(Photo courtesy of Steelers.com.)

Ugly game last night. So let’s get going. It’s 4:11 a.m. and Joe hasn’t gone to bed yet. [read more]

It’s downright mind-boggling how the Bucs are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 77.9 percent of their passes this season.

That’s the worst percentage in the NFL by an unhealthy margin. [read more]

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Recorded in the wee hours following the Bucs-Steelers game at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, today’s podcast is all about the Monday night loss and the pending quarterback decision. It’s always a fast-moving, fun and informative time on the Ira Kaufman Podcast presented by Ed Morse Cadillac Tampa and Ed Morse Cadillac Brandon.

Click play above or tune in at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. And you can find it on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts,” ALL genres. Stay informed, thinking and smiling every single Tuesday & Thursday — and there is NO offseason.

Click or download above. Listening to “The Sage” is fun, free and easy. Enjoy!

Baller.

Early in the first quarter when Bucs safety Justin Evans picked off Ben Roethlisberger, Joe heard a fellow scribe say about Evans’ knack for making big plays, “This guy is a Pro Bowler.” [read more]

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: [read more]

Discusses immediate future. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Win or lose, day or night, Bucs fans want to know: [read more]

Shoulders blame.

For as wonderful as Bucs backup (?) quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick played in the second half, he was dreadful in the first half, especially his pick-six in the second quarter, one of three in the second quarter. [read more]

The Tampa Bay running game has evaporated for most of the last 11 quarters of Buccaneers football. [read 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.  [read more]

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with finding positives in this messy Monday night debacle. [read more]

New NFL record-holder

Those three consecutive 400 yard games by Ryan Fitzpatrick, including tonight’s 411 yards on 30 completions, they set an NFL record. [read more]

Photo from Steelers.com

What a wild freak show that was — and Joe’s not talking about the crappy officiating and the 20,000-plus Steelers fans that infested the Den of Depression tonight.

Bucs fans got their first taste of bad Ryan Fitzpatrick and good Fitzpatrick in the same darn game. He clearly got rattled early by a physical/dirty Steelers team with a ferocious first-half pass rush that led to three picks and 30 points for the men in black. [read more]

Fire away in the comments section with Bucs fans from Port Richey to Brandenton and beyond. Share all your thoughts tonight’s Steelers-Bucs on Monday Night Football — your undefeated Bucs against the winless Steelers.

Play nice!

And stick with Joe and Ira Kaufman after the game for loads of postgame coverage.

Best of his career.

If third-year Bucs defensive back Ryan Smith can continue to play like he did against the Eagles, it will go a long way toward the Bucs shoring up their pass defense. [read more]

O.J. Howard talks 0-2 mentality (yes, 0-2) and learning a valuable lesson.

O.J. Howard has learned a valuable lesson, he says, one that was reinforced to him over and over again last week. [read more]

NFL agent Joel Segal.

Earlier this morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, has hired a new agent. [read more]

On injury report.

Talk about a kick to the groin. [read more]

Eight months ago, Buccaneers rookie safety Jordan Whitehead was a black-wearing, terrible-towel-twirling college kid going absolutely nuts for his beloved Steelers during one of the wildest AFC playoff games in history. [read more]

Dire words from ex-Buc.

In the eyes of Ian Beckles, the Bucs are about to enter waters upon which there is no return. [read more]