Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win a Throwback to Tony Dungy Era

This one went right back to the Tony Dungy era.

This one went right back to the days when the Buccaneers defense would beg for 16, maybe 18 points from the offense.

Do that and the defense would deliver a win.

Sunday's 16-13 frying of the Dirty Birds was just like one of those.

Under the lights of Raymond James, when it counted most, this young defense emerged.

Yes, we even get to use the "S" word—you know, sacks! Sacks of Matt Ryan—as in Matty Iced or Matty Put On Ice, if you prefer—with "pressure" the word of the day, sacks from Brian Price, Dekoda Watson and a bone-jarring, fumble-causing smack of a sack by Adrian Clayborn, a guy Ryan won't forget to soon but would probably like to.

There were four sacks total and Mason Foster got his along with five tackles—credible job in the middle.

Just as impressive was the run defense. Now, this is where it really gets shocking.

How much would you have lost if someone bet you Michael Turner would be held to 20 yards rushing? That's the toughest one to fathom, given the way this defense looked in preseason and how it looked in the first two games.

The offense was supposed to carry this team while the defense gained experience.

The Bucs are now 2-1 and the offense is struggling with Josh Freeman is still looking for his mojo.

This one belonged to the defense.

After five straight disappointments, the defense picked up the Dirty Birds and dropped them in a vat of hot oil and fried them golden brown.

Tastes good, doesn't it?