NFL teams beware: The Bucs defense is on another level right now.

Following Tampa Bay’s 20-10 win at New Orleans on Sunday, the team has the league’s top scoring defense. The Bucs are allowing an average of just 6.5 points per game. And they have only allowed three scores (two field goals and a touchdown) on 24 possessions this season. By contrast, the Bucs have ended six opponent possessions with a takeaway (four interceptions, two fumbles) and have stopped opponents on downs four times.

Bucs ILB Devin White and OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay allowed New Orleans to drive 63 yards for a field goal on its opening possession on Sunday. The Bucs allowed the Cowboys to do the same thing on their initial drive in Tampa Bay’s 19-3 win in Dallas in Week 1.

But after that first drive against the Saints, the Bucs defense kicked into a higher gear and squashed the next nine drives by New Orleans. The result of those nine drives: punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, fumble, interception, interception and interception (Mike Edwards’ pick-six).

Then, trailing 20-3, the Saints finally scored a touchdown with 3:02 remaining. Tampa Bay’s defense rose up again with New Orleans fumbling the ball away on its next possession and then forced a turnover on downs with three seconds left.

Bucs Defense Ranks High Through Week 2

Aside from turnovers, the Bucs are winning the battle on third downs. Tampa Bay ranks second in the league in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 25% on third downs. That’s tied for second with Green Bay, which is this week’s opponent.

Part of the reason for the Bucs’ success on third down is the number of sacks Tampa Bay has to start the 2022 season. After two weeks, the Bucs lead the league with 10 sacks after posting 47 last year. Four of those sacks have come on third downs.

Tampa Bay had six sacks at New Orleans on Sunday and is on pace for 85 sacks this season. The NFL record for sacks in a season is 72 by Chicago in 1984 when the league played 16 games in a season.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Saints QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The most sacks Tampa Bay has ever recorded in a season was 55 in 2000. If the Bucs only averaged three sacks per game over the final 15 games of the season, they would match that record.

Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin White leads the team with three sacks. He has sacks in back-to-back games to start the season. White had 3.5 sacks all of last year.

The Bucs are tied with the Rams and Eagles for the second-most interceptions in the league with four. Only the Jaguars, Steelers and Bills have more with five each. Cornerback Jamel Dean leads Tampa Bay with two interceptions – both against New Orleans. Dean has already matched his total from last season and has tied his career-high.

The Bucs are fifth in the league in total defense, surrendering an average of just 276 yards per game. Tampa Bay’s run defense ranks tied for ninth in the league, allowing 86.5 yards per game. That’s better than what the team averaged a year ago at 91.6 yards per game, which ranked third in the NFL.

Green Bay comes to Tampa with the league’s sixth-ranked rushing attack, averaging 157 yards per game. The Packers ran for 203 yards in Sunday night’s 27-10 win over the Bears. Aaron Jones ran for 132 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries (8.8 avg.).

If the Bucs defense can once again dominate Aaron Rodgers and the Packers like they did in a 38-10 victory at Raymond James Stadium in 2020, these NFL rankings could soar even higher.