The Buccaneers are 3-1 and preparing for a home game against the Saints that could establish Tampa Bay as a legitimate playoff contender.

But that game won’t sell out and will be blacked out on local TV, and the Buccaneers say they fully expect every game to be blacked out all season — even if they make the playoffs.

“[T]here’s a lag between on-field success and ticket sales,” Bucs director of communications Jonathan Grella told the Tampa Tribune, adding that getting to the playoffs “is likely not a panacea for our problems. There’s just so much ground to make up.”

That’s an awfully pessimistic attitude the Buccaneers are taking: Is it really impossible that the fans in Tampa Bay could get fired up by the talented young team they’re putting together and fill the stadium if the Buccaneers are fighting for a playoff spot in December, or hosting a playoff game in January?

Apparently it is.

The Bucs say they see little hope of selling out any games, and they have no plans to take advantage of the rule allowing them to buy back unsold tickets at 34 cents on the dollar to get games on local TV. So if you live in Tampa Bay, you can either buy a ticket or miss every Bucs home game, all season.