TAMPA, Fla. -- That was close. Almost doesn't count, of course. In the NFL, a loss is a loss, no matter how it's earned. There are no close calls or should-have-been results.
So instead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earning their first victory of the Lovie Smith era, a 38-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein late in the fourth quarter lifted the St. Louis Rams to a 19-17 victory Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
There were some positives to take from this day. There was the improved performance by quarterback Josh McCown, and there was the work by running back Bobby Rainey.
But the Bucs dropped to 0-2. That's it. That's the bottom line. It's not kind.
"We need to make a play," Smith said. "They got a big third-down conversion. When you can't get pressure with your four-man rush, you have to blitz a little bit more than you probably wanted to, to generate some (pressure). Then you put guys in a man-situation, and we didn't really matchup as well as we needed to there at the end."
Said defensive tackle Akeem Spence: "We don't have time to sulk in our sorrows. It was a tough loss, but this is the NFL."
Here are a few quick thoughts from the Bucs' Week 2 loss to the Rams:
1. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy's hand injury will be important to follow.
McCoy left the game in the second quarter with an apparent left hand injury, and the severity appears uncertain for now, though it didn't look good. He returned with heavy wrapping on the hand later in the quarter and performed limited action before being ruled out before halftime. Winces were noticeable on his face. He confirmed after the game that the hand is broken.
Obviously, any extended absence by McCoy would hurt the Bucs' defense. He's the face and heart of the unit, and Tampa Bay needs him to play without hesitation at all times to reach its potential.
We'll learn his condition in time, but with a quick turnaround coming against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, this could be a concern for Week 3, when a strong pass rush will be necessary to rattle Matt Ryan. The defensive line already has taken hits with injuries to defensive ends Michael Johnson and Adrian Clayborn. Keep an eye out for updates about McCoy's health.
2. Rainey was the Bucs' bell cow Sunday.
The Bucs made the decision to make running back Doug Martin (knee) inactive to give him additional rest before traveling to the Falcons on Thursday. It's a logical choice, especially if Tampa Bay's coaching staff figures Martin will factor heavily into the game plan in what should be a hostile environment at the Georgia Dome.
Rainey was more than serviceable in Martin's absence. For most of the first half, the Rams' defensive line had little impact, and Rainey used his agility in an effective way to give Tampa Bay 67 yards on 13 carries. He continued that effort in the second half, and he finished with 144 yards on 22 carries. He also had three catches for 30 yards.
Even when Martin returns, Rainey could be asked to play an important role. This performance is something he can build from.
3. McCown showed improvement.
Credit McCown for a solid, controlled day for the most part. This was a fine recovery after his sketchy Week 1 outing against the Carolina Panthers, and aside from an ugly interception at St. Louis' 2-yard line early in the second quarter, he was a decent game manager who put the Bucs in a position to win.
His final line: 16-of-21 passing for 179 yards with one interception.
This is the kind of showing the Bucs should want from McCown each week. He was effective but careful, controlled and (mostly) not reckless. It's odd that he felt the need to force another throw during that awful second-quarter interception, after speaking earlier in the week about how he has to avoid such situations. But all around, this was a step forward.
4. Life doesn't get any easier from here.
Be prepared. The hardest stretch of the Bucs' season is set to begin Thursday. After playing the Falcons later this week, they travel to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, followed by a trip to face the New Orleans Saints before hosting the Baltimore Ravens prior to the bye in Week 7.
We'll learn many things about the Bucs in the coming weeks. Their first two games didn't exactly provide much hope. Anything is possible, but the Bucs must improve to finish with a winning record through this hard run in the weeks ahead.
A victory Sunday would have helped matters. But that didn't happen. The Bucs must execute better to survive some of the toughest challenges ahead.
5. Good to see former linebacker Derrick Brooks enter the Bucs' Ring of Honor at halftime.
Much has been said and written about Brooks' impact on and off the field, and his honor was well-deserved Sunday. Still, after the NFL's most embarrassing week in recent memory, it was refreshing to remember something good like Brooks' impact.
"Thank you, guys, for so, so many memories," Brooks said during his Ring of Honor induction.
Games are supposed to be an escape, of course. But it felt different watching the action Sunday. All the sensations were the same -- the crowd noise, the whistles, the fireworks -- but it came with the undertone that high-profile cases have rattled the league, perhaps beyond a reparable level. Many questions should be asked.
Each person will choose how he or she views the NFL moving forward. We will continue to watch. We will continue to wonder about Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Adrian Peterson and the rest. But Brooks serves as a living example that there has been plenty of good showcased in the NFL over time.
Let us be study and scrutinize the bad. But let us recognize the admirable as well.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
