.

That’s what Bucs coach Todd Bowles said yesterday. The playoffs are here.

The Bucs currently have a half-game lead in the NFC South. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Stinking Panthers are going away.

By beating the Rams yesterday in Charlotte, the Stinking Panthers (7-6) kept pace with the Bucs (7-5). Just last week, the Rams sealclubbed the Bucs in Los Angeles.

The Stinking Panthers are no joke and the have their bye next week. And while a win is a win in the NFL, the Bucs’ win against a sad outfit like the Cardinals, who have now lost 9 of their last 10 games, sure didn’t give Joe much confidence the Bucs have put their troubles in the past.

Yes, there were positive signs. Chris Godwin looking like Chris Godwin. Bucky Irving shaking off rust to give fans flashbacks to last year. The defense getting a four-and-out (!) to seal the win.

Were those bright spots, accidents or a sign the Bucs are beginning to turn things around? After the win yesterday, Bowles admitted the Bucs have a dogfight on their hands to win a fifth-straight division title.

Was the weight a win off the team’s shoulders?

“I don’t think so,” Bowles said after taking a deep breath. “We are going to be like this every week. It’s playoff mode and it’s playoff time and we embrace the grind and embrace the pressure.

“We [have] to execute and make plays in those situations.”

Yes, Joe knows the 17 points the Bucs defense gave up was the second-least scored by Arizona this season. Still, did the defense impress you yesterday? Seemed to Joe that Arizona didn’t have much trouble moving the ball, specifically through the air.

And let’s not get Jacoby Brissett confused with Matt Stafford.

Every game, save for the slimy Saints next week, is going to be a dogfight.