The Saints owned the NFL’s No. 1 offense entering Week 14, but the Bucs defense shut down New Orleans high-octane attack to earn a 16-11 victory, their fifth straight win and longest streak since the Super Bowl season.

Everyone in the secondary had an interception, except Bradley McDougald, who finished with five tackles. Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III recorded the first INT of his career while Keith Tandy, making his second start this season, sealed victory for the second straight Sunday by reading and intercepting Drew Brees on the final drive. Time and again, Tampa Bay’s defense stepped up and delivered, ending with another knockout blow like the Bucs of old.

The offense, meanwhile, didn’t have its best day but luckily it didn’t need to. The unit put just enough points up early on for the defense to finish the job. Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith and staff deserve a great deal of credit, but in keeping continuity, this list will be about the players. See who graded out as the Most Impressive Bucs in this week’s edition.

S KEITH TANDY
Starting with the obvious, Tandy played lights out once again on Sunday. The Bucs 2012 sixth-round pick, who’s spent most of his career as a third safety and special teamer, earned the game ball by recording nine tackles and the clinching interception. He set the tone early, dropping Mark Ingram for a loss of one on the Saints opening drive, and finished strong to seal the eighth win. Tandy’s meticulous studying paid off, as he read a play he’d seen on film and stepped in front the pass. What’s more, Tandy also deflected an interception to Brent Grimes. 

CB VERNON HARGREAVES III
As SR predicted last Friday, Hargreaves recorded his first career interception on Sunday, picking off the future Hall of Fame QB early in the second quarter. One this one, Hargreaves was the beneficiary of a tipped pass after getting credited with a couple assists in games prior. Among one of the more overlooked impressive plays involved Hargreaves tackling fullback John Kuhn in open space on third down of the first drive. That’s how you start fast. The former Gator finished with three tackles.

CB BRENT GRIMES
On a day where the secondary held Brees to 25 of 41 completions for 257 yards and no TDs, the secondary stood out. Grimes got the Bucs second interception early in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on Tandy’s deflection near mid-field to keep the Saints from possibly closing the gap or taking the lead. The INT came on third down, an area the Bucs defense held the once 50-percent offense to four of 13 on Sunday. Grimes also covered a third-and-5 in the first quarter, drawing offensive pass interference and still making the play. The 33-year old corner added two tackles.

DE ROBERT AYERS
With nine seconds left before half and the Saints looking to punch it in from the Bucs six-yard line, Ayers sacked Drew Brees and kept the damage to a field goal. Due to two costly special teams errors – muffed kickoff at the one-yard line and punt out of bounds after a safety – Tampa Bay nearly self-destructed at the end of the first half. The defense, however, bailed it out. Though the D-Line had just one sack, their constant pressure moved Brees off his mark throughout the day and forced some errant throws on key downs. Ayers, who had three tackles, played an integral role in that effort.

DT GERALD MCCOY
Likewise, McCoy was a force in the middle while disrupting numerous passes. Two examples include the second-down play at the goal line just before Ayers’ sack, and on third-and-2 in the fourth quarter with the Saints backed up inside their own 10-yard line. McCoy forced Brees out of the pocket and Noah Spence finished by batting the pass down. New Orleans finished with just 46 yards rushing and McCoy added two tackles.

TE CAMERON BRATE
There were a few players on offense who turned in solid outings. Mike Evans converted third downs on three of his four receptions, Doug Martin ran tough for 66 yards and second-effort TD, and the offensive line kept Jameis Winston relatively clean on a turnover-free day. But Brate was the standout, catching four passes for 47 yards. His 12-yard reception on third-and-10 kept the drive alive for a late field goal in the fourth quarter. Brate, who Winston believes should be in the Pro Bowl, caught four of his five targets and led Bucs receivers in yards.

P BRYAN ANGER & COVERAGE
Anger continues to make a strong case for a Pro Bowl nod, pinning the Saints inside their own 5-yard line twice on their final two possessions. It set the Bucs defense up in prime position. Also deserving of credit are Alan Cross, who downed the ball at the 1 with less than seven minutes left, and Ryan Smith and Josh Robinson, who made an acrobatic effort to save a touchback and keep New Orleans at the 3 at the two-minute warning.