Good win. Solid. Not particularly heroic.

It was not a blockbuster performance by the mighty Tampa Bay Bucs, but, well, it was a win-is-a-win kind of win. A 24-9 decision over Atlanta at Raymond James Stadium on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Atlanta is not very good.  Indeed, Atlanta without Michael Vick may be facing a long season. They are 0-2.

The Bucs didn’t demonstrate they are strong candidates to play in the Super Bowl at Raymond James on February 1st.

Nobody expected Tom Brady to be lost already to New England already either, virtually eliminating the Patriots, I think.

These Bucs—who so missed wounded backer, Derrick Brooks, when he did not play—are 1-1 and not in the 0-2 hole with the Pats and nine other NFL teams. Eight teams are 2-0. In other years when the Bucs began 0-2, they did nothing.

It is a hard start.

The Bucs Sunday played just well enough to win.  Well enough and gritty enough. The gritty enough included overcoming 12 penalties—far too many - often an illegal procedure call. Coach Jon Gruden noted his team was the least penalized in the pre-season and the most penalized so far this regular season.  Not good. Perhaps some of the too-quick stars came because of not enough work of quarterback Brian Griese and his offensive associates.

By the way, Gruden, was high on the work of running backs, Ernest Graham, (68-yard) touchdown and bursts by Warrick Dunn, one for a score.  Both had solid games. Dunn plays like he is back home, which he is, and where he wants to be. Graham is a fixture here. They work together well, as they do with Griese. And, by the way, the offensive line provided enough quick opening holes for Graham and Dunn to dash through, then cut.

The Buc running game is vastly improved and gives Griese time to locate receivers on passing plays.

Gruden was about as complimentary of quarterback Griese as he is going to be, at least until he plays a near-perfect… no, a perfect game.

“He made great decisions in the running game. We won the football game. I thought he was solid. I thought he played pretty good.” Gruden said, noting he had a turnover late in the game. He did. He was hit from behind.

Somebody let the tackler through.

So, Griese’s pretty good game included a short touchdown pass to tight end John Gilmore and the effective game management Gruden singled out.  Running game selection was a part of that, and, well, the placekicking expert, Matt Bryant, was solid in a 33-yarder field goal. He is 3 for 3 on the regular season.

Coach Monte Kiffin’s defenders got better. The rush was quicker and stronger. They shut down Atlanta with only three field goals, when the score was 17-0. The line allowed the Falcons only 105 yards rushing.  That’s an A-plus. The front read well and rushed hard.

The secondary gets and an A-plus, plus.  Sabby Piscitelli and Aqib Talib intercepted passes. This may be the most improved group so far, the defensive backs. The kicking game, place-kicking and punt, seemed sound early. It will need to be.

The season has just begun. The Bucs are 1-1, not an admired 2-0, but a not bad 1-1 after that lousy opener at New Orleans, not won 20-24.

Of course, Atlanta went home certain Tampa had not beaten them, but that they had beaten themselves, and not won.

Brian Griese and his whole crowd will surely have to play better this weekend against Griese’s old team, the Chicago Bears guided by ex-Buc Assistant Coach Lovie Smith who is the head coach.