The Bucs will accomplish a rare feat when their defense takes the field this afternoon against Buffalo. Every opening-day starter will be healthy and ready to roll.

How often does that happen in Week 14 of a season?

Remember when the Bucs opened the year playing nasty, physical, swarming defense against the Jets, Saints and Cardinals? [read more]

Former Bucs assistant coach Herm Edwards joins Jerome Bettis and Mark Schlereth on BSPN to predict the Bucs-Bills game. There are a couple of Bucs believers there.

Pick this video up at the 9:27 mark, when Chris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and Steve Largent come together to predict the Bucs-Bills game on Inside The NFL on Showtime. Interestingly, Collinsworth liked what the Bucs put on film against Carolina, and Simms notes that the Bucs are marching forward on a mission. “They’re trying to save jobs down there.”

Many tens of thousands of JoeBucsFan.com readers only come here once a week or so. They’re people with meaningful lives, unlike Joe and many Bucs-obsessed lunatics that live on these pages 24/7. So with no Bucs football until tomorrow, Joe thought he’d re-visit a handful of this week’s headlines — for non-regular readers who want to catch up. Enjoy!

Blame me, says Greg Schiano
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102264

Glennon vows to be a perfect learner
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102294

“Proper adjustments” concern Dave Moore
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102299

Quit watch sparked by Adrian Clayborn
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102361

Down goes Casillas
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102370

Sloppy tackling surprised Schiano
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102386

Joe goes 1-on-1 with Tim Wright
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102591

Nick Foles helps Mike Glennon
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102405

Michael Bennett Remorse
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102377

The landmark Schiano-Duemig interview
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102461

Don’t bank on Mike Sullivan’s return
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102502

Why is Johnthan Banks using the word “disturbing?”
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102525

Bucs have good intel on EJ Manuel
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102545

McCoy says he loves stunts — used “sparingly”
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102558

Revis reveals Brett Favre’s nickname for him
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102675

Sheridan’s geared up to stop the run
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102634

Revis endorses the New Schiano Order
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102652

The mythical 100 percent has become a 2013 fairy tale

Bucs fans won’t see every last inch of talent this season within the most expensive player in Bucs history.

Darrelle Revis is now resigned to the fact his surgically-repaired knee won’t get back to where he wants it until 2014. [read more]

With the Bills-Bucs game broadcast by CBS tomorrow, scant folks around the country will get to watch the game free over their local CBS affiliate. It only will be shown in the areas shaded in orange. Below is the TV map where you may or may not get to watch the game without cable or satellite. As always, TV maps courtesy of the506.com.

Greg Schiano’s a virtual roulette-playin’, dice-rollin’ wild man compared with Bills head coach Doug Marrone. That’s the word from these Buffalo sports columnists that are begging Marrone to stop being the Alan Keyes of the NFL. Enjoy the video.

The Bucs may be struggling to win games and convert field goals, but they’re thriving in many other areas of special teams.

There’s plenty of credit to spread around. [read more]

Look, this is no knock on Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson. He is questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the bungling Bills with a sore hamstring. It likely will hobble Jackson the rest of the season. Hamstrings don’t just go away in a few days.

But Bucs commander Greg Schiano said something Friday during his daily press briefing that made Joe’s antennae perk up when he spoke about trying to keep Jackson healthy. [read more]

Seemingly shunning (or perhaps embracing?) the rollercoaster perception game of a long NFL season, veteran Tampa Tribune sports columnist Martin Fennelly penned a piece about how he can’t imagine Greg Schiano keeping his job if Tampa Bay loses to the Bills Sunday.

Is Fennelly right? [read more]

It’s Joe’s weekly podcast with the Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620. Joe dives into the Bucs-Bills game.

Mock draft season begins

All around good guy and NFL analyst Peter Schrager — you may be familiar with his work on “Inside the NFL,” his columns and draft research for FoxSports.com or his regular Sunday night hits on FOX News Network — decided, what the hell, let’s give NFL fans what they want.

Therefore, Schrager decided to post his first mock draft for 2014, yup, some five months away.

Like some Bucs fans who clamor for Johnny Football or Teddy Bridgewater, Schrager too feels the Bucs will go for an offensive skill position player. But not quarterback. [read more]

Joe was as shocked as just about anyone two weeks ago, when Bucs stud cornerback Darrelle Revis left late in the first half in Detroit and rookie Johnthan Banks replaced Revis and had to go toe-to-toe with the greatest wide receiver of our generation, Calvin Johnson, and Banks won the battle.

It may have been the turning point of his young NFL career. A rookie showing he could hang with the likes of Johnson and the confidence that builds, Joe can’t describe how good that is. [read more]

Prickly Pete Prisco, Pat Kirwan and Will Brinson break down all things Bucs-Bills, Mike Glennon and more in this CBSSports.com video.

They also touch on the heavyweight matchup of the day, Donald Penn vs. renowned defensive end Mario Williams. Williams has 12 sacks  this season but only two in his last five games. Joe’s not going to bet against Penn. Perhaps former Bills defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt can give Penn some valuable insight.

Bucs fans will be intrigued by the final score predictions.

The leader of the New Schiano Order took to the podium at One Buc Palace today to update media on the state of Vincent Jackson (unclear) and talk about the Bills, their head coach, and plenty about Bobby Rainey’s skills and future. (Audio via 620wdae.com.)

Bucs fans remember that Brett Favre was oh so close to wearing pewter and red for the 2008 season. Team Glazer, per numerous reports, was ready to take on Favre’s $12 million salary, but a last second change of heart by the Packers got Favre shipped to the Jets.

Ironically, it seems that trade had a huge impact on Darrelle Revis, the Bucs’ $1-million-per-game cornerback. [read more]

Nickerson left the Bucs’ radio booth to coach linebackers for Lovie Smith in Chicago in 2007. He wants to coach again.

Has it really been 20 years since the Bucs signed Hardy Nickerson to dominate the middle of their defense?

Damn, that makes Joe feel old.

Nickerson, who went to five Pro Bowls with Tampa Bay, joined the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620 this morning to talk about his rare visit to Tampa for the Bucs-Bills game Sunday. (He was invited to do promotional work for the Bucs) and chatted about wanting to return to the NFL coaching ranks. [read more]

Vincent Jackson dropped his share of passes this season, fumbled a couple of times and hasn’t looked like the same superstar player he was last season (minus getting caught from behind).

But Jackson also is racking up impressive numbers, despite the loss of Mike Williams’ presence, a green rookie quarterback, a sleepy, leaky quarterback, and other factors. [read more]