Bucs put the brakes on Bus Hubert Mizell, The St.Petersburg Times, published 14 December 1998 Six minutes after kickoff, Tampa Bay defenders were pointing fingers. Angry at themselves. "We can't let this happen," growled defensive tackle Warren Sapp, the big-talker who backs it up. "We've got to control the Bus! Got to put the game in Kordell's hands." It came to (intercepted) pass. Jerome Bettis, aforementioned Pittsburgh mass transport, had driven his 250 pounds through Sunday's warm Florida rain, deep into Tampa Bay territory. Smashing for 28 yards on six carries as the Steelers impressively muscled to a quick 3-0 lead. Bucs? No panic, just concern. "Hardy (Nickerson) wasn't around to do the talking in our defensive huddle," said nose tackle Brad Culpepper, alluding to the ailing Pro Bowl linebacker. "Somebody else had to speak up. I told everybody to relax. 'Just play.' We stuck with our plan and began containing Bettis. After the field goal, it was over. We shut them down." Frustration became Pittsburgh's most visible enemy. Once the Bucs got a grip on Bettis, it was like Sapp had suggested. "In the hands" of quarterback Kordell Stewart. He got slashed. For the Steelers, there was painful perpetuation of a TD dearth. They've scored zero touchdowns in nine quarters. Pittsburgh's offense has reached the end zone just twice in the past 4 1/2 games. "Our defensive line began to crack the Steelers," Bucs safety John Lynch said. "We got them flustered. Bettis was put under control, with a little help from a huge holding call (against Pittsburgh tight end Mark Bruener, erasing a 26-yard gain by the Bus)." Stewart got wild. He overthrew Hines Ward. Lynch intercepted. A seasonlong shortage of Bucs turnovers began to be cured. After having no picks in 13 games, Lynch got two against the Steelers. "It wasn't a drought," he said, "it was a famine." Kordell was overmatched. "You can read his eyes," Lynch said. "We saw in game films that Stewart tends to lock in on his intended receiver. Pretty soon, we saw Pittsburgh's quarterback in a heated sideline debate with his coach. Frustration was evident." Bill Cowher, the juttingest jaw among NFL coaches since Don Shula, benched his QB in the third quarter. Mike Tomczak became Pittsburgh's relief pitcher. He was terrible. T-zak fumbled at the Steeler 9 after being crushed by Steve White, a Bucs defensive end from Tennessee having the hottest afternoon of his three-year NFL life. Two plays later, Mike Alstott rammed into the end zone, Tampa Bay's lead sweetened to 13-3. Pittsburgh had no chance. Culpepper put heat on Tomczak. He misfired. Lynch intercepted again. Meanwhile, the Cowher-Stewart fuss raged on Pittsburgh's bench. After jawing with his coach, Stewart buried face in hands and began to cry. Even so, Kordell would be sent back onto the field. He threw two more interceptions. Tampa Bay swiped four Steelers passes. In their previous five games, the Bucs had none. After the 16-3 domination, in the home team's dressing room, there was a more positive attitude, a more sincere team belief and a volume of confidence that I have not detected all season. "I can smell the playoffs," Sapp said, a major chaw of tobacco in his bulging lip. "We've faced so much adversity, we now think we can beat anybody. Get us into the post-season, put Green Bay or San Fran into our bracket. I'll take my chances with our ballclub." Saturday, the Bucs play at Washington. Tampa Bay must win or forget the playoffs. After a miserable start, the Redskins have won five of their past seven games. "Okay," Sapp said, "but they haven't played us." Lynch sensed a Bucs turnaround four games ago, in the second half of a Nov. 22 loss to Detroit. "We'd been struggling," he said. "It was sad to lose twice to the Lions and to find ways to also drop close games to New Orleans, Tennessee and Jacksonville. But instead of quitting, our team rallied. It's been great to be a part of. "Ronde Barber began making big plays at cornerback. Brian Kelly gets his first NFL interception against the Steelers. Steve White plays the game of his life against Pittsburgh. We're rolling now. Just get us a shot in the playoffs and I think it can be fun."