TAMPA, Fla.: Bruce Arians feels fortunate.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-1, though theres lots of room for improvement after they beat the Patriots in Tom Bradys much-anticipated return to New England.
Arians says the defending Super Bowl champions have yet to play a complete game. Nevertheless, he feels they are making strides in some key areas, especially on defense.
He doesnt share the same sentiment about the offense, though, after Brady and Co. struggled to get the ball in the end zone in Sunday nights 19-17 victory over the Patriots.
Defensively, we made nice improvement. But offensively, its still not clicking on all cylinders like it should be, Arians said Monday.
We look really good for a series or two, then we still keep shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties or missed assignments, the coach added. Theyve got to be corrected. … Weve talked about it enough, and its on the players.
Since scoring 79 points in victories over Dallas and Atlanta to begin the season, Tampa Bay has started slowly the past two weeks in a 10-point loss to the Los Angeles Rams and again against New England, which limited one of the leagues highest-scoring teams to four field goals and Ronald Jones IIs rushing touchdown.
After scoring at least 30 points in a franchise-best nine consecutive games, including last seasons Super Bowl, the Bucs have bogged down particularly in the red zone, where four trips inside the Patriots 20 produced just 16 points.
Brady threw for 269 yards but no touchdowns in his first game against his former team.
We didnt execute. We didnt execute at all. Our routes werent (good), our spacing wasnt very good, we didnt throw the ball very well down there, Arians said.
WHATS WORKING
While the Bucs have had some issues with pass defense, in part because of mounting injuries in the secondary, Tampa Bay continues to rank among the leagues best in stopping the run after holding New England to minus-1 yard rushing on eight attempts.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
New England rookie Mac Jones took advantage of an injury-depleted secondary that entered Sunday night without starting cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean and then lost another starting cornerback, Carlton Davis, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. during the game.
Three-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman signed a one-year contract last Wednesday, practiced three days and played all but one snap against New England.
Thats amazing, Arians said. He played really, really well. … The bright side is its just going to get better.
STOCK UP
Leonard Fournette rushed for a season-best 91 yards 20 carries as the running game finally showed signs of life. He also had three receptions for 47 yards.
With Fournette and Ronald Jones splitting carries, the Bucs dont have a clear-cut starter at running back.
Arians said Fournettes performance against the Patriots, while impressive, hadnt changed that.
He was in this game, the coach said of whether Fournette had established himself as the starter. Well see. It can flip in a heartbeat. Ro was running really hard, too. … Ive got all the trust in the world in both of them.
STOCK DOWN
Arians isnt happy with a rising number of costly penalties undermining the team, particularly on offense. The Bucs were flagged seven times for 74 yards at New England.
INJURIES
Winfield, who had an interception and forced a fumble, left Sunday nights game and is in the concussion protocol.
Getting back so late, its going to be hard to get out of the protocol this week probably, just because of the timing, and the trip, Arians said.
The coach said he should know more about the status of Davis (quad), Dean (knee), tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) and linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) on Wednesday.
KEY NUMBER
Four, as in the number of times the Bucs sacked Mac Jones. The team had three through the first three games of the season.
NEXT STEPS
The Bucs host the Miami Dolphins (1-3) on Sunday.
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