A road win on a Thursday night is a surprising feat in the NFL, based on simple facts. But the Bucs blew that theory out of the water by pistol-whipping the Vikings last night.

The most surprised of Americans may have been Marriott-sleeping, cricket-watching, smartphone-censoring, scone-loathing Peter King of Sports Illustrated, who made no secret he was stunned by the Bucs win.

About Last Night …

Well, who saw 37-16, Tampa, coming? Not me. But the one thing that is patently obvious about the way the Bucs play is the emphasis on the run. Greg Schiano is using Doug Martin the way he used Ray Rice at Rutgers. Using a 53 percent-47 percent run-pass ratio, the Bucs ran Martin 29 times and passed to him six times (completing three, including a 64-yard touchdown catch-and-run). Schiano is defying the rest of the league — I have a feeling that’s going to be a recurring theme — by running so much with Martin, but why wouldn’t he? If he’s going to have a quarterback completing 50-something percent of his throws, which Josh Freeman has in each of his last three games, why not move the chains the way your grandfather did?

King makes a salient point, and it’s not his shock at last night’s outcome.

Sooner or later the rookie wall is going to hit Doug Martin and hit him hard. How well he is able to manage that wall will be interesting; some rookies can, some cannot.

It’s one thing to play 12 games in college, quite another to play 20 (including preseason games) with men.

Joe wonders if Bucs coach Greg Schiano has a pitch-count on Martin?

Joe is still geeked from last night’s game, a punch-in-the-face win over the Vikings in their crumbling crib.

It’s as if Joe has had a glass or two of Bushmills. But he hasn’t.

One reason the Bucs fared so well against the Vikings is that the team made history, thanks in large part to Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin.

Consider what the numbers geeks at ESPN dredged up for the Bucs:

Running back Doug Martin carried the load, becoming the first player in Buccaneers history with 135 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards in the same game.

Martin ran for 121 of those yards between the tackles, the second-most by a Buccaneers running back in the last five seasons (LeGarrette Blount had 126 in a game against the Indianapolis Colts last season).

Martin’s 65 yards after contact, between the tackles, are the fifth-most by a rusher this season.

Pretty impressive night for Martin, right? Joe just marveled at Martin’s vision last night. he was patient with his blocks and when there were bodies in front of him, he quickly shifted to the sight of daylight.

Very impressive.

Martin seemed to have turned the corner with performances over the Chiefs and Saints, both lame defenses. Now he sets a team record against one of the better defenses in the NFL, the Vikings?

Joe’s liking what he is seeing. Big time!

The Bucs routinely practice at game speed, even at the expense of gaining more reps at a slower tempo. They drill each other in pads once a week (per the max of league rules), and the entire practice experience is geared toward a gameday performance.

The New Schiano Order Bucs are even graded on hustle in practice. Subpar effort is not tolerated.

All this, per various Bucs players talking to Joe, is what gets them firing on gameday. Yeah, the Bucs are 3-4, but the incessant slow starts to games of the past regime have vanished. This team is ready to play physical football every week.

So it’s all the more exciting, and a great show of maturity, that the Bucs were able to manhandle the Vikings last night without having a normal week of practice. There was no practice in pads. There was no practicing at game tempo. The hours between the Bucs’ loss to New Orleans and flying to Minnesota on Wednesday were about rest and extreme mental preparation.

And the Bucs pulled it off in grand fashion.

Joe points this out because it shouldn’t be discounted. Most teams don’t have the mental toughness to succeed on Thursday Night Football on the road. Hence, the poor records of those team. The Bucs didn’t just win. They were dominant outside of the comfort of their routine.

Joe’s now very confident the Bucs will be ready and unfazed in Oakland in nine days. If the beatable Raiders go down and the Bucs pull to 4-4, Joe will dare to dabble in playoff talk.

NFL Network served up a rare look inside the Bucs locker room. It’s safe to say Greg Schiano is an excitable guy who loves his offensive line.

The majority of football coaches are a little nuts. It’s just how the business goes, and Greg Schiano is in that group. The leader of the New Schiano Order is no Tony Dungy.

NFL Network gave a video peek into Schiano’s instant postgame talk in the Bucs locker room last night . It’s a rare glimpse, especially with the Team Glazer trifecta in view. It closes with Schiano’s maniacal leading of the Buccaneers salute, “Family! 1, 2, 3!”

The Bucs might just keep juggling punt returners after last night’s mess

First it was Preson Parker continuing his fumbling, bumbling punt return ways into the 2012 season. Then it was Jordan Shipley costing the Bucs dearly in Dallas while replacing injured Sammie Strougther.

And now Bucs fans have the Roscoe Parrish Experience.

He fumbled once last night, nearly a critical early turnover against Minnesota, and struggled mightily to field two other punts. He can’t even blame the wind in the old Hefty bag dome.

Parrish was a guy who had a great returner career, but the Raiders cut him in the preseason after multiple cough-ups.

Maybe Parrish can right his ship, but the Bucs have gotten a solid sampling of his work, and it’s clear he doesn’t have the jets or hands he once did.

Joe’s not sure where the Bucs turn next. Is anyone on the street? The trade deadline is Tuesday.

For those wondering, Run Michael Run Spurlock ran a punt back 28 yards last week to set up a score for Jacksonville, his new home after the Chargers cut him earlier this year. Joe’s wondering this morning why Spurlock wasn’t given a shot in the New Schiano Order, or a real chance in 2011.

Yeah, Joe’s a Bucs guy first, and a football guy second.

For years, Joe’s weekends during the fall started on Thursday nights. Then, with ESPN broadcasting college football games, Joe often found himself parked on his favorite barstool, cold beer in hand.

After years of watching Thursday night football, it became clear that home teams often had a major advantage over visiting teams.

Usually, visiting teams (in college) would have four practices (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and an abbreviated Wednesday film/walk-through session) and the team would fly out.

Home teams often got an extra day in, using Thursday afternoon for film study and/or walk-throughs.

As a result, visiting teams noticeably had a devil of a time to try to win.

This seemed to carry over to NFL games on Thursday evenings; visiting teams may get in three practices only. And it showed.

This season, home teams were 5-1 entering the Bucs-Vikings game. And the Bucs deficated all over that Thursday hex.

Using a bruising defense, a stubborn run game and a sparkling passing game, the Bucs slammed the Vikings for a 36-17 win and, for now, put to rest the wives tale of Thursday night road games, writes Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

By the time the drunks were finished with their fights in the stands, black-and-blue described the Vikings’ bruised psyches, not their style of play.

“They did a good job of just coming out and beating our brains in,” defensive end Brian Robison said. “It’s Football 101.”

Looking back on it, the game largely was just that: a back-alley brawl. It was physical, nasty yet not dirty, tough. Yards were gained by brute force and paid for in pain.

The Bucs came in and punched the Vikings in the mouth and served notice to the NFL: with a 3-4 record, this team isn’t shutting down any time soon.

Yeah, Ronde Barber got burned last night in Minnesota, but his manly open-field tackle of Adrian Peterson, and his feats-of-strength strip of Peterson more than made up for it.

Barber just out-gutted the ball from Peterson in the second quarter, like the way Joe behaves when he and another mortal go for the last beer. (Barber video here.) The score was 13-6 Bucs and the Vikings were driving at their 30 yard line. This was a huge play. Peterson hadn’t fumbled all season.

Barber led the Bucs last night with eight tackles. Michael Bennett and Eric Wright each had four.

What Barber is accomplishing this season is stunning. And it’s not just the age thing; the guy is making plays every week.

If Aqib Talib has fans, then Joe is probably one of them. Joe doesn’t think Talib is a terrible dude, just one of those guys who’s going to do something incredibly foolish once or twice a year.

As Joe tells his kid, being a good person in 99 percent of your interactions makes you an a-hole a couple of times a month, which is not good enough.

Now the Bucs have the chemistry flowing after winning two of three games wihout Talib and shocking the NFL with a road beat down of the Vikings, a team that flat out embarrassed the 49ers not too long ago.

Joe’s starting to think that bringing back Talib and his Adderall problem might not be worth the potential risk of screwing with the Bucs’ chemistry, especially if the Bucs can beat the beatable Raiders in nine days.

Leonard Johnson flashed some greatness in Minnesota. Maybe the Bucs can add some cornerback depth before Tuesdays trade deadline? If the Bucs can go 3-1 without Talib, then Joe wouldn’t bother bringing him back.

Against the Chiefs, a team with a timid defense, Doug Martin finally appeared to be breaking out.

Against New Orleans, Martin had a helluva touchdown catch on a screen.

Tonight, Martin blew threw the front doors of the NFL, on the stage of the league’s own vehicle of course, NFL Network, on national television.

Yes, Doug Martin arrived. Yes, Doug Martin showed why Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik traded up late in the first round to acquire Martin.

The Muscle Hamster showed vision, waiting for blocks to develop, darting through daylight, manning up to move bodies on a one-yard touchdown run that clinched the game and, oh yeah, caught passes too.

The past two weeks, the Bucs showed they could pass the ball and the Bucs continued to do that Thursday night. But now, with Martin going crazy, the Bucs have a chance to be a very dangerous team.

The run opens up the pass and vice-versa. Now, the Bucs, as they did with LeGarrette Blount in 2010, have both running and passing.

Beware NFL defenses. Your Halloween nightmares very well could last through the holiday season.

Ok. Joe’s watched the Jared Allen-Donald Penn third-quarter smackdown about 10 times now.

Quality stuff. And kudos to the officials for letting these beasts beat the crap out of each other on the field.

You can watch the video here.

Allen clearly was the weaker opponent, mentally and physically. Allen went to the face first, but Penn retaliated with a single blow to the head that ripped Allen’s helmet off. Allen showed his foolishness by trying to lift Penn by the thigh. Yeah, like that was going to work.

Allen got in one quality forearm punch under Penn’s chin but walked away with a bloody nose and stunned that he took that kind of abuse on his home turf. Allen beat Penn for a sack on the next play, but the real humiliation could not be done. Plus Penn surely got the best of Allen on the night.

After the game on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Penn said he has all the respect in the world for Allen and the two shook hands after the game. Penn said things just got “chippy” and that’s football.

Also after the game, Allen too took the high road about the rasslin’ match.

“We were just two guys competing,” Allen said on the NFL Network. “I was bobbing and weaving and I got punched. My helmet got knocked down and cut my nose.

“I give all the credit to those guys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They earned this win. They were the better team tonight. They kicked our butts from top to bottom. We will learn from it.”

Bucs coach Greg Schiano always bragged that part of “Bucs football” was to be physical and drain the clock when needed.

That philosophy came to life in the late third quarter and early fourth quarter for the Bucs. Given how the Bucs choked away a big lead against he Giants, and led the Saints last week by two touchdowns only to see that lead vanish, there isn’t one Bucs fan who felt comfortable with the Vikings just two touchdowns behind and peerless running back Adrian Peterson warmed up after a 64-yard touchdown run

But the Pewter Pirates ate up over nine minutes of clock on an 87-yard, 16-play drive, with Josh Freeman converting five third downs in the possession, capped by a one-yard plunge by Doug Martin for a 36-17 lead.

How cool was that drive? It showed that Freeman, when pressed, can be clutch.

But it also hearkened Joe to the lone Bucs Super Bowl, when the Bucs took the opening kickoff of the second half, and shoved the ball down the throats of the Raiders, eating up 9:30 off the clock.

Yes, that’s how cool tonight’s game-clinching drive was to Joe. He had Super Bowl memories dancing in his head, not to mention the vision of Joe’s lovely Latina waitress at Tilted Kilt Thursday night.

Joe really hopes Bucs fans appreciate the magic of Mike Williams.

The truly elite level stuff Williams continues to churn out game after game is just plain beautiful.

When have Bucs fans seen such body control?

Against the Vikings, Williams danced the sidelines. He worked the back of the end zone like no other. He got hammered and held on over the middle.

No, Williams isn’t perfect. But he’s not a finished product and just a mad talent who should only improve.

Joe sincerely hopes fans savor what they’re seeing in this guy. What he’s delivering are not every-game occurrences around the NFL.

How bout that high-powered Bucs offense!

How bout Donald Penn and Jared Allen squaring off WWF style!

Make no mistake, this was a massive Bucs win, against long odds on the road on a Thursday night against the previously undefeated-at-home Vikings. The Bucs are back in the mix at 3-4 and beatable Oakland up next in 10 days.

The New Schiano Order put the cowbell on Doug Martin tonight and rode the kid for 29 carries for 135 yards, and three catches for 79 yards. There were two TDs on the night for Martin, and he would not be denied in short yardage at the end zone.

Adrian Peterson carved up the Bucs, but it wasn’t enough. The Bucs’ pass defense and pass rush came to play, likely smiling from ear-to-ear after realizing Ponder would not be pulling any Drew Brees imitation tonight.

Major kudos to Ronde Barber.

Stick with Joe through the wee hours.

OK boys and girls. It’s Thursday night and you probably can’t come to Tilted Kilt to drink with Joe. Stinks for you.

However, that doesn’t mean Bucs fans both young and old can’t participate in this here open thread as the Bucs square off against the Vikings in the wintry air of October under the warm glow of a soulless dome.

Have at it. Let all the world know what you think of how the game is transpiring.

And above all else, have fun!

Can the Bucs stop Adrian Peterson?

Can Donald Penn stop Jared Allen?

Was it dumb of the Bucs to activate Da’Quan Bowers so soon?

Can Josh Freeman throw for over 250 yards against one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL?

Will the fate of so many travelings teams playing on Thursday nights continue to haunt the NFL, along with the Bucs?

Inquiring minds want to know.

It’s time to get a little loud and bond with your fellow Bucs fans while watching the New Schiano Order Bucs in Minnesota tonight at Tilted Kilt in Clearwater.

This is going to be the place to be for this game. The Bucs on Thursday Night Football!!

Tilted Kilt has it all, indoor and outdoor seating, great food, the sizzling Kilt girls, Wi-Fi, a classy layout, and great viewing. The game audio will be heard everywhere, and Joe’s got lots of jerseys and hats to giveaway. There’s nothing better than the energy of a great sports bar scene rocking for the home team. Be there!

Week 8

Bucs at Vikings

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m.

TV: NFL Network.

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); SiriusXM Channel 92.

Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, it is winter in the Northlands. While the Bucs will be playing the Vikings in a soulless dome, any Bucs fans tailgating will be treated to winter in October. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 37 and by the time the game is over, temperatures will be hovering just above freezing with a potential light dusting of snow.

Odds: Per Sportsbook.com, Bucs +6.5.

Outlook: The task at hand is simple: Stop Adrian Peterson. The job is difficult: Stop Adrian Peterson.

If the Bucs plan to win this game, the NFL’s top rush defense will have to find a way to suffocate Peterson. Do this, and the Bucs could win and the season is still alive. Don’t do this and the Bucs are standing at 2-5 and a postseason berth is slightly more realistic than Joe finding Rachel Watson on his leather couch looking for intimate consoling.

Gerald McCoy, Roy Miller, Quincy Black, Mason Foster and Lavonte David will have to be at their very best in this game.

Yeah, sure, the Bucs pass defense appears to be a bottomless pit of despair and Vikings quarterback, Samantha Steele-bedding Christian Ponder, isn’t a pushover. But given the two poisons to swallow, the Bucs would much rather have Ponder try to beat them as opposed to Peterson.

The Vikings have a solid defense. This isn’t the Chiefs or Saints, who appear to field defenses that might compete in the Big XII. If Donald Penn is having a rough night, that means Jared Allen is terrorizing Josh Freeman. If that happens, someone might want to run to the Mall of America and buy a bottle of anything 90-proof or higher because Freeman will certainly need it.

Fun facts: Here’s some cool stuff to chew on before kickoff, courtesy of the Bucs media relations department:

Buccaneers’ offense ranks: 5th in the NFL in total yards/play, 2nd in yards per pass, 9th in sacks allowed/pass play, 11th in points/game. Buccaneers’ 513 total net yards last week were the second-most in franchise history. Buccaneers’ 976 total net yards over the last two weeks are the most in a two-game stretch in franchise history.

QB Josh Freeman: Two of his five 300-yard passing games came in the past two weeks (two of his top three); has thrown for 1,047 yards in his past three games; has 11 touchdowns and five interceptions on the season; is 11th in the NFL with a 91.2 passer rating; 95-yard pass to Vincent Jackson last week was the longest play in franchise history; 420 passing yards last week were a career high and the third-most in franchise history.

RB Doug Martin: Has 253 total yards (161 rushing, 92 receiving) on 34 touches (29 rushes, 5 catches) over the last two games; averaging 5.6 yards on 29 carries over last two games.

WR Vincent Jackson: Set a franchise record last week with 216 receiving yards; sixth in the NFL with 586 receiving yards; fourth in the NFL, averaging 97.7 receiving yards per game; fourth in the NFL with five touchdown catches; third in the NFL, averaging 21.7 yards per catch.

WR Mike Williams: Fourth in the NFL, averaging 19.4 yards per catch; among wide receivers drafted in 2010 (includes D. Thomas, D. Bryant, G. Tate, A. Roberts, A. Brown, E. Decker, etc.), is first in receptions (149), receiving yards (2,103) and touchdown catches (14, tied with Bryant, note: Victor Cruz, who was undrafted, leads all third-year wide receivers in yards.

T Demar Dotson: Took over starting right tackle job from Jeremy Trueblood in Week 2. Since then, Buccaneers have given up only seven sacks, the third-lowest total in the NFL over that span. The ormer basketball player at Southern Miss, played one year of college football as a DT.

T Donald Penn: Mans left tackle spot for offensive line that has allowed only nine sacks this season, tied for fourth-best in the NFL; former Vikings practice squad player before Buccaneers signed him to active roster in 2006. Became Pro Bowler in 2010.

FB Erik Lorig: Drafted by Bucs in 2010 as defensive lineman. Converted to fullback; has seven catches for 51 yards this season after only seven for 63 in previous two seasons combined.

Bucs defense ranks: 3rd in the NFL rushing yards allowed per game, 1st in the NFL in yards allowed per rush, 15th in the NFL points per game allowed, 6th in the NFL in interceptions (9).

DT Roy Miller: Been stout in the middle of the league’s best rush defense (in terms of yards per carry); his 88 career tackles are the most among defensive tackles drafted in 2009, which includes B.J. Raji, Peria Jerry, Ziggy Hood, Sen’Derrick Marks, Terrance Knighton, etc.

MLB Mason Foster: Led rookies in tackles last year; has more tackles than any other defensive player selected in last year’s draft except Akeem Ayers (four more in one more game played).

OLB Lavonte David: Bucs lead NFL in forcing opponents into negative plays (52) and negative runs (28). David leads team with nine TFLs.

Joe’s not sure if this is hitting the panic button or a smart thing, but the Bucs just announced through the team’s official Twitter feed that defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has been activated and will play tonight against the Vikings.

@TBBuccaneers: The Bucs have just activated DE Da’Quan Bowers from the PUP list. He should play tonight against the Vikings.

Bowers blew out his Achilles working out at One Buc Palace in May. Generally, this is an injury that takes a year to heal properly.

Yeah, the Bucs’ pass rush could use some help now that Adrian Clayborn was put on the injured reserve list. But was it the Bucs didn’t have a pass rush against the Saints because Bowers and Clayborn weren’t on the roster, or because Bucs coach Greg Schiano gave the blessing to only rush Drew Brees with three men, basically allowing him to get his oil changed before having to throw the ball?

If Bowers reinjures his Achilles, it will be one helluva debt to pay by rolling the dice. Joe’s not of the mind that the gamble is worth it.

Adrian Peterson likely shouldn’t be playing. His knee injury was so severe last season, 2012 seemed a pipe dream. Peterson told Vikings officials he would be ready to start the season and they scoffed.

And look who started the season at running back for Minnesota.

It just goes to show the attitude that Peterson has, and runs with. Bucs coach Greg Schiano mentioned, specifically, how Peterson “runs with an attitude.” Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy agreed and tried to explain to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club what that running attitude is.

“He is unmatched,” GMC said. “I think he is the best running back in this league. Only thing he needs is a tiny seam and he will embarrass you. He is a freak of nature. He has superb athletism. The thing about Adrian Peterson, when he tore his ACL, and how he is already back, running as fast and as hard as he is, he is a freak of nature. He’s a machine. I don’t even think the dude is human.

“He runs like, ‘You should be ashamed of yourself if you think you can stop me.’ That’s how he runs. He runs like, “Shame on you for attempting to tackle me. I will show you why you can’t tackle me.'”

The Bucs will have counter Peterson with an attitude of their own defensively, as they rank atop the NFL in yards allowed per rush, a run-stuffing attitude that is growing in reputation around the NFL.

The Bucs will have to demonstrate that attitude tonight by blasting Peterson before he gets to the line, and making him pay physically, dearly, for even crossing the line.