Gerald McCoy

The media’s biggest Bucs fan outside of Joe may be six-time Pro Bowl Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, a first-year personality on NFL Network. [read more]

Devin White’s Buccaners demise had a crash landing yesterday, Joe believes. [read more]

It’s become clear to Joe that the Bucs’ only hoping of winning a playoff game is tied to them facing a reeling club.

The football gods appear to have handed that to Tampa Bay. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

It don’t come easy. You know it don’t come easy.

The Bucs have backed themselves into a coffin corner heading into the final game of the regular season. It’s win or go home, literally, when Tampa Bay faces the 2-15 Panthers in Charlotte.

Jobs are on the line, starting with the head coach. If the Bucs, favored by six points, don’t get the job done in Week 18, the Saints could steal the NFC South crown and trigger an offseason shakeup at One Buc Place.

Only one team was ready to play Sunday — and that’s inexcusable considering what was on the line. Of Tampa Bay’s three first downs in the opening half, two came courtesy of yellow flags.

The Bucs were outgained 202-44 after two quarters and the 23-13 final score won’t fool anyone who was there or who watched the debacle. If the Bucs wake up from their coma and beat the Panthers, this travesty will be quickly forgotten as they prepare for the NFC’s No. 5 seed in the postseason.

But make no mistake, Sunday’s lethargic effort serves as a reminder that this team is not close to being a championship contender. [read more]

One reason — not the only reason — Joe is so triggered about yesterday’s loss was that the game was such a curb-stomping by the slimy Saints. [read more]

Stunning production.

The 2023 Bucs have defined mediocrity. They couldn’t beat NFL heavyweights and have won eight games against average and weak clubs, largely what most Bucs fans expected.

But their quarterback has rung up very impressive passing numbers. Consider the following: [read more]

Pressure.

The Bucs looked so awful yesterday, so poorly coached, with coaches seemingly sleepwalking through the game oblivious to the score, it’s no stretch to imagine the Bucs throwing up on their shoes in Charlotte on Sunday and blowing a golden opportunity at the playoffs. [read more]

Rachaad White breaks free Sunday. This didn’t happen nearly enough.(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Joe was so upset by the irresponsible way the Bucs came out yesterday when they had a chance to win the NFC South and totally rolled over like a golden retriever puppy begging for a treat from mom, that Joe had to listen to an obscure World War II podcast to try to fall asleep. Let’s get this over with so Joe can watch football all day and night today. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

What was a high percentage for the Bucs entering yesterday’s debacle with the slimy Saints is now just about a coin flip. [read more]

Welcome to 2024! [read more]

Kickoff time released.

The NFL annually waits until the end of Sunday night of Week 17 to release the Week 18 schedule, so the league knows what games will have playoff implications. [read more]

Explains mood of locker room.

There was a pall over the Bucs’ locker room this afternoon. The team had one of its worst losses in a while. [read more]

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and friends couldn’t take advantage.

So the slimy Saints played today without their Pro Bowl right tackle Ryan Ramcyzk.

Joe was excited to see what Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson and friends might do filling in for Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett off the edge against a backup. And then the Saints’ backup got hurt early in the game. [read more]

Joe was somewhat appalled by the intensity of negativity today on social media when it comes to a loud minority (majority?) of Bucs fans. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

Watching the Bucs offense today Joe was just about horrified. Guys the Bucs should have leaned on, they didn’t. Guys the Bucs should have used to their skillsets, they didn’t. [read more]

Two interceptions and two bad throws are killers nearly every time.

It’s not fair to blame Baker Mayfield for the Bucs’ loss today, but he certainly had a hearty hand in it. [read more]

Faceplant.

The Bucs thought they found their franchise quarterback on the NFL scrap heap. [read more]

His team wanted to win.

One team wanted to win. One team played like a playoff berth was on the line. [read more]

“Don’t blame me!”

Did Byron Leftwich crawl through the fence near the Glazer Shed to get back into One Buc Palace? Today’s offensive gameplan was like a Leftwich special. [read more]

Lavonte David had no answers after today’s clubbing by the Saints at The Licht House.

He seemed to be in stunned disbelief. [read more]

Joe was expecting to see — and hear — a bunch of bone-crunching, physical play from the Bucs today.

After all, the division was on the line against Tampa Bay’s arch rival. [read more]

What was supposed to be a hat and t-shirt game for the NFC South title turned into something that looked more like a U-Haul and Linkedin-update game for Buccaneers’ players and coaches.

Huge home game for the Bucs against their arch rival and they didn’t show up from the opening whistle?

Joe blames everyone. No excuse to come out flat in such a big game.

Interceptions, fumbles, out of sync on routes, commitment to a bad running game trailing by three scores — the Bucs offense was a train wreck. [read more]