It’s Joe’s game outlook

Buccaneers (2-8) at Bears (4-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. [read more]

Tampa Bay had six sacks last Sunday — six! — but everyone isn’t sold on the notion the Bucs repaired their pass rush. [read more]

Joe’s anxious to see how the Bucs will utilize Gerald McCoy against the Bears today.

Chicago has stud right guard Kyle Long, who was a Pro Bowler as a rookie last season, anchoring their veteran and sometimes shaky offensive line. [read more]

Darn good chance Doug Martin is active and playing today against the Bears.

His ankle is in good shape. He practiced all week. He sounded happy and ready on his radio show. And there’s motive.

[read more]

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s regular nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida.

Joe’s going to let a powerful quote to the talking here. [read more]

You asked for it, you got it. It’s the TV broadcast map for tomorrow’s game between the Bucs and the Bears, live from the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

If you are a resident of Florida or the greater Chicagoland area, there is a better than average chance you won’t have to run to a local bar or find someone with NFL Sunday Ticket to watch the game. [read more]

A telling moment for Joe while hanging out at One Buc Palace this spring was a 1-on-1 chat with Lovie Smith’s son, Buccaneers safeties coach Mikal Smith.

Joe asked the younger Smith, who’s in his late 30s, whether he wants to be a head coach and follow in his dad’s footsteps. [read more]

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]

Bucs super rookie Mike Evans went toe to toe with Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, this week.

Evans held his own under the national spotlight. [read more]

Joe received an interesting story in his e-mail box recently from noted St. Louis-based NFL writer Howard Balzer. While Balzer is a national football writer, he hangs out a lot at the Lambs facilities because, well, it’s in the same area he lives.

Rams starting guard Davin Joseph (who still calls Tampa home) was a popular Buccaneer for years– partly because he was a No. 1 pick, partly because of all the good things he did for folks in need, in particular, Tampa Bay high school football programs that received money from his foundation. [read more]

Lovie Smith admits the Josh McCown seen in Washington was the quarterback he envisioned back in March, when Lovie was quick to move on McCown with Team Glazer’s checkbook.

McCown has looked the part — for the most part — since returning two Sundays ago. [read more]

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s regular nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

Bears WR Brandon Marshall and his WR teammate Alshon Jeffery are both listed as probable for Sunday’

One perplexing thing with the Bears is their offense is inconsistent despite having weapons all over the field. Take Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. Damn near any team would drool to have those tall twins at receiver.

Both receivers, however, are dinged up but Bears coach Marc Trestman has listed both as probable for Sunday, documents Michael C. Wright of BSPN.com [read more]

Hey, it’s Friday. Happy hour approaches.

So in the happy hour spirit of dart throwing, pool playing and business-babe gawking, Joe has important stats for you. [read more]

To hear from some, Bears fans mourn the day Bears general manager Phil Emery jettisoned Lovie Smith after a 10-win, 2012 season. The Bears haven’t been the same since and appear to be on the verge of a meltdown under Marc Trestman.

However, a CSN Chicago panel of David Kaplan, Rick Telander and Hub Arkush seem to disagree. They’re not impressed with Lovie, and they don’t believe fans have special feelings for him. [read more]

UPDATED: 1:18 p.m. — The latest from One Buc Palace sure makes it seem like the Bucs will have to find a way to win Sunday without Lavonte David, the NFL leader in tackles.

TampaBay.com Bucs beat writer Greg Auman shared the grim news via Twitter. [read more]

It’s amazing what a victory will do for a team.

The Bucs pounded the Redskins and are talking playoff probabilities. [read more]