TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to a 3-1 start with a lot of room for improvement.
That was coach Todd Bowles' message in the aftermath of a 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles that left the Bucs in a familiar position — sole possession of first place in the NFC South. With a short week to prepare for Thursday night's game at division rival Atlanta, the team's next challenge may be the toughest it's had so far.
“Really just taking care of their bodies and staying healthy and making sure they’re ready to go,” Bowles said. "Getting treatment when you need to get treatment and getting rest when you need to get rest.”
That figures to leave players little time to pat themselves on the back for what they accomplished in September, and especially how they rebounded with perhaps their best all-around performance of the season against the Eagles after playing poorly in a 26-7 loss to Denver the previous week.
The offense gained 445 yards and scored on four of six possessions in the red zone. The defense limited the Eagles to 227 yards and sacked Jalen Hurts six times after only getting opposing quarterbacks on the ground twice in the first three weeks of the season.
“(We've) taken ownership of what we put on tape (against the Broncos). ... Everybody owned it, and that's an accountable team," Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said.
Bowles said overall, it's a nice start to the season. Still, there's a lot of work left, beginning with back-to-back games against the Falcons and Saints.
“It’s definitely a huge opportunity for us, but we can only take it one game at a time, right?” receiver Chris Godwin said.
“We for sure cannot be looking past anybody, let alone one of our division rivals that presents a really big challenge for us,” Godwin added. ". It’s going to be a big game for us, especially on a short week. We’ve got to make sure that we’re on our P’s and Q’s in the film room and in our game plan to be able to go in there into a hostile environment. I’m sure their stadium will be rocking. It’s going to be a tough challenge for us, but I think we’re up to the task.”
Mayfield passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third against the Eagles. The offense scored touchdowns on its first two possessions — a rarity for Tampa Bay. In fact, the Bucs had gone 20 consecutive games without getting into the end zone on their opening drive.
The running game is not nearly as productive as it needs to be if the Bucs are going to be as good as they think they can be. Rookie Bucky Irving scored his first pro TD and finished with 49 yards on 10 carries. Starter Rachaad White also rushed for 49 yards on 10 attempts, but the ground game has been inconsistent at best.
Sterling Shepard had three receptions for 51 yards in his Bucs debut. The former New York Giants receiver was signed during the training camp, but got injured and never really had an opportunity to compete for a job. The Bucs brought him back on the practice squad and promoted to the active roster for Sunday's game.
“He’s very smart, he brings a lot of experience, he can still play ... he’s very fast, he’s very sure-handed,” Bowles said. "If he’s healthy, he’s a heck of a football player.”
Punter Jake Camarda was a healthy scratch after Trenton Gill was signed earlier in the week.
A total of 15 players were listed on the injury report Monday, but Bowles said it was too soon to speculate on who might not play this week. All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield (foot), DL Calijah Kancey (calf) and RT Luke Goedeke were all inactive against the Eagles.
596. WR Mike Evans became the Bucs' career scoring leader, surpassing Martin Gramatica (592) and becoming only the third non-kicker to lead a franchise in scoring. The others are Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (49ers) and Emmitt Smith (Cowboys).
Thursday night begins a two-game stretch against NFC South rivals. After facing the Falcons, the Bucs travel to New Orleans on Oct. 13.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Michael King made his postseason debut for the New York Yankees in the AL playoff bubble during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season at eerily empty Petco Park, where the only “fans” were a few thousand cardboard cutouts.
He pitched two innings in a loss in Game 3 in a Division Series that Tampa Bay won in five games.
The right-hander will get the full playoff blast on Tuesday night when he starts for the Padres at sold-out Petco Park in the opener of a best-of-three Wild Card Series against Atlanta. The Braves clinched a berth by winning the second game of a makeup doubleheader against the New York Mets on Monday.
“I can't wait to see this place in the playoffs," King said. "Obviously, I did see it in the playoffs, but nobody was in the crowd and nobody wanted either the Yankees or the Rays to win. But the fans here are absolutely nuts and I am very excited to see what we can bring."
The Padres drew a club-record 3,314,593 fans to the downtown ballpark, with 56 sellouts in 80 games (they gave up a home game to play a two-game opening series in Seoul, South Korea, against the Los Angeles Dodgers).
King (13-9, 2.95 ERA) came over in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees on Dec. 7. He is one of several new players who have helped give the Padres a different vibe than the 2023 squad, which had baseball's third-highest opening day payroll yet responded with the most disappointing season in club history.
The Padres are back in the playoffs for the first time since their stirring run to the NL Championship Series in 2022 that included eliminating the 111-win rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS on a rainy Saturday night, when the downtown ballpark practically shook.
“I've heard about that 2022 run and what they did, and I think that that’s incredibly uncomfortable for an opposing team to come into,” King said. "It's a lot to come in to that atmosphere. And knowing that they’re going to be even louder and probably even more somehow, it’s going to be a very tough time for our opponent and something that we’re going to have to feed off of.
"I can’t wait to turn up my PitchCom and make sure I can hear everything. But it’ll be a very fun time tomorrow.”
Mike Shildt, in his first year managing the Padres, said Joe Musgrove will start Wednesday night and Dylan Cease will start if a Game 3 is needed Thursday night. Yu Darvish will be on the playoff roster but work out of the bullpen.
Shildt replaced Bob Melvin, who reportedly clashed with general manager A.J. Preller and left for NL West rival San Francisco last October.
The Padres have come on strong since the All-Star break to clinch their third playoff berth since 2020.
Slugger Manny Machado has bounced back from a slow start following offseason elbow surgery. Fernando Tatis Jr. and his swagger returned after a two-month injury layoff. Center fielder Jackson Merrill is making a strong push for NL Rookie of the Year. Luis Arraez, acquired from Miami in early May, hit .314 to become the first player since the 1800s to win three batting titles with three different teams.
General manager A.J. Preller added to the rotation and bullpen at the trade deadline.
“Honestly, it's just a great group of guys,” Machado said. “We're just united, we're all pulling for each other. It's one big family in there.”
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San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, left, celebrates with general manager A.J. Preller after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, left, celebrates with general manager A.J. Preller after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt points during a practice a day before the first game of a National League wild-card baseball series against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado watches his single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, right, celebrates with Jake Cronenworth (9) after scoring on a throwing error by Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King throws during a baseball practice a day before the first game of a National League wild-card baseball series against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
