The Bucs know the margin for error evaporated weeks ago. After Tampa Bay finally snapped its losing skid, the defense knows it starts and ends with them. They took a step in the right direction, but it was not a leap.

The Saints serve as an NFC South tune-up before facing the Falcons and Panthers, but they cannot afford to mess up by taking any upcoming opponent lightly. Just look at last week, when they barely beat the 3-8 Cardinals. Each game from here on out is a must-win, with outside linebacker Yaya Diaby sharing his thoughts about taking it week-by-week and taking it to the next level as a defense.

Yaya Diaby, Bucs Recognize The Importance Of Taking It One Game At A Time

For all that is ahead of the Bucs, everyone knows what has to happen.

At 7-5 before facing the Saints, the team must follow a similar blueprint as in recent years to make the postseason. With the bleakest part of the schedule behind Tampa Bay, a three-game homestand that started last week has opened the skies and let light and optimism peak back in.

Still, there must be a no-nonsense approach the rest of the month of December, as even a loss to the Panthers in Week 16 could prove to be detrimental. Yaya Diaby discussed this past Thursday what his focus is, one that many of his teammates share.

Bucs DT Greg Gaines, OLBs Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It felt good, but we can’t stop there,” Diaby said about how beating the Cardinals felt. “We [have] to keep going, man. The message is just one game at a time. For us, all the guys in the locker room, we know how important these next three games are. Right now, it’s all about the Saints.”

Having that focus, Diaby also mentioned what the defense needs to improve on. Specifically, Pewter Report asked him about the unit’s run defense. Giving up explosive runs and consistent gains have not helped and even facing third- and fourth-string running backs Bam Knight and Michael Carter, Arizona averaged five yards a carry.

Once an identity under head coach Todd Bowles and being a bright spot no matter what else is going on, the run defense has sprung leaks all over the place and must return to form.

“Playing assignment-sound football,” Diaby said about getting back on track. “Regular fundamentals, doing the little things. Guys staying in their gap, guys being more aggressive. That all comes into getting us back where we need to be.”

Yaya Diaby Wants To Improve, Bring Down Saints QB Tyler Shough

Outside of just getting back to where they were earlier in the season with a stout run defense, applying pressure is paramount for the Bucs front seven to dictate the outcome of games. That does not change facing Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who is starting this time around. It has been an up-and-down year for Tampa Bay getting after opposing quarterbacks, but the return of outside linebacker Haason Reddick helped this past week.

Diaby is leading the team with six sacks, but he is not satisfied with just being good. It is a team effort of elevating each other to be great.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“For me, I’m always trying to improve,” Diaby said. “I feel like I’ve been doing good, but the game of football is a team sport. If some guys are out of place and everything, you can’t get there. It’s come down to being a team sport, but I feel like I’ve been doing good and I’m just trying to be consistent. Finishing the right way for the team and then trying to help the team the best way, especially in this last stretch.”

As of late, the starting outside linebacker is on a heater, with two sacks in as many games. Back in the days of NBA Jam, making three shots in a row would get the announcers to say, “He’s on Fire!” Getting three sacks in a row would be just as big of a confidence booster, especially as it would mean Diaby is able to bring down Shough, who is also a former Louisville Cardinal.

Saints QB Tyler Shough – Photo by: USA Today

“Dude is kind of, just watching other guys as well, he can get away from sacks. A guy like that man, we’ll have to collapse the pocket and everybody working together. You get a sack, and you get sack, but as long as we’re all working together and keeping him in that pocket, we’ll be just fine. I almost had him the first time we played him, so I’m trying to get him this time.”

That is the edge Tampa Bay needs. A defense that is not just preparing, but hunting. Shough extends plays and has played much better in recent weeks showcasing what made him a second-round pick. Letting him extend plays outside of the pocket is a recipe for another long day.

Compared to recent weeks, the Bucs’ defense sounds hungrier to make things happen on that side of the football. From Todd Bowles down to Larry Foote and other defensive assistants, the status quo must be reestablished as a group needing to make big plays. Yaya Diaby summed it up a quote that should be printed and taped on every defensive meeting-room door:

“[It’s] money time. There is nothing else to it, man. It’s money time and we [have] to get down and get dirty.”