Game 5

Jags (1-3) at Bucs (1-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. [read more]

Career crossroads today?

Should the Bucs keep (3-17, 0-10 at home) Lovie Smith? A lot of folks don’t think so. Joe isn’t there (yet) but has to admit, Lovie is sure making his own bed.

Can Lovie still turn things around? Sure he can. [read more]

THE OPTIMIST lays out the evidence

In these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe. [read more]

Popular sports radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo continued his attacks on Gerald McCoy.

For some reason, Bucs fans love to go after talented defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. For some reason, they think he should be getting 20 sacks a year.

Maybe it is his personality. Maybe it is his not-quite-Hall-of-Fame numbers, but GMC irritates many Bucs fans. [read more]

The stat sheet — and Paul Posluszny — says today won’t be a big one for Doug Martin.

So what NFL team allows the fewest yards per carry?

That’s the Jacksonville Jaguars, the guys standing in the way of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 12 short hours. [read more]

Six-win team?

While there are quite a few noisy people locally that have already called for Lovie Smith’s head on a platter if the Bucs fall to the Jags tomorrow, Woody Cummings is not one of them. [read more]

Smooth-talking Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620 has his weekly sitdown with Joe talkin’ Bucs.

Yes, it is that time of the week when Joe has his sitdown with cool cat Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620.

In this podcast, Joe tackles the elephant in the room:  the job security of Bucs coach (3-17, 0-10 at home) Lovie Smith, and how tomorrow’s game with the Jags could very well be the beginning of the end for Lovie. [read more]

Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback has been a model of inconsistency since opening day.

So who is Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, and why should fans be excited? [read more]

A bizarre thing happened in Chicago last Sunday. On the third play of the game, the Bears lost their starting center.

Chicago’s left guard moved to center, and Patrick Omameh, the guy who started 16 games at right guard for Tampa Bay last year, jumped in at left guard for the rest of the game. [read more]

You asked for it, you got it. It’s the TV map for tomorrow’s game between the jughead Jags and the Bucs, live from the Den of Depression. [read more]

If you’re wondering what would preserve Lovie Smith’s job, Joe’s going to tell you right now. [read more]

Joe stumbled upon a treasure of a new website recently. Pat Kirwan, of SiriusXM NFL Radio and CBS Sports fame, has launched a site called RealFootballNetwork.com.

No gambling. No fantasy. Just football to your X’s-and-O’s heart’s content. [read more]

Communication is why the Bucs’ offensive line is playing well, said RG Ali Marpet.

Joe has been on an offensive line kick of late. For those who find this boring, don’t worry. Joe has plenty of non-offensive line content.

On a unit Joe thought would be the Bucs’ worst, the offensive line probably has developed into the team’s strength. [read more]

Brady Quinn and another noted NFL analyst are wagging a finger at Dirk Koetter and Lovie Smith’s management of Jameis Winston

What the hell is going on here?

Jacksonville has lost 11 consecutive road games and will play its third road game in a row on Sunday, yet multiple experts believes the Jags will handle the Bucs. [read more]

Can Lovie turn things around?

In a sad way, the main topic of Bucs fans is not the solid playing offensive line or the burgeoning play of rookie middle linebacker Kwon Alexander, or a rebirth of running back Doug Martin. [read more]

Has Vincent Jackson ever tapped you on the shoulder?

Jackson does that kind of thing around town. [read more]

Is Jacquies Smith a damn good defensive end, like he has been since he got a chance to play with the Bucs?

Or is he just a fading wonder who soon will be a Bucs trivia question? [read more]

A Blake Bortles trend isn’t good for Bucs

The bumbling Buccaneers have scored six points in the first quarters of games this season.

By contrast, the stumbling Jaguars’ offense has been starting fast. [read more]