Eagles QB Jalen Hurts messed up a finger on his throwing hand.

So now we know who and when the Bucs will play to open the playoffs. [read more]

It’s official. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Did David Tepper toss a drink toward Antoine Winfield Jr. on Sunday?

He should have.

With an incredible hustle play in a season full of ’em, Winfield took center stage at the game’s biggest moment in a 9-0 victory that clinched a third consecutive division title for the Buccaneers.

D.J. Chark was on his way to the end zone early in the second quarter when Tampa Bay’s snubbed Pro Bowl safety swooped in and caused a fumble at the 1-yard line. The ensuing touchback preserved a 3-0 lead and the offensively-challenged Panthers never recovered en route to their second straight shutout loss.

It was a sensational effort by a sensational player, similar to the fumble Winfield forced against Atlanta QB Desmond Ridder at the 1-yard line back in October.

There isn’t much to talk about on the offensive side, except to say Baker Mayfield struggled with his accuracy and rhythm while his pass protection was no bargain.

Still, the Bucs did just enough to advance to face the fading Eagles.

Carolina simply didn’t have enough playmakers as Tampa Bay registered its first shutout since a 21-0 triumph at San Francisco in 2010. [read more]

Bucs GM Jason Licht.

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht may not have jumped in his backyard pool after clinching his third conseuctive division title today, but he did engage in online trash talk. [read more]

Fighter.

Joe knows Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is not overwhelmingly popular among Bucs fans. But the man is popular in the Bucs locker room. [read more]

Rachaad White made a comment on X last week that strongly implied he was miffed after not being named to the Pro Bowl. [read more]

Set an early tone in shutout.

To paraphrase Colorado coach and NFL cornerback legend Deion Sanders, is YaYa Diaby, him? [read more]

Joe gathered with a small group of devoted Tampa Bay fans to watch the Bucs-Panthers game today.

With the Bucs in victory formation, a very casual Bucs fan entered the space. [read more]

So much for Pro Bowl.

Did the Stinking Panthers pack it in? Did they already have the U-Hauls in their driveways? Did they already book their flights for Jamaica? Probably. [read more]

The big bosses of the Buccaneers have a decision to make. [read more]

Season saver?

Joe is happy AF the Bucs won. That doesn’t mean Joe is going full-blown cheerleader. [read more]

Searching hard for satisfying feelings today, Joe landed on Chris Godwin, whose late-fourth-quarter catch formally put the Bucs’ ugly 9-0 win against the Panthers in the bank. [read more]

Back in August, who woulda thunk this? [read more]

Flash poll posted at 3:44 p.m. Poll closed at 4:40 p.m.

The Bucs may not look like champions, but they absolutely are champions.

It’s official. At 9-8, Tampa Bay is the NFC South winner for the third consecutive year.

It was ugly today. Very ugly. Antoine Winfield Jr. saved the day with a raw hustle forced fumble at the 1 yard line following an embarrassing loaf by cornerback Jamel Dean. What a play it was by Winfield, so similar to his won’t-quit strip of Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder earlier this season. [read more]

Showtime in Charlotte! Are the Bucs a good team or a bad team? A clear hard answer comes today. Hopefully.

React with fans all game long in the comments below!!

Stick with Joe for lots out of this critical game. Maybe the Bucs will wake up and jump on the rotten Panthers. Joe would love to see Kyle Trask in the fourth quarter.

Ninety minutes from kickoff and Joe is dialed in on the words of a key Buccaneer who didn’t play last Sunday. [read more]

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Learns intensity of NFL.

What a season Bucs rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has had. [read more]

Stinking Panthers killer.

As Joe is wont to do, Joe has read all sorts of stories in the hours leading up to a Bucs game. [read more]

Let him throw (if pain-free).

For much of the year, Joe was so frustrated with the Bucs offense because Joe thought the Bucs were letting some of their best weapons rot on the vine through devotion to running the ball. [read more]