Alex Smith celebrates a score

The Buccaneers defense came up with 4 turnovers as they go on to blast the Falcons 31-7 from Atlanta yesterday. Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia threw two touchdown passes and Earnest Graham rushed 17 times for 102 yards and a score. The Bucs defense scored on a fumble return by Ronde Barber. Byron Leftwich started for Atlanta but was ineffective, turning it over 4 times on two picks and two fumbles before Joey Harrington took over. The Bucs defense also held Atlanta to 49 yards rushing. Tampa Bay improves to 6-and-4 on the season and they’re now two games up on the Saints and Panthers in the NFC South. New Orleans lost at Houston 23-10 and Carolina got slammed in Green Bay 31-17. The Bucs are back home to take on the Redskins next Sunday.