The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' second win of the season -- a 38-10 decision over the Kansas City Chiefs -- shared similarities with their first.
Coach Greg Schiano surprised observers when he muzzled Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in the opener. Tampa Bay keyed on Newton from beginning to end, taking away Carolina's top weapon. It's a not-too-surprising strategy prominent in the college ranks, where the most talented player on the field can take over games.
Schiano authored a Week 1 game plan aimed at taking away Newton's gifts on the ground, and he did the same Sunday with Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs' star running back, who leads the NFL in rushing and might be the only playmaker Kansas City can lean on this season.
The Chiefs used Charles to eat up yardage and minutes against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, but the Bucs -- expecting the same -- tapped their improved run defense to snuff him out from the start. The Bucs held Charles to 40 yards on 12 carries, and that forced the game onto Brady Quinn's shoulders -- and that's how to beat the Chiefs.
"They had a great game plan on trying to stop our run," Charles told The Tampa Tribune.
Keying on a foe's top weapon isn't a revolutionary concept, but Schiano has made it a week-to-week affair. He's simplified the defense, and after wrapping 2011 dead last against the run, the Bucs are allowing just 3.2 yards per attempt in 2012. It's a start.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
