TAMPA — One common trait of the Bucs' two losses in five days was a slow start on both sides of the ball, leading to a 14-0 deficit against the Saints on Sunday and a 21-3 margin to the Rams on Thursday.
The first quarter has been the Bucs' worst this season. Tampa Bay is averaging just 3.4 points in the first. It is averaging more than twice that in the second quarter. And the sooner the Bucs fall behind, the sooner they get away from what they do best: run behind NFL rushing leader Doug Martin.