Bucs RB Warrick Dunn enjoyed only two victorious seasons after he signed with Atlanta in 2002.

The Falcons were 9-6 in 2002, although Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl without him that year. Atlanta also finished 11-5 in 2004 and advanced to the NFC Championship Game.

Other than that, Dunn experienced three losing seasons and finished .500 once during his six years with the Falcons. Dunn never had a losing season when in Tampa Bay from 1997-2001, but endured Michael Vick’s controversy in 2007, which resulted in Atlanta’s 4-12 record.

This year, Tampa Bay is 9-3 heading into Monday night’s game against Carolina, and Dunn is enjoying his first winning season in four years.

“At this time of year when you have the opportunity, you’re playing for something,” Dunn said. “To have the opportunity, it keeps your drive and keeps you going. I’m happy. I’m looking forward to it.”

Bucs C Jeff Faine is also getting used to winning.

Faine was drafted by New Orleans in 2003 and experienced only one winning season in five years. The Saints were 10-6 in 2006, finished .500 twice and were an abysmal 3-13 in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

“In a perfect world, you want to say no [it’s not hard to be motivated to play when you’re losing], but it’s easy to go to practice right now,” Faine said. “You always want to go practice. You want to do everything you can to put yourself in the best position to go out there and win and it’s huge.”