Defense Takes Luster From Pack The Tampa Tribune, published 25 November 2002 Brett Favre may have gotten little sleep Sunday night. He may have had post- traumatic stress syndrome from Green Bay's 21-7 loss to the Buccaneers. If that did happen, what could have been the cause? A pressure-happy Bucs defense that stayed after the quarterback for the entire contest and created four interceptions and three sacks. Tampa Bay (9-2) has recorded at least one sack in 55 consecutive games. ``We played hard,'' said Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice, who ended the day with five tackles, two sacks and a defensed pass. ``We played very hard, we played very stout. I think we played strong. We allowed our offense to catch fire, and once they did, it was curtains.'' In the second quarter, the Bucs held Green Bay (8-3) to one first down. At one point in the first half, Green Bay was forced into three consecutive three-and-out situations. ``Once we got to doing things [offensively], everything evolved off of that and put us - in terms of our defensive situation - in a great situation,'' Rice said. ``We weren't really getting the big plays that we really wanted to make, but once our offense put points on the board [Green Bay] had to open up their offense and we started getting interceptions, sacks, and things started happening very well for us.'' According to defensive end Ellis Wyms, the game plan was to get a hold of Favre and the running game and not let go. After his team gave up a single score, Wyms says it is on the way to something special. ``We want to be known as the top defense in the league,'' he said. ``Any time you hold a guy like [Brett Favre] to seven points, you're staking your claim on that case.'' That big pressure up front was the key to the success of the Bucs defensive backfield. Brian Kelly recorded two interceptions and sits as the NFL leader with six. Ronde Barber and Dexter Jackson each had one interception. ``We're the best because that front four is the best,'' Barber said. ``We're not even in our blitz packages as much as we have been in the past. We're just letting Simeon do his thing, let Sapp do his thing, let [Chartric Darby] do his thing, and it's translating into a lot of big things for us.'' The Bucs have tied a franchise record by collecting interceptions in 15 consecutive games. ``It all works together,'' safety John Lynch said. ``Our coaches do a tremendous job of preparing us, putting us in positions to make plays, and it all works together in terms of the defensive line getting pressure. We always feel that if you get a quarterback going to their first read and then they have someone in their face, that's how you get picks in this league.'' Sunday's contest left an impression on one of the Packers' higher-ups. ``With that defense, the Bucs definitely have the look of a dangerous team,`` Packers President Bob Harlan said. ``Everywhere you look on that defense, you see talent.'' ``As we say around here,'' said Barber, ``give us 17 points and we'll win every week.''