TAMPA — Their record is perfect, and yet they need to be better.

Sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? Like a burp in the middle of a pep rally. At 3-0, the Bucs are off to their best start in 20 years and have excelled by playing smart, aggressive and clutch football.

It’s even more remarkable when you consider they have played, at various times, without three starting offensive linemen (and one backup), three of their top four receivers, a starting defensive tackle and a blocking tight end. Every team has injuries, but that’s practically an epidemic.

So, heck yeah, the Bucs deserved every ovation they heard during the home opener at Raymond James Stadium last week.

And yet, things may quickly go sideways. I wouldn’t say it’s inevitable, but it’s going to be hard to avoid.

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