New Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is preparing for just his third game since taking over for Bruce Arians, who abruptly retired earlier this offseason. But Bowles is already on the verge of setting a new franchise record.

With a 2-0 record at the beginning of his stint as the new Bucs head coach, Bowles is already off to the best start in franchise history. His 2-0 start as Tampa Bay’s head coach ties Sam Wyche’s start in 1992 for the best in team history. A win today over the visiting Green Bay Packers would give Bowles the hottest start of any head coach in Tampa Bay history.

The three top winningest coaches in Bucs history – Jon Gruden, Tony Dungy and Bruce Arians all lost their first game leading the franchise. Gruden started off 1-1 in 2002 prior to going 12-4 and winning Super Bowl XXXVII. Arians started off 1-1 in 2019 before finishing 7-9. Dungy began his coaching tenure with the Bucs going 0-5 in 1996 before notching his first win.

This is Bowles’ second stint as a head coach. He led the New York Jets for four seasons from 2015-19. Bowles won his first two games there before losing in Week 3 to Philadelphia, 24-17. A 3-0 start would also be Bowles’ personal best. Bowles’ Jets team finished 10-6 in 2015, just missing the playoffs. He has a 28-41 career record as a head coach, including a 2-1 stint as an interim head coach in Miami in 2011.

Bowles’ Bucs Defense Is On A Tear

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles is Tampa Bay’s defensive play-caller and his squad is quite a menace right now in the NFL through two games. Following Tampa Bay’s 20-10 win at New Orleans on Sunday, the team has the league’s top scoring defense. The Bucs are allowing an average of just 6.5 points per game. And they have only allowed three scores (two field goals and a touchdown) on 24 possessions this season. By contrast, the Bucs have ended six opponent possessions with a takeaway (four interceptions, two fumbles) and have stopped opponents on downs four times.

Aside from turnovers, the Bucs are winning the battle on third downs. Tampa Bay ranks second in the league in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 25% on third downs. That’s tied for second with Green Bay, which is this week’s opponent.

Part of the reason for the Bucs’ success on third down is the number of sacks Tampa Bay has to start the 2022 season. After two weeks, the Bucs lead the league with 10 sacks after posting 47 last year. Four of those sacks have come on third downs.

Tampa Bay had six sacks at New Orleans on Sunday and is on pace for 85 sacks this season. The NFL record for sacks in a season is 72 by Chicago in 1984 when the league played 16 games in a season.

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The most sacks Tampa Bay has ever recorded in a season was 55 in 2000. If the Bucs only averaged three sacks per game over the final 15 games of the season, they would match that record.

Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin White leads the team with three sacks. He has sacks in back-to-back games to start the season. White had 3.5 sacks all of last year.

The Bucs are tied with the Rams and Eagles for the second-most interceptions in the league with four. Only the Jaguars, Steelers and Bills have more with five each. Cornerback Jamel Dean leads Tampa Bay with two interceptions – both against New Orleans. Dean has already matched his total from last season and has tied his career-high.

The Bucs are fifth in the league in total defense, surrendering an average of just 276 yards per game. Tampa Bay’s run defense ranks tied for ninth in the league, allowing 86.5 yards per game. That’s better than what the team averaged a year ago at 91.6 yards per game, which ranked third in the NFL.