Bucs

Gimme 5

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Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio:

EXCEEDING ALL EXPECTATIONS: In a lot of ways, he has been obscured by the arrival of Cadillac Williams and the revival of Joey Galloway, but do not overlook the importance of Chris Simms. At 25, Simms is managing this offense with the deftness of an old pro.

OBLIGATORY PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Bucs not only have a one-game lead in the wild-card race, they control their fate in the division. Carolina and Tampa Bay both have games remaining against Atlanta and New Orleans. Carolina's are on the road. Tampa Bay's are at home.

NOT SO FAST, GUYS: The Panthers like to measure their defense against the Bucs of old. All they're missing is a Super Bowl ring, a few Hall of Famers and another 7-8 years of dominance.

TAKE A BOW, KENYATTA: In their previous meeting, Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers had three sacks and Kenyatta Walker was called for three penalties. This time? Zero sacks, zero penalties.

WAS HE HANSEL OR GRETEL? With his team trailing 13-0 and about to lose its grip on first place, Steve Smith thought it would be cute to leave the football on an end zone pylon after a 60-yard reception to the Bucs 19. He would have been better off leaving bread crumbs because he never found his way back.

Five secrets to the Bucs' turnaround from 5-11:

5. More room in the huddle without Derrick Deese's defibrillator.

4. Studied motivational guide Love Thy Teammate by Carolina cheerleaders.

3. Saved $1.5-million in salary cap and $10,000 in bail by not re-signing Dwight Smith.

2. Tired of comparisons to Manchester United in company newsletter.

1. Got vitamin shots from Miguel Tejada.

No more complaining about the defense on third down. Tampa Bay held Carolina to 2-of-11 on third-down conversions. Here are five of the stops:

1. JERMAINE PHILLIPS: When the Panthers gave him the ball on third and 3 in the first quarter, DeShaun Foster already had 36 yards on six carries. Phillips read the play perfectly and held Foster to 1 yard. Carolina was forced to punt, and the Bucs drove to their first score.

2. ELLIS WYMS: The Panthers were in second and long in the first quarter when Wyms was called for a costly facemask penalty. Three plays later, he made amends by knocking the ball out of Jake Delhomme's hand for a 9-yard sack on third and 14.

3. DERRICK BROOKS: The second-quarter play will end up on highlights because Will Allen knocked Steve Smith senseless, but it was Brooks who initially broke up the pass play on third and 8.

4. CHRIS HOVAN: Simeon Rice nearly made the blunder of the game, jumping offside on third and 7 in Bucs territory early in the third quarter. He was bailed out on the third and 2 that followed when Hovan stood up Stephen Davis for no gain.

5. RONDE BARBER: Carolina was 12 yards from making it a 13-10 game early in the fourth quarter when Barber stepped in front of Ricky Proehl for an interception. The offense converted the turnover into a touchdown and the game, essentially, was over.

Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XL in Detroit:

1. COLTS: Next two opponents are a combined 19-7.

2. SEAHAWKS: Haven't won a playoff game since 1984.

3. GIANTS: Only other NFC team capable of playing defense and offense.

4. BENGALS: Could surpass franchise record of 12 victories.

9. BUCS: Could be the biggest turnaround in franchise history.

FIVE FINAL WORDS

Never impressive, but usually effective.

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