Lovie says takeaways are a huge part of winning but Bucs haven't validated that

Three Drew Brees interceptions? Not enough for BucsGreg Auman, Times Staff WriterFriday, September 18, 2015 7:34pmThe Bucs Bradley McDougald (30) intercepts a Saints Drew Brees pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Saints at Raymond James Stadium Sunday afternoon 12/28/2014. JIM DAMASKE | TimesSaints QB Drew Brees had three INTs against the Bucs in both meetings last season, but still managed to win those games against Tampa Bay.That's rare against most teams, but not against the Bucs last season — QBs with 3-plus INTs went 3-0 against Tampa Bay (Cincinnati's Andy Dalton also pulled it off), but against the rest of the NFL, they went just 3-18.As much as Lovie Smith values takeaways as being a huge part of winning, his Bucs teams haven't validated that. Last season, the Bucs went 1-4 when getting at least three takeaways — the rest of the NFL went 83-24 when doing so.Getting Brees to throw three INTs in a game is nothing easy — his two games against the Bucs last season are his only games with three INTs since the start of the 2013 season.