Once again, the Bucs let a lesser team take early advantage of them. Once again, the Bucs had to come from behind to win a game. Once again, the Bucs showed the world why they are a good team. After starting the game off poorly, the Bucs rebounded to beat down on the lowly Lions. They avoided major disappointment, and kept the Lions winless for one more week. Had the Bucs lost, it probably would have sent a shock throughout their system that was so bad, it could have affected the rest of their season. Instead, they did what they're best at-inducing heart attacks before knocking off their opponents. Let's look at what made this game what it was: The Backup Becomes the StarterAfter losing Earnest Graham for the season, the Bucs turned to Warrick Dunn, the former Buccaneer and Falcon. Dunn answered the call, running the ball 14 times for 90yards and a touchdown, and also catching 5 passes for 37 yards. While his numbers aren't eye-popping, it was one of his better performances of the season, in a time when the Bucs needed him to come through. What his performance says about him, is that he can still be a leader for this team. After spending 6 years in Atlanta, Dunn returned to a team that wasn't in dire need of a running back. Dunn had to prove himself worthy of a spot on the team, and in doing so, also regained the respect of his teammates. Dunn kept the offense going when they needed him too. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry, and even took one 40 yards. When he was catching passes, he was averaging 7.4 yards per catch. When the Bucs needed to milk the clock in the second half, Dunn did his job, earning 48 of his 90 yards in the second half. Dunn was also responsible for converting a key third down on a drive that led to a Tampa touchdown. The Performance of HeroesThis game in particular stood out for some Buccaneers heroes. Not only did Warrick Dunn have a masterful game, but yesterday saw the return of Cadillac Williams, who carried the ball for the first time in over a year. After suffering a potentially career-ending knee injury, Williams defied the odds, and returned to the field. His performance wasn't mind-boggling, but he did carry the ball 16 times for 27 yards, which is a huge testament to what he has had to go through to get to this point. Then there is Clifton Smith, the kid from nowhere. He continued to bedazzle the Bucs return game, returning 4 punts for 90 yards, and 5 kickoffs for 142 yards. In the first quarter, Smith returned a kick for 49 yards, setting up an eventual Buccaneers touchdown. Then, in the third quarter, Smith took one 70 yards to pay dirt. It took the Bucs 32 years to get one kickoff return for a touchdown, and Smith has taken back two this season in a matter of three games. The kid they call Peanut is starting to make people pay attention to the Bucs special teams. That Defense of OursAs a Tampa fan, how could you not be proud of this defense? Okay, so they allowed 20 points to a hapless Lions team, but that was about the only downside to yesterday's game. They allowed 17 points in the first quarter, and held the Lions to only a field goal the rest of the game. They held the Lions to 207 total yards and only 9 first downs. The Lions were only 4-for-14 on third downs. The defense forced two fumbles, recovering one. Ronde Barber had 2 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. The defense was also responsible for 4 sacks, two by rising star Jimmy Wilkerson, one by Greg White, and one by Gaines Adams. The defense even held the Lions to 76 yards of total offense in the second half. Numbers like this keep piling up for the defense, and one star after another emerges. It's not just that the Detroit offense is bad. The Buccaneers defense continues to improve week after week, taking down everyone in their path. Game Notes: Tampa Bay's 21-point second quarter is tied for the third-most points scored in a quarter in franchise history. The 38 points scored by the Bucs matches the most points for a Bucs team in a road game in their history. The 17-point deficit that the Bucs overcame is tied for the second largest ever erased by the Bucs in a victory. The record, 21 points, was accomplished earlier this season against Kansas City. Jeff Garcia's 165 passing yards moved him into 7th place on the Bucs all-time passing list. Ronde Barber has 11 career regular-season touchdowns on fumble/interception returns, which is the most among active players, and third most in NFL history. With a punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, Clifton Smith became the first Buccaneer to ever return a kickoff and a punt return for a touchdown, not just in one season, but in franchise history. Warrick Dunn's 40-yard run in the third quarter was his longest run since rejoining the Buccaneers. Yesterday was Ronde Barber's 6th career multi-interception game. Jimmy Wilkerson's two sacks yesterday give him three on the season, a career-high. With a Carolina loss yesterday, the Bucs moved into a tie for first place in the division. The Bucs will spend the next three weeks facing their division, all must win games. New Orleans will come next week, which will be an interesting matchup for the Bucs. The Saints beat them in the first game of the season, but they have been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ever since. They look good one week, and then fall apart the next. The Bucs will need to win all three games in order to win the division. With a tight conference, it might be hard for the Bucs to get a wild-card spot, even though they are the second best team in the NFC right now.