God bless the 85-percent rule!

Joe is beaming and pleased to report the Bucs have sold at least 85 percent of “non-premium” tickets to Sunday’s Bucs-Saints home game at the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. So Bucs fans across the Tampa Bay and Orlando markets will get to watch the game live on FOX-TV at home or at their local watering holes.

It’s the first game this season in which the Bucs and their fans have reached the NFL’s new 85 percent rule and gotten a home game on the tube.

Joe suspects fans have been moved by the New Schiano Order and its brand of physical defense. (Either that, or thousands of locked out Lightning-first Bucs fans want to spend all the extra money in their pockets). A pleasant weather forecast for a change doesn’t hurt, either. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 81 degrees with low humidity.

Joe’s so happy for the legions of Bucs fans who shun unlawful Internet streams of blacked out games, and those who do not enjoy being glued to a radio, and those who simply can’t afford to get to a game.

Tickets for Sunday remain available at various price points at Ticketmaster.com. Also, StubHub.com has plenty of options.

A televised win against Drew Brees to get the Bucs to 3-3 and into the playoff hunt might just light a bonfire of Bucs excitement not seen in years across the Bay area.