Well, it made sense at the time: "I've never seen a team that doesn't get it more than Tampa Bay on offense," Cris Collinsworth said on the Fox pregame show. Then Terry Bradshaw weighed in: "Their offensive coordinator is Clyde Christensen. Who is he? I've never heard of him. He's a tight ends coach." (Christensen was quarterbacks coach in 1999-2000 and tight ends coach for three years before that.)

At halftime, Bradshaw apologized. "I've made a mistake. ... You just keep it up," he said, directing his comment toward Christensen, "because this is impressive. This is really what the Bucs need to do."

From a technical standpoint, analysts Troy Aikman and Daryl Johnston were on target, giving quick credit to the offensive line and the use of the running game to open up the offense. But as the Bucs built a 28-0 lead, neither made much of an attempt to put into words the outrageousness of what was happening. The halftime crew did a much better job of putting it in perspective.

Strongest comment: Collinsworth gave most of the credit to Steelers safety Lee Flowers, who on Oct. 21 called the Bucs "paper champions." "He did what Tony Dungy could not do -- get this team ready to play," Collinsworth said.

Best line: Late in the game, Warren Sapp was caught on camera joking with Cris Carter and Randy Moss during a break. "The score's 41-8 Tampa Bay, so I think Warren Sapp was instructing them on how to deal with the media after a bad loss," said Johnston, referring to Sapp's refusal to talk to the media last week.

Johnson followed up with some apropos criticism of Moss, who was laughing with Sapp. "It's supposed to hurt when you lose," he said. "I don't know what his other teammates think when they see that. We (Johnston and his Cowboys teammates) didn't like it on the plane ride home when guys were laughing and cutting up."

Parting shot: Aikman threw his support behind Dungy: "People fail to remember what this franchise was continually like before he got there. To me, (the criticism is) very unfair."

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From the Times sports desk

Bucs

Rush to recovery

On the ground, a runaway effort even with no Dunn

Keyshawn's game time is short, but it also is sweet

Past misery fuels offensive line

Kelly takes Abraham's starting job

Stingy defense makes its return

Sound bites

Vikings revert to 0-2 form

Vikings quotebook

Bucs quotebook

Gimme five

Game balls

College football

Blackwell, Iskra forge a stronger connection

QBs' goodwill defuses tension

College football briefs

Spurrier going to league with gripes about refs

College sports briefs

Baseball

Johnson has the power

Chatter

D'backs buzzing over first Bronx visit

Contraction still on table

Sports Etc.

Camp fright

Jeff Burton finds winning 'sweet'

In time of crisis, officials keeping cautious eye on mail

Daily fishing report

Heinz Stadium hosts its first Monday game

Wind is biggest challenge in Clearwater regatta

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Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts