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Bucs may have division’s best defense

Posted Oct 3, 2011 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Oct 3, 2011 at 12:15 PM

BY IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—The defense of the Buccaneers stacks up favorably when compared to Tampa Bay’s division rivals.

Heading into Monday night’s matchup against the punchless Colts, Tampa Bay’s defense is off to the best start in the NFC South.

While Buc opponents averaged 20 points per game in the first three weeks, Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans have all had major problems on defense at the quarter-pole of the regular season.

The Falcons are yielding 26 points per game, Carolina’s opponents are averaging 25.5 points and New Orleans is giving up 24.5 points per game.

The Panthers have struggled to stop both the run and the pass through Week 4, with opponents averaging 5.2 yards per rushing attempt and opposing quarterbacks posting a 99.4 passer rating. In New Orleans, the Saints are on pace for 52 sacks, but New Orleans has forced only three turnovers.

Atlanta’s run defense has been solid, but the Falcons have only five sacks, despite the addition of free agent DE Ray Edwards to complement John Abraham.

With QB Curtis Painter poised to make his first pro start for Indy, the Bucs are coming off an impressive defensive effort against Atlanta, smothering running back Michael Turner and applying constant pressure against QB Matt Ryan.