After almost two years, Bucs finally give home crowd something to cheer about. After 11 straight losses at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs got off the slide with a 38-31 victory over Jacksonville.

TAMPA

The Buccaneers are no longer homeless.

Rumors of fans barricading the entrances to Raymond James Stadium have faded into the wind.

Instead, they're talking about building a statue for Jacksonville's Corey Grant, and sushing to all those fans who wanted to run Lovie Smith out of town.

After 11 straight losses at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs got off the slide with a 38-31 victory over Jacksonville.

Grant's third quarter fumble provided the spark that ignited Tampa Bay and turned the game around. Give the Bucs some credit -- they didn't commit a turnover.

This is how Smith told us he would win -- with special teams and by forcing turnovers.

It doesn't matter if this was the hapless Jaguars. It doesn't matter they had lost 11 straight road games and were playing their third-straight away from home.

It doesn't matter that the Jags' fatal fumble gave the Bucs eight points and took the growl out of the team,

We're only counting pain and suffering here, and these two teams have cornered the market on those commodities.

Some team had to win, so why not the home folks?

George Washington didn't care how he got across the Delaware. So why should Lovie care how he crossed the border from despair to hope.

He exorcised the demons that have been clinging to him since he first parked his car at One Buc Place.

The best part about the victory is that the Bucs have a bye next week. It means they will be undefeated for two weeks -- according to Martian logic.

The two smallest guys on the field made this possible, and quarterback Jameis Winston -- by the hair on his chinny-chin-chin -- was turnover free after a fumble was overturned.

Doug Martin, the little engine that could, showed why he deserves a pay raise. Bobby Rainey had Smith seeing shades of Devin Hester with his punt returns.

Martin rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 35 yards and another score. He was he perfect check-down guy that Winston needed to stay out of trouble. Rainey returned three punts for 85 yards, and Charles Sims had 136 total yards from scrimmage.

"It was a team effort, something that the fans had a long time coming. I'm glad we could get a win at home for the fans," Martin said. "Special teams dominated, defense pulled in at the end and the offense was consistent throughout the game. Jameis did a good job of checking down to us running backs. It's easy to see that he's progressing and learning."

Martin's motivation is in part fueled by the contract the Bucs never offered him this year after two subpar seasons that were attributed in part to injuries.

"I never doubted myself. Like I said, eleven guys won the game today. I just want to stay consistent throughout the season and hopefully get more wins," Martin said. "When I go into a game, I just think if I do my job and play hard, everything else will fall into place."

Lovie added a feather to his cap this week by signing Connor Barth, who booted in three field goals and didn't miss an extra point.

Winston played his first turnover-free game in the NFL after coming off a four-interception game against Carolina.

"If we didn't win the turnover ratio you don't know what would've happened," Winston said. "When I'm making the right decision and not turning the ball over, you see how productive our offense can be. I had at least three passes under five yards (In the air). I just have to make the right decisions."

George Johnson, who still doesn't have a sack, has to be a candidate for making the play of the year (so far) by striping Grant on the ball that was picked up by Jacques Smith and returned three yards for the game-turning touchdown.

"I basically saw the play, the toss and I just got up here, really nothing to it. I'm just trying to make a play," Johnson said.

Really? Nothing?

Tell that to the long-suffering fans who finally didn't have to schedule another appointment with their therapist Monday,

This was how Smith told us he would win games.

We'll give it to him on this day. We are all a little delusional.

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 11:19 PM with the headline "After almost two years, Bucs finally give home crowd something to cheer about. After 11 straight losses at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs got off the slide with a 38-31 victory over Jacksonville.."