| [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] |
| Todd Bowles era off to historic start |
| Only three games into his tenure, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has pulled off the unprecedented, and he might not be finished. Sunday's 20-10 triumph against the Saints at the Superdome marked the first time in the franchise's 47-season existence that it began a season with consecutive road wins. Now, Bowles can become the only Bucs coach to win his first three games, if his team can top the Packers in its home opener Sunday. The late Sam Wyche is Tampa Bay's only other first-year coach to start 2-0. Granted, such a feat may not warrant a proclamation from the mayor, and only a passing nod from the myriad national talking heads. But considering the difficulty of the Bucs' September slate, a 3-0 start would register as a nifty piece of history. So how did Bowles reach the cusp of it? Let's break it down. Clearly, it starts with a defense that has posted elite-level numbers (10 total sacks, two touchdowns allowed) in the first two games. And the obvious efforts to preserve Tom Brady's 45-year-old arm with a renewed commitment to the run game have worked. Moreover, Mike Evans has sparked his team, whether executing one of his trademark fade routes or rushing to the aid of his quarterback (and drawing a suspension in the process). Meantime, special teams have sparkled to this point. But nearly 90% of the regular season remains. “It is only win No. 2," inside linebacker Devin White said after the Saints triumph. "It does not make us win the division. It does not make us win the Super Bowl. It does not make us first place. It does not do anything (long-term). It just lets us know that that is what we came here to do and we did it. Now we need to put our focus somewhere else." That focus shifts to the Packers, and perhaps another sliver of history. |
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