(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Another massive Victory Monday is here. This is becoming a regular pattern. Joe can get used to this even though it is foreign as can be. Off to the analysis! [read more]

Playing time growing.

A week ago against the Packers, Mike Edwards damn near had a pick-six against the great Aaron Rodgers. [read more]

Click through to shop now at BillCurrieFord.com. Family-owned Bill Currie Ford has been a Tampa treasure for generations, one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. Hustle up on those October specials!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

By one key metric, you could make a credible argument that the Bucs have been the most dominant team in the NFL this season.

No, they’re not unbeaten, but the Bucs have outscored opponents 222-142 in fashioning a 5-2 record. That plus-80 mark in point differential is tops in the league.

Quite a rebound from that bitter setback at Soldier Field two weeks ago. Tampa Bay followed up a majestic final three quarters against Green Bay with a very solid win on the road against a Raiders team coming off a bye week and a confidence-boosting victory at Kansas City.

Jon Gruden wanted this win in the worst way and the Raiders hung in until a turnover and the relentless pressure exerted by Tom Brady proved decisive.

Since that shaky opening quarter vs. Green Bay, the Bucs own an 83-20 scoring advantage. The Packers are very good, the Raiders aren’t bad and the Bucs just might be outstanding.

It’s all coming together for this woebegone franchise. Antonio Brown is on his way, but at this point, the Bucs don’t need much outside help in ending that 12-year playoff drought. They’ve been the talk of the league since Brady arrived and they still generate more than their share of national attention.

Here’s how an all-in franchise cashed out in Las Vegas: [read more]

Late February has arrived early at One Buc Palace.

The misdirection smoke now seen swirling usually is the kind reserved for pre-draft chatter when NFL executives and coaches lie regularly. [read more]

Bucco Bruce Arians made an interesting comment about cornerback Carlton Davis last week and it has fresh meaning tonight. [read more]

Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.

Is this just a two-game fluke, or are the Bucs turning into one of the NFL’s most dominant teams? [read more]

A month ago, future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski looked like a dude running through wet sand wearing flip-flops — when his quarterback expected him to have good footwear and a smooth trail. [read more]

Bucs LT Donovan Smith.

Joe has been a long-time defender of embattled left tackle Donovan Smith. [read more]

Leonard Fournette made a quite a comeback today, even registering a major hidden play of the day in the walloping of the Raiders. [read more]

When is the last time two guys from the University of Minnesota made two key plays in crunch time to put a dagger in a wounded opponent? [read more]

Pro Bowl Raiders running back Josh Jacobs just came off a bye week and cranked out the worst rushing game of his career — and not a soul paying attention to the NFL was a tiny bit surprised. [read more]

“Old man, you still have it.”

Joe has confessed previously to rarely watching Tom Brady with the Belicheats. [read more]

Joe was so fired up for Chris Godwin catching all nine balls thrown his way today in Vegas.

Man, Joe hopes Antonio Brown ran out and bought himself a seat cushion. [read more]

Wants to win

When Mike Evans, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and the best in Bucs history, went into the second half without a catch, fans on social media were angry the Bucs were not targeting him. [read more]

“Scotty, I love you, man. I know I just demanded we replace you. What have I done?”

Little Scotty Miller continues to be Tom Brady’s BFF and now he’s got his first 100-plus-yards game.

Just look at what happened in the Bucs’ critical drive very late in the first half against the Raiders this evening. [read more]

What a manly, January-like road victory this was for the Buccaneers today.

It’s the stuff that makes playoff dreams real. The Bucs (5-2) are now undefeated at home and .500 on the road. That’s how you win the freakin’ division. [read more]

Comment below all game long here at JoeBucsFan.com with fellow Bucs fans! Keep it respectful and decent, unless it involves referees, laughing at Chucky’s rage or fake football noise from an empty stadium.

And stick with Joe all night for plenty on this big game for your first-place Bucs. Go Bucs!

Raising the bar

Joe learned a valuable lesson about sports watching decades of Brazilian soccer dominance years ago. [read more]

Bucs DC Todd Bowles.

So the Bucs have the No. 1 defense in the land. Feels like old times, especially when you watch the defense playing in those pewter pants and white jerseys. [read more]

Watch the Bucs-Raiders game (kickoff at 4 p.m. TODAY) with Ira Kaufman and fired up Bucs fans at Big Storm Brewing Co. in Clearwater. Taproom opens at 11 a.m. Sage Ira rolls in about 2 p.m.

Their 3,000 square foot, covered outdoor seating area is fantastic. Great sound and sight lines to go with Florida’s best craft beer and A+ food. Can’t go? Stock up on Bromosa, Wavemaker Amber Ale and the many other superior Big Storm beers.

Halftime giveaways and Florida’s best craft beer.

Bullish on Antonio Brown.

Obviously, it was a bombshell Friday night when the sports world learned the Bucs signed uber-talented receiver/nutcase/cancer Antonio Brown. [read more]

ESPN has the report this morning, and it doesn’t include money for mental health counseling appointments. [read more]