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Right now Joe’s obsessed with watching the Falcons take out the Saints tonight, which is why Joe’s offering to buy you beer and join him in watching the game. 

However, Joe is very much dialed into Sunday’s rematch with the Saints.

As Joe wrote yesterday, yeah, the Saints sealclubbed the Bucs 31-6 in Tampa in October. It was ugly. Raheem Morris’ defense was completely outcoached and outplayed, and the offense was anemic.

But in that game some guy named Blount was standing on the sidelines inactive because the Bucs braintrust didn’t think he was worthy of a helmet. Imagine that!

Now the Saints’ 26th-ranked run defense (before facing Michael Turner tonight) will have LeGarrette Blount to deal with Sunday. My how the landscape has changed.

Joe’s not about to think the Bucs’ defense won’t get carved up like a Christmas ham in New Orleans, but Joe believes the Bucs have the firepower to outscore the Saints.

A short week and a physical game against the Falcons tonight won’t do the Saints any favors. Joe’s not one to wish injury on an opponent, but Joe wouldn’t cry if John Abraham temporarily disabled Drew Brees for a few weeks.

Joe’s buying gallons of beer and cheering like a madman for the Falcons to beat the Saints tonight at Honey’s in Carrollwood.

And you’re invited!

The Saints have to lose in Atlanta! Have to, otherwise the Bucs are all but dooomed in the playoff hunt.

The Bucs need the Saints to lose to set up a Bucs-Saints showdown in New Orleans next Sunday with a playoff berth on the line.

This is it.

So Joe is buying the first 50 drafts for JoeBucsFan.com readers who show up at Honey’s starting at 8 p.m. After that, pint drafts are only $1. What a deal!

You can even get a massive pizza for just $5 using the coupon on this page.

This will be a blast. Honey’s is open until 3 a.m., so you don’t have to hit the road early. Have a blast with fellow hardcore Bucs fans.

Honey’s is located at 11115 N. Dale Mabry Highway.

Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski, host of the critically acclaimed “Blitz” sometimes aired on Saturdays is back on the air this afternoon. Also known as “The Commissioner,” Justin always treats callers with fair and just reason.

You can bet Justin has ample opinions on the Bucs’ punishing win over the Seahawks as Justin fills in for another of Joe’s good friends, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, from 3-5 p.m. heard on WDAE-AM 620.

Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick discuss the Bucs rout of the Seahawks yesterday in this FoxSports.com video.

Video: NFL on FOX: Bucs’ Blowout

The Bucs have accomplished a lot this year:

*Raheem Morris matched Chucky for the biggest turnaround in franchise history and could surpass the Super Bowl-winning coach.

*The Bucs could still qualify for the playoffs, but it’s not likely.

*And the Bucs have won over Rich Gannon. The former Chucky acolyte who harbored bitter feelings over Team Glazer jettisoning Chucky on a cold Friday night. He was no Bucs booster but now sings the praises of quarterback Josh Freeman often when behind the mic broadcasting “The Blitz,” co-hosted with Adam Schein heard exclusively on Sirius NFL Radio.

Gannon did some research on the Bucs and came across this cool little nugget:

The Bucs are the first team since the AFL-NFL merger to start 10 rookies in a season and still have a winning record.

That’s some amazing stuff. it shows that rock star general manager Mark Dominik knows how to pick players and Raheem Morris knows how to coach them up.

“I couldn’t be happier for Josh Freeman,” Gannon said. “He has just six interceptions through 15 games — that’s incredible to play that well in just his second season. I think he will be a special player. Raheem Morris gets a lot of credit. He has just done an outstanding job in his second season.”

Raheem Morris was not specific at his noon news conference today, but he did say Arrelious Benn has torn knee ligaments and will go to injured reserve.

Joe hopes it’s not too ugly. Training camp starts in seven months.

Raheem said he’s most sad about all the great offseason work Benn with miss out on next year. Especially, Raheem said, since Benn is such a hard worker.

Benn finished the season with 25 catches, two touchdowns and 15.8 yards per catch. He made nine starts and was coming on big, but this is a major setback.

For a little perspective on Benn’s numbers, Maurice Stovall made seven starts in 2009, with 24 catches, one touchdown 15.3 yards per catch average.

Regarding Earnest Graham’s injury, Raheem said it was a shoulder deal and his status is questionable.

Big Frank Okam had a strong game at defensive tackle Sunday against Seattle when the Bucs hammered the Seahawks 38-15. Listed at 6-5, 350 pounds, Okam had six tackles including two behind the line of scrimmage. He was a rookie on Houston in 2008, and the Bucs picked him up last month and put him on the practice squad. Joe caught up with Okam after the game. Joe can attest that Okam is quite articulate and looks surprisingly fit for carrying all that weight.

JoeBucsFan.com: What was different for you today, personally? This was your second start and it was a rough week for the defense against the Lions last week.

Frank Okam: I think that was the main difference —  the second time being out there. Last week was the first time I’ve had a consistent amount of playing time since my rookie year. So it was just more of getting back in the groove of the game and getting confident. After the first week of tape and really seeing what they wanted me to do and their expectations out of the 3-technique, I tried to go out and do it.

Joe: What was the difference in the run defense as a whole today?

Okam: More focus. We were pretty embarrassed about what we put on tape the last couple of weeks, so it was important for us to go out there and stop the run so we could do some things and get them in one dimension. And go out there and blitz them.

Joe: How about all these young players stepping up?

Okam: Basically, I was always told that after your sixth game in the NFL you’re not a rookie anymore. So you can’t use that young rookie status [as an excuse]. At the end of the day you have to beat the guy in front of you. That’s what it’s pretty much all about. …The whole team holds you accountable for what you put on tape, and you don’t want anything bad out there and let anyone down.

Joe: How much more do you think you can accomplish in your next start? After getting another pile of reps in practice this week?

Okam: That’s the most important thing for me: practice and taking one practice at a time. I haven’t played 3-technique since back in college. And just getting back in the groove at that and becoming a guy who can penetrate and be disruptive at that position is key for me. So practice is very important. Understanding game plans and where they want you to fit is very important. I’m just trying to make sure I’m progressing every day. Because if you’re not, they’ll find someone to replace you.

Joe: I’ve heard you’re a monster in the weight room repping some big numbers. What are you benching these days?

Okam: Well, it’s over 500. I haven’t had to max out since college, so I don’t know for sure. But I know the reps are over [500]. I feel good.

Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams appeared this morning with co-hosts Howard David and Marty Schottenheimer on “The Opening Drive,” heard exclusively on Sirius NFL Radio, and discussed Sunday’s win and how he approaches life in the NFL. Naturally Joe transcribed the chat.

Howard David: What was the mindset the team had for yesterday’s game?

Mike Williams: Coach Raheem and we knew it was a must win situation. We had to put our best foot forward. If we lose, we had no shot at the playoffs. That was the message to the team: We had to win no matter what and we did that.

Marty Schottenheimer: How much of a difference is the NFL now than earlier in the year?

Williams: It’s a lot more slower. I know when to get my reads and when to break my routes. Earlier on a blitz I had a go route. I cut it off to a five-step post and I don’t know how I read it. In the first touchdown in the game yesterday I knew the crossing spaces, I knew it was a blitz, I knew I had a one-on-one. The game is just much slower for me now. I can read my reads.

David: You are the NFL’s leading rookie receiver. Your numbers are impressive.

Williams: I try not to look at the stat sheet. Coach Morris always says to keep doing what you are doing.

David: You have a nice mesh with Josh Freeman. He is starting to look like a guy who is comfortable in his position and has command of the huddle.

Williams: Definitely. In the fourth quarter with the ball in his Josh’s hands, we are guaranteed to go down and get points. When the pressure is on he always shows up.

David: Tell us about LeGarrette Blount’s hurdles. What did you think when you saw that. Were you on the field?

Williams: I didn’t see it because I was blocking a safety downfield. All of a sudden I see LeGarrette on my back. I thought, “He must have broke through.” When I saw the replay, it was amazing. That guy can do some amazing things.

Schottenheimer: I am impressed with how you work to improve yourself. Is there any routine you have with Josh or your teammates or just yourself for personal study?

Williams: Me and Kellen Winslow, we work after practice. We talk about teams and their coverages and we catch 100 balls each after practice. We talk about and work on routes and other things. Me and Sammy Stroughter, after our film sessions we will stick around for 10 minutes to try to find something on the film that coach Yarber hasn’t found

David: What were your expectations coming out of college?

Williams: To get this team in a position to win. For a team with three wins last year, I think I helped get this team get in a position to win. I think I’ve done that so far.

David: Are you surprised how far the team has come?

Williams: We expected to be better. Big things that are a surprise to others, we expected. When Rah said we were the best team in the NFC, we were behind him. We don’t expect to be in losing situations.

Schottenheimer: It’s impressive that a young player like has this attitude and the way you have gone about things. What do you see in your NFL future?

Williams: I want to improve every year, every day. I want to try to get better. I won on things I am not so good at. I want to block better downfield and I want to focus more on the ball and get my routes better. I have a connection with Josh. I want to learn the playbook and know it like he knows it. There’s a lot I want to do in the offseason. We have already talked about it.

David: What are you going to do after you win Sunday?

Williams: Most likely go home and find out about the Giants and Packers afterwards. If we get a big win, I’d like to stay [in New Orleans] and see what happens, especially for the New Year.

David: What is one of the differences other than speed between the NFL and college?

Williams: The major difference between the NFL and college is you have a lot more chances to get hurt. By the grace of God you don’t get hurt.

Eric Allen and Alex Loeb break down the Bucs win over the Seahawks Sunday in this BSPN video.

It seems like the defensive coordinator shot a loud message at Stylez White yesterday, when Michael Bennett started at right end where White had opened every game this season.

Then on Seattle’s first possession, Bennett responded with a tackle for a loss in the backfield on 3rd-and-7.

In a TBO.com postgame notebook, an item typed by video star Anwar Richardson wonders whether this spells the end of White’s four years as a Buccaneer.

DE Stylez G. White might have seen his last day as a Bucs starter. Michael Bennett started at right end and White, coming off the bench, did not have any tackles or sacks.

As a starter, White had 4.5 sacks this season and struggled to establish a consistent pass rush. White, 31, will be an unrestricted free agent next season and Sunday’s switch gave Tampa Bay coaches a chance to see Bennett in a starting role.

Bennett, 25, is a real veratile talent that the Bucs need to harness and coach up. But White, 31, is no stiff and he’s proven extremely durable and he does make his share of plays.

Joe could easily see where both guys are on the Bucs next year in a reserve role. But it’s clear the team’s going to try and upgrade at defensive end. Hopefully on both sides of the line.

"Hey, this guy Raheem Morris may be a good coach but he can't develop young quarterbacks like me."

In the 20th century, John McKay’s 1979 Bucs won five more games than the previous season.

It took 21 years for a Bucs coach to beat that mark. That was Chucky’s honor, when the Bucs finished 11-5, a six-game improvement over the previous season.

It took just his second year and Raheem Morris has matched Chucky and could set a franchise record. Martin Fennelly points out in the Tampa Tribune that Morris and Chucky now hold the honor of biggest Bucs turnarounds.

Yes, the schedule was favorable, so much so that it might haunt the Bucs from missed opportunities, especially against the Falcons and, of course, now and forever, the Lions.

But think of where they came from. Think of 3-13, the fired coordinators, the kid quarterback, the young head coach at loose ends, or so it seemed.

Remember, this team is still under construction. That was what Morris set out to do.

Imagine if somehow the Bucs win at New Orleans next week, that Raheem Morris, who some actually suggest is the reason there are more empty red seats at the CITS than fans in the stands, will pull off a feat better than McKay, better than Super Bowl-winning Chucky?

But yet the coach responsible for the franchise’s biggest turnaround is keeping people out of the stadium, really? That would be like saying John Tortorella ran off Bolts fans or Merlot Joe Maddon scared away Rays fans.

Maybe it really is the fact that people aren’t flush with cash like they once were, that the unemployment figures and foreclosure rates and the catastrophic number of home owners who are behind in their mortgage payments aren’t just some empty baseball stat geek numbers pulled out of someone’s arse by an overaged Dungeons and Dragons freak?

Veteran sports columnist Gary Shelton sums up the not-yet-over Bucs season in one word in this St. Petersburg Times video: Impressive.

Seems as though Bucs wide receiver Arrelious Benn, who suffered an ugly injury to his left knee, may be out for the season.

Or maybe not.

That’s the mixed messages Benn seems to be sending out on his Twitter account about his injury.

Roughly two hours after the game, Benn wrote — if one is to read between the lines — that he’s perhaps gone for the season.

Yea I’m on the shelf right now. I’ll be back. going to come back even better people I promise you that! I’m a dog nothing is going to stop me but me. Bucs baby!

Moments later, Benn seemed to do an about-face, admitting he does not know the severity of his injury.

Took a hit to my knee. Don’t know how bad it is will find out tomorrow

So as Joe suspected earlier, we likely will not know if Benn is done for the season until Raheem Morris meets the press.

You want them? Joe’s got them. Highlights of the Bucs beatdown of the Seahawks today, thanks to the good people of the NFL Network.

Michael Spurlock races 79 yards on a kickoff return.

Kellen Winslow scores from 10 yards out.

Mike Williams scores from 20 yards out.

Williams scores again.

Winslow slides in for his second score.

Barrett Ruud sacks Charlie Whitehurst.

LeGarrette Blount hurdles his way for a monster gain.

Another Blount run.

And another Blount run.

Mo Stovall gets in the act with a score.

Geno Hayes sacks Whitehurst.

Still more Blount.

All of Blount’s runs in one package.

Run LeGarrette, run.

All of Josh Freeman’s highlights in one package.

Bucs postgame press conferences.

Joe caught up with Bucs center/guard/tackle Jeremy Zuttah following Tampa Bay’s thrashing of the Seahawks on Sunday. Here’s his on-the-record comments about the running game, bad snaps and more:

Joe: How much pride does the offensive line take in LeGarrette Blount’s big runs?

Jeremy Zuttah: You take a lot of pride. You always take personal pride in the running game. With LeGarrette, you just got to get him to the second level and he’s going to do a lot of damage. It’s a pleasure and it’s fun to watch him run.

Joe: Was this a breakthrough day for the offensive line in the running game? How would you characterize today’s effort? 

Zuttah: No. I think we had just as many rushing yards against Detroit. You know, we did well. We started real slow off the ball. We could always do things better.

Joe: You’ve had a few problems with snaps when Josh Freeman is in the shotgun and snaps are off to the right. What’s the problem there? Is it technique?

Zuttah: I just have to make sure I follow through and that’ll be fine.

Joe: You were here in 2008 with the Bucs playoff hopes going down to the last week. What’s the difference in the mindset now from that playoff run?

Zuttah: In ’08, we kind of blew that. We were 9-3 and in control of our own destiny. This year, we’re just fighting and not looking around at who has to do this and who has to do that for us to get in the playoffs. We’re just working and keeping our head down and fighting, and if we don’t make it we’ll pack it up and go home. It’s a lot different than in ’08 because at one point we were considered like the best team in the league. That was a very different situation.

Joe brought up this point several weeks ago when it seemed a lock the Bucs would make the playoffs:

Raheem Morris should be coach of the year.

Joe wasn’t the only one saying it. Video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune was the first Joe heard talk about it. Football sage Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio was also on the Raheem Morris bandwagon.

But a pair of losses to the Dixie Chicks and an ugly, harrowing loss to the rebuilding since 1957 Detroit Lions threw cold water on the accolades for Raheem Morris.

Joe wonders if that has picked up steam after today’s win?

The Bucs are literally piecing a team together with bailing wire, duct tape and thrown away parts found on a junkyard heap. And still the Bucs are in the hunt for a playoff spot after Christmas no less.

Today things just got worse. Arrelious Benn goes out with a knee injury that on the surface screams “IR.” Earnest Graham got his bell rung and who know if or when he will return? Still, the Bucs won in a blowout.

Richardson has long made the case that the Bucs do not have one player in the top five at his position in the NFL. If that premise is acceptable, and throw in the scores of injuries to starters and valuable backups, if the Bucs make the playoffs Joe’s of the belief that trophy (or check) for coach of the year should be given to Raheem as he rides off the turf of the Superdome on his players’ shoulders next week.

If the Bucs make the playoffs, Morris will have done this with mirrors… and bailing wire… and duct tape.

Could Andy Reid win with this group?

So how many new bandwagon Bucs fans — and Josh Freeman, Geno Hayes and LeGarrette Blount fans — would there be right now if the thumping of the Seahawks was on local television today?

It’s too painful for Joe to speculate.

Man, this was a real lost opportunity to get the whole Bay area fired up.

Joe completely respects the business side of Team Glazer opting not to purchase gobs of unsold tickets to put games on television this year, as they did last year. Fans have to buy the freakin’ tickets. Yes, the economy is rough — but improving — though Joe saw the cheap tickets for every day last week.

The official attendance for the final home game today was 46,576. Looking around the stadium, there were plenty of no-shows from that number.

Joe wonders whether Team Glazer is regretting not putting this one out for the masses to soak in. And they have to be wondering what it’s going to take to fill the building.

Some bigger names on next year’s home schedule, like Chicago and Indianapolis, and the Cowboys, Giants or Eagles from the NFC East, should help quite a bit.

Sure, Joe was as geeked as a cheerleader the way the Bucs offense exploded. Who wouldn’t have been?

But what caught Joe’s eye was Adam Heyward and Geno Hayes laying the wood on Seahawks running backs and quarterbacks.

Why, Matt Hasselbeck was so unnerved, he blew his back out tip-toeing into the end zone.

Hayes had a monster game with eight tackles and two sacks. Heyward had four tackles but each was a bruising type of hit that made any sane player think twice about running his way.

This, all too often, is what the Bucs have lacked this season: punishing, physical linebackers putting the fear of an IRS collector into offensive players.

Could this be a sign of things to come?

Joe certainly hopes so.

Hallelujah!

The Bucs didn’t turn Marshawn Lynch into a Pro Bowl running back, save for one long run. The gaping holes seen in previous weeks against juggernauts Detroit and Washington just weren’t there today in the 38-15 gashing of Seattle. And the Bucs even mixed in some stout goal line play in short yardage.

Big fella defensive tackle Frank Okam, in his second start since being freed from the practice squad, had six tackles, second on the Bucs today behind Geno Hayes’ eight.

Playing primarily in Gerald McCoy’s 3-technique, Okam told Joe the big difference out there today was “more focus.”

“We were pretty embarrassed about what we put on tape the last couple of weeks, so it was important for us to go out there and stop the run so we could do some things and get them in one dimension,” Okam said.

Joe will have more from the Okam later.

A few days ago Raheem Morris said he simply needed Al Woods and Okam, with his 350+ pound frame, to get better. Joe wants to believe they have.

Joe’s already seeing quite a few questions about this subject so Joe will relay what he knows, which isn’t a whole lot.

Arrelious Benn suffered an injury to his left knee in the first half of the Bucs win over Seattle when he was tackled after his left foot planted awkwardly along the right sideline.

It was nasty enough that both teams came on the field and many Seahawks defenders huddled near Benn offering support.

Benn was able to walk off the field — gingerly — but once he got to the bench he was carted to the Bucs locker room.

in the second half Benn was on the Bucs sidelines in street clothes on crutches.

The severity of Benn’s injury won’t be fully known until Bucs coach Raheem Morris’ press conference Monday. By all appearances, the look of the injury itself, the reaction of players and Benn on crutches all points to a very depressing conclusion.

Josh Freeman tied a franchise record today with five touchdown passes.

He can thank LeGarrette Blount for that.

Sure the receivers had to catch the damn ball and Freeman had to have sufficient time to throw the ball but much of the credit can go to Blount.

In the second half when Freeman would fake a handoff to Blount, use a play-action-pass, the Seahawks linebackers reacted as if Joe just found Rachel Watson knocking on his door.

In other words, they froze like an Alaskan snowball.

This allowed the Bucs receivers to get wide open. Wide freaking open.

This was because Blount was running wild on the Seahawks defense, rumbling, stumbling, hurdling over would-be tacklers. The Seattle defense had to adjust, had to prepare, had to concern themselves with the Bucs running game, specifically Blount.

It’s no coincidence that the Bucs best offensive outbursts this season have come when Blount blugeoned defenses. It’s elementary football: When the a running game excels, it opens up an entire field.

Perhaps the Bucs coaching staff learned a lesson the hard way last week? Perhaps the Bucs coaches learned that Blount needs to be on the field, needs to get the ball early and often?

When Blount runs, the Bucs win.

As Mike Williams slugs it out with LeGarrette Blount for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award (Joe won’t consider Sam Bradford), the Bucs’ young receiver has a new rookie record of 10 receiving touchdowns.

Lars Tate, who had eight TDs as a rookie in 1988, is the Buccaneer Williams knocked out of the record books Sunday when Josh Freeman hit him for an easy 20 yard TD to put the Bucs up 16-7.

Williams now has 62 catches for 924 yards.

Joe is convinced the Bucs have enough weapons to win a shootout with New Orleans, even with Arrelious Benn knocked out with a seemingly serious knee injury. Hey, a guy can dream about more than Rachel Watson.