Last season the Bucs had the 29th ranked rushing offense. After watching Cadillac (he's earned the nickname) Williams break off a 71 yard run, I think we can expect that ranking to improve.
Williams powered the offense today, en route to upset over a supposedly improved Vikings team. Williams ran for 148 yards, the second most yards gained today by a runningback. (On a side note, another rookie, Willy Parker for the Steelers ran for the most yards so far today)
Griese and the receiving corp did not look especially impressive, with only 213 yards of passing. While Joey Galloway proved how dangerous he can be when fully healthy, Michael Clayton got off to a slow start, dropping a pass or two, and fumbling the ball out of bounds.
Part of Griese's average performance can be credited to a Viking's secondary that made some significant additions in the offseason. One of those additions, Darren Sharper (a fellow William and Mary alum) returned a Griese interception for the Vikings only touchdown in the first quarter.
As good as Cadillac looked the key to the Bucs win, once again, was their defense, which forced Daunte Culpepper to turn the ball over five times (three interceptions, two fumbles). The Bucs effectively shut down the Vikings rushing attack early in the game, leaving Culpepper to deal with the best passing defense from last season. Each time Culpepper drove his team into the red zone the Buc's defense forced a turnover. A lot of writers forecasted this would be the year the Bucs defense finaly slipped out of the top ten, but judging by today's game I think it's safe to say Monte Kiffin still has it.
Next week, the Bucs will have a tougher matchup at home against a talented young Buffalo Bills team. The Bills throttled the Texans today by relying on the legs of Willis McGahee and a defense that will soon be known as one of the best in the league.
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