Because they are awful, that’s why. And because I’m a hopeless NFL fan who would probably sit through a St. Louis Rams-Cleveland Browns game, even though I have no connection to either team. I am not proud of this, you understand.

But, God help me, the main reason I’ll keep watching the Bucs is the whole awful thing. Because when it comes to the art of Bad Ball, they have few rivals this season.

That’s right—I said “art.” As amazing as great teams can be, I am equally amazed at the level of sheer awfulness required to really, really stink. It’s mesmerizing in its own way. Folks who don’t appreciate the terrible beauty of it all look for scapegoats. Gaines Adams is a wimp! Byron Leftwich can’t make an accurate throw! Josh Johnson can’t throw downfield! The defensive secondary gives up too many big plays! The Glazer family is cheap! Coach Raheem Morris looks confused!

And so on. These folks miss the point. It’s not any one of these factors. It’s ALL of these factors. It takes a group effort to play Bad Ball at this level, and the Bucs are (mis)firing on all cylinders. What can they accomplish next? I don’t know, but I’ll be watching.