Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio:
WHAT TOOK SO LONG?: Turns out, Keyshawn Johnson really was a distraction in the locker room. Because Johnson was standing in the way, the Bucs apparently could not see Charles Lee. Not to say he brought a new dimension to the offense, but I never realized receivers were allowed to run after catching the ball. He began with his first reception in more than two years, followed with a touchdown and finished with 91 yards.
MAKING A STAND: New York's offense had three possessions in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead. The Bucs held them to minus-3 yards on those three drives. It does not make up for the collapses of recent games, but it's a start in the right direction.
SKIP THE PREGAME BUFFET: They finally figured out how to close a game. Maybe now they can learn how to begin a game. The Bucs offense again failed to score in the first quarter. If you're counting, that's 18 times in the past 27 regular-season games.
JUST WONDERING: Is Jim Fassel trying to get fired? It was bad enough when he did not attempt a two-point conversion that would have gotten New York within three in the fourth quarter, but it was inexcusable when the coach wasted his final timeout coming off the two-minute warning.
GIVE IT AWAY: Why were the Giants in position to take the lead in the fourth? Because the Bucs put them there. Three Tampa Bay turnovers led to New York's three scores. It's hard enough to win without helping the opponent.
A LIST OF FIVE
Five things Tampa Bay will miss without Keyshawn Johnson:
5. Serena Williams.
4. That adorable Bill Parcells bobblehead.
3. Obscene messages on Jon Gruden's voice mail.
2. Six-yard gains.
1. Millions.
FIVE POSSIBLE RETURNS TO NORMALCY
1. Irritability returned to the defense. Maybe it's not the terror of last season, but at least it came through at big moments. Dwight Smith saved two potential touchdowns with plays in the end zone, a Simeon Rice sack kept the Giants from a second-quarter field goal, a John Lynch interception stopped a late drive and a Warren Sapp sack finished off the game.
2. Discipline returned to the huddle. Yes, there was the obligatory Kenyatta Walker penalty. But the offense did not sabotage drives with careless penalties and the defense did not give New York new life with late hits.
3. Roman Oben returned. When he missed three games with a broken hand, the Bucs had their first three-game skid since 2000. Both sides of the offensive line were weakened when Walker moved from right tackle to left and Kerry Jenkins replaced Walker.
4. Hope returned to the table. A playoff bid still is a long way off, but the Bucs can take faith in a weak NFC. Only three wild-card contenders have winning records. Even at 5-6, Tampa Bay is two games out of the wild-card race.
5. Thomas Jones returned a kick. All the way to the 27.
FIVE SUPER PICKS
Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston:
1. PATRIOTS: Good news. The Super Bowl hangover only lasts a year.
2. CHIEFS: Is 10-1 the work of a great offense or a weak schedule?
3. EAGLES: If they stay hot, Rush Limbaugh might start using again.
4. RAMS: Homefield is all they need to get out of a weak conference.
13. BUCS: Don't mess with success. Someone has to be deactivated today.
