TAMPA, Fla. — The 1-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers awoke Monday morning following their bye week to discover that despite slumbering through the first half-dozen games in coach Lovie Smith’s era, they are only two wins out of first place in their division.

That is because the Carolina Panthers (3-3), New Orleans Saints (2-4) and Atlanta Falcons (2-5) all lost Sunday.

“I watched all the games this week,” Smith said. “I know what happened in our division. I realize how many games we’re out of first place. We’re in it as much as anyone with our record. That’s what we’re focused on. There’s life when you take a little time off to not play a game and you end up in better position than when we started the Sunday … We’re excited about that.”

Here is what else the Bucs should be excited about: Starting with Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings (2-5) at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs don’t play a team that currently owns a winning record until visiting the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1) on Nov. 30. The combined record of Tampa Bay’s next five opponents is 12-22.

After Sunday’s game, the Bucs are at the Cleveland Browns (3-3), home against the Falcons (2-5), at the Washington Redskins (2-5) and at the Chicago Bears (3-4).

Of course, considering their blowout losses to the Falcons and Baltimore Ravens, the Bucs may not be striking fear into any of those opponents. However, there is a case to be made that the NFC South winner could finish with a losing record.

Smith addressed his team Monday following a four-day weekend and told players they needed to adopt a different mindset, one that is short-term and focuses on the task in front of them: the morning walk-through, the afternoon practice, the position meetings.

The message is that if they each get better individually, the product will be better collectively.

“Take it a day at a time,” wide receiver Louis Murphy said. “DYJ. Do your job. You can’t worry about the next person, you can’t think about, ‘Is the line holding up? Is the quarterback being sacked?’ As a receiver, my success depends on the entire team. Even from Urban Meyer, that was instilled in us. Do your job. That’s the same motto here. Do your job, look yourself in the mirror, and that’s the mindset we have to have.

“Everybody take care of your own business, and when we come together, the synergy will be strong.”

Smith said his team knows there is no value to looking back. He says the break in the schedule — and the one the Bucs received Sunday by all teams in the division losing — is something they can use to jumpstart the season. It begins Sunday against an equally desperate Vikings team.

“They know what we need to do, but the talking part, we need to do less of that, and it’s what we do out on the football field one day at a time, one play at a time, that’s the message,” Smith said. “If there’s a message, one good play at a time, and it’s as simple as that.”

In an interesting aside, and according to several reports, the Bucs declined an offer to acquire former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin, who was dealt to the New York Jets. Tampa Bay reportedly is fielding a lot of calls from teams interested in trading for wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

BUCCANEERS REPORT CARD AT THE BYE

–PASSING OFFENSE: C-minus — QB Josh McCown got off to a bad start, throwing two touchdown passes and four interceptions while going 0-3. Mike Glennon took over and played better but not great. His completion rate is less than 60 percent, and he is 1-2 with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He is averaging nearly a yard more per pass attempt. WR Mike Evans has struggled with his health, and WR Vincent Jackson has dropped too many passes. With a lack of balance on offense, the pass protection has been inconsistent.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: F — It is hard to believe RB Doug Martin forgot how to run the football after rushing for more than 1,400 yards as a rookie. RB Bobby Rainey has the Bucs’ only 100-yard rushing day, vs. the Rams. Even with the addition of G Logan Mankins, the offensive line is not creating any holes for the running backs.

–PASS DEFENSE: F — The Bucs have only nine sacks despite investing heavily in the defensive line. DE Michael Johnson sprained his ankle on the second play of the regular season and really was only a factor in a win over the Steelers, when he had two sacks and forced a fumble. The secondary has allowed 15 touchdown passes, and opposing quarterbacks have passer rating above 107.

–RUSH DEFENSE: D-minus — The Bucs are 25th against the run, allowing more than 128 yards per game. Lovie Smith’s team has been slow to embrace the Tampa 2 scheme. Losing MLB Mason Foster for three games and DT Gerald McCoy for one was a big factor.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: C-minus — The Bucs make no plays on special teams. P Michael Koenen has the worst average in the NFL. Rookie PK Patrick Murray has been inconsistent at best, and the return game with Solomon Patton is nothing for opponents to worry about.

–COACHING: D-minus — The Bucs have been a huge disappointment under Smith, who turned over half the roster. The free agents haven’t worked out, and the rookies haven’t made a very big contribution. Losing offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford to a medical leave of absence before the start of the season was an enormous blow.