BY IRA KAUFMAN

Grit, but no glory.

It was a tale of two halves at Raymond James Stadium Monday night and while the Bucs displayed character and resolve, the Steelers won a close game on the road by capitalizing on some sloppy play.

Pittsburgh hardly played a clean game, incurring 13 penalties for 155 yards, but Mike Smith’s defense didn’t make enough stops.

A 2-1 record should be a point of pride, especially considering the rugged schedule, but the prevailing sentiment in the Tampa Bay locker room is this was a game the Bucs should have won.

Here’s how it went down in prime time: (more…)

So who will quarterback the Buccaneers on Sunday in Chicago?

Dirk Koetter was asked whether he has made that decision moments ago during his postgame news conference at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.  (more…)

Slingin’

So far Dirk Koetter’s football wisdom has his team undefeated. (more…)

It’s the weekly, 24-hour Dirk Koetter Confidence Poll. Poll posted at 12:05 a.m. Last week’s results linked here.

He knew.

Look who is laughing now. (more…)

Bucs fans love when their team gets the national spotlight, and here it is right here.

Fun, fiery interview with DeSean Jackson. (more…)

Talks tone-setters, corners and DeSean Jackson Year 2.

Buccaneers commander Dirk Koetter was talking quite a bit last night and Joe has highlights.

Already, Joe has shared Koetter’s take that Nick Foles is the Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Eagles. But there was plenty more. (more…)

“Let’s hope the Eagles don’t run any plays out of a spread formation.”

There were significant happenings last week in New Orleans that made Joe smile from ear-to-ear, and some disturbing things. (more…)

Hey, how bout a Vita Vea update for the legions of fans starving for news on the Buccaneers’ first-round rookie manbeast, the No. 12 overall pick?

Joe’s got it!

(more…)

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The ecstasy has not worn off! The Bucs didn’t just win yesterday; they raised the bar on the season. Joe fires away on many angles today. The Monday Morning Joe podcast is presented by Bill Currie Ford and Discount Garage Doors, Inc., home of the same-day free service call.

Download or play above. And Monday Morning Joe also is available on iTunes, Podbean and Google Play. Subscribe for a free alert. Enjoy!

New life for a couple of ex-Bucs. (more…)

Ira’s takes on today’s game with locker room quotes

BY IRA KAUFMAN

It was wild, it was frantic and in the end, it was transcendent for Buc fans. (more…)

Joe had a simple question for Mike Evans yesterday, one he easily could have blown off or answered with vague nothingness. (more…)

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Listen to what the man said.

Todd Monken calls plays and calls it like it is with equal distinction. Tampa Bay’s refreshingly candid offensive coordinator recently acknowledged what Buc fans have suspected all along — this team was mentally weak in 2017. (more…)

It’s the weekly, 24-hour Dirk Koetter Confidence Poll, posted at 5:48 p.m. It pops every Wednesday through the season. … Find last week’s results here.

It’s that time of year — and the good folks at One Buc Palace might want to cover their eyes. (more…)

24-hour poll posted at 5:01 a.m. (Next Jason Licht poll will follow the Week 4 game at Chicago).

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The Bucs came within 30 seconds of their first 3-0 preseason start since 1999, when they advanced to the NFC championship game.

Let’s not get carried away, I don’t see the second coming of Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks or Ronde Barber out there, but I don’t see a 5-11 club, either.

Tampa Bay’s 20-6 halftime advantage was well deserved because the Bucs outplayed the Lions in all three phases. The start of the game was delayed an hour by dodgy weather, but the real storm front was an offensive line that manhandled Detroit on the opening drive.

If you didn’t see the game, shame on you. Here’s what you missed: (more…)

Mike Evans needs to “take the hits.”

The stat pattern says Mike Evans is poised for a monster season in 2018.

But if Evans does get back to his 2014 or 2016 form, it will be because he’s just following his simple formula. (more…)