“Hi Todd!”

Joe might have to nurse a bottle of Big Storm Distillary’s Coyote Ugly bourbon to wash away the memory of Sunday’s shatfest in Houston. [read more]

Joe didn’t expect the Bucs to be mentally weak yesterday in Houston.

But that was the picture head coach Todd Bowles painted during a TV appearance today. [read more]

Handicappers will tell you quickly that rest is usually a team’s best friend, especially if the team has more rest entering a game than its opponent.

[read more]

Joe can barely believe the stats concerning how Todd Bowles’ defense ole’ed so badly playing matador defense to allow Houston rookie C.J. Stroud to win the game yesterday. [read more]

Calls out bad pass rushing.

Joe mentioned this earlier today but now Todd Bowles is on record discussing it. [read more]

Interesting radio comment yesterday afternoon by Todd Bowles after he praised his offense for a 37-point output. [read more]

His numbers don’t lie and the Bucs’ apparent disinterest in throwing deep to Chris Godwin tell a story, too. [read more]

Blunt words for Bucs DBs.

“They look like the worst secondary in football.”

— Hall of Fame cornerback Rondé Barber.

These are very damning words when you consider the source and who he is tight with at One Buc Palace. [read more]

How about that career game yesterday for tight end Cade Otton, the first pick of Round 4 in last year’s draft! [read more]

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

Is it time for YaYa Diaby to start some games? It’s just about time for the Joe Tryon-Shoyinka experiment to close. [read more]

Target of Bucs fans.

Two weeks ago Joe noted that watching Bucs safety Ryan Neal was giving Joe “Sabby feels.” [read more]

GM Jason Licht talks about his versatile guard.

Interesting words yesterday from Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.

(These interesting words did not include the colorful phrases Licht likely was uttering after the game.) [read more]

Chris Godwin, Rachaad White and Cade Otton celebrate what looked to be Otton’s game-winning touchdown. But then, Mike Smith’s defense reappeared after a five-year slumber. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Joe is depressed, angry, bitter, bewildered, staggering around in a fog from yesterday’s Bucs loss to Houston. Who may or may not be here next season? Joe doesn’t know.

Still, Joe is heartened to know a division title remains very much in reach.

Strange Bucs times we live in. Let’s get this show on the road. [read more]

No more time.

Finally, finally, finally the Bucs offense broke out yesterday. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

My goodness what Joe and all Bucs fans watched yesterday was the pits. And the more research Joe has done on the gutless effort by the Bucs defense in the 39-37 loss to Houston, the worse the loss gets. [read more]

Rachaad White

Quality day on the ground for Rachaad White. His 20 carries for 73 yards felt special against Houston, but in reality it was only 3.65 yards per carry.

NFL running backs averaged 4.4 yards per rush last season. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

There’s a pretty good chance the 2023 Buc season ended Sunday at 4:27 p.m. EST.

That’s when the clock ran out on the visitors in a surreal 39-37 setback that had to be seen to be believed. Buc fans still don’t believe it — and who can blame them?

The NFC South standings say the Bucs are only a game behind the first-place Saints in the loss column, but this was no ordinary loss at Houston. All you had to do was listen to Todd Bowles at the post-game podium. [read more]

Offense did its job.

Joe doesn’t give a damn. If your offense scores 37 points, you should win. Period. [read more]

Before kickoff today, Buccaneers No. 1 cornerback Carlton Davis was talking about “being a lockdown corner” and focusing on “impact” through the season’s final 10 games. [read more]

Stunned.

Baker Mayfield thought the game was in the bag. [read more]

With the Bucs offense breaking out for 37 points today, despite often being out of rhythm and struggling to convert on third down (3-for-13), Joe wonders to whom Baker Mayfield was referring after the game. [read more]