TAMPA — You can count on one hand the number of times in the past decade the Buccaneers kicked off the month of December with a truly meaningful game.
The 2012 season, their first under Greg Schiano, was one. The 2010 season, their first under Raheem Morris, was another. Then there were the 2008 and 2009 seasons, their last two under Jon Gruden.
That’s it.
The first weekend in December usually finds the Bucs thinking more about the upcoming draft than the playoffs. But this December, their second under Lovie Smith, is one of the exceptions.