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The Tampa Tribune, published 18 November 2013
Tampa Bay's special teams played a significant role. Dekoda Watson's blocked punt in the third quarter led directly to a touchdown that put the Bucs ahead 38-6. Rookie wide receiver Russell Shepard grabbed Michael Koenen's onside kick out of the air in the second quarter and a punt coverage unit that had been exploited in recent weeks performed well. “Special teams came alive today,'' said linebacker Adam Hayward, captain of coach Dave Wannstedt's unit.
Watson added to his reputation as one of the NFL's premier punt blockers by knifing in and deflecting Matt Bosher's kick with his left hand. “It wasn't even a block call on the play,'' said Watson, who has three punt blocks in the past two seasons. “I knew the guy in front of me was going to try and chop me. He got a little piece, but I cut the corner and got there. We pride ourselves on special teams around here and we've had a few returns against us in the last two games. That's not us at all.''
For the record book
Mike Glennon was 20-for-23 passing for an 87.0 completion percentage that ranks second in team history to Vinny Testaverde's 88.0 percent (22-for-25) against Green Bay on Sept. 13, 1992. Glennon also threw two touchdown passes, giving him 11 for the season, to break Josh Freeman's Bucs rookie record of 10 in 2009.
Staying the course
After Tampa Bay's second straight victory after an 0-8 start, right guard Davin Joseph credited coach Greg Schiano's resolve. “There was a time there a few weeks ago when it could not have gotten any worse at One Buc (Place),'' Joseph said. “It was the worst it's ever been, and I've been here for eight seasons. ... But he stuck with it. He stuck with what he believes and now it's starting to pan out. All of a sudden, it's like a light's been turned on.
“He said we all just need to keep pushing hard, keep working hard and now we see it. He stayed tough, but now it's just different. It's starting to feel like we have something here. Today is a good day to be a Buccaneer, but next week we have another stiff challenge (at Detroit) and we know he's going to push us this week. But it's different when you see that hard work turn into something. Now we believe.''
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