Face of NFL Network, Rich Eisen.

On gameday mornings and during the NFL combine and draft, Rich Eisen is the face of NFL Network. [read more]

Helping those who need it.

It was reaching to the point where Joe thought a doctor prescribed Joe crazy pills and just didn’t tip Joe off. [read more]

Is he available or not?

Joe isn’t sure about jumping into the deep end of the pool. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

Losing three games in a row has turned the Bucs from a possible playoff team to one standing in line outside the restaurant waiting for a table to open. [read more]

“Complacent” – marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies : marked by complacency : SELF-SATISFIED. [read more]

What an eventful day in the NFC South! [read more]

Muscle up, please.

Some plays Joe witnessed Thursday night nearly forced a run to the toilet to yack Joe’s guts out. [read more]

“I like your thinking, Joe.”

Joe is thinking playoffs! [read more]

Start selling, FS1 host says.

Joe’s not ready to throw the towel in on the season. But there are enough disturbing things Joe has seen that doubt is renting an apartment in Joe’s head. [read more]

Market watch.

With the trade deadline coming in two days — Halloween! — one great big prize many Bucs fans were hoping somehow came to Tampa Bay is apparently off the market. [read more]

Buds coach Todd Bowles

Joe was unnerved Thursday when Bucs coach Todd Bowles said the Bucs couldn’t kick the offense into high gear against the Bills not because they don’t have the talent to do so, but they lack the common sense or discipline to do so. [read more]

This play resulted in a Baker Mayfield scramble for positive yards.

Joe sure hopes Todd Bowles and Dave Canales bought Baker Mayfield a 4-pack of Big Storm beer and a few orders of their amazing Buffalo shrimp tacos for his heroics late Thursday. [read more]

Buds coach Todd Bowles

The (3-4) record says the Bucs are a bad team, and Joe’s writing since Thursday night’s loss has backed that up. [read more]

Richard Sherman has harsh words for his good friend Jamel Dean — to his face. (Exclusive JoeBucsFan video)

Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean has zero interceptions in his last 19 starts.

He’s missed two pick-6 opportunities in the past two games and big names are now needling him publicly. [read more]

Former NFL receiver explains.

Joe wrote it in the wee hours on Friday. If the Bucs miss out on a playoff berth by one game, that almost-completed Hail Mary that would have won the game for Tampa Bay will haunt Joe for years. [read more]

Joe is perpetually annoyed by the Mike Evans naysayers that have been loud this year, and loud on-and-off for a decade. [read more]

So Thursday night, the Bucs’ run game, specifically running back Rachaad White, appeared to show signs of life. [read more]

Playoffs still in reach.

Shockingly, the Bucs are very much in the playoff hunt despite dropping three in a row. Joe detailed this Thursday night. [read more]

Offensive coordinator Dave Canales.

What the heck was happening to the Tampa Bay offense last night against a Bills defense dealing with signficant injuries? [read more]

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Todd discusses every game in Week 8 and who are worthy starters this weekend everywhere but Atlanta. The Todd Wright Fantasy Football Podcast is presented by Hooters.

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Too little, too late, too depressing.

For the second consecutive year, the Bucs are approaching midseason saddled with a 3-game losing streak. They showed plenty of grit Thursday night in Buffalo against a good football team and a raucous crowd, but that 3-1 start is starting to look like a mirage.

Once again, Tampa Bay’s defense did itself proud, especially in the second half. Buffalo punted on each of its final four possessions, but Baker Mayfield couldn’t get the offense in gear until midway through the fourth quarter.

The Bucs now have extra time to prepare for a trip to Houston, where the Texans have been surprisingly competitive behind rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

With the trade deadline looming, this franchise must decide on a direction. If the Bucs were 2-5 instead of 3-4, the path ahead would seem clear. Kyle Trask would be on the brink of replacing Mayfield under center and players like Mike Evans and Devin White might be deemed available.

The Glazers would likely weigh in at that point and suggest to Jason Licht that the future is not now. Accumulating draft capital would be a priority.

But at 3-4, the Bucs aren’t ready to abandon plans for a third consecutive division title. The bad news? [read more]