Grading the Steelers:

Jack McCurry is in his 24nd season as the head coach of the North Hills High School Indians. He has won four WPIAL titles

Grading Tampa Bay:

. Neil Gordon is in his 15th season as the head coach of the Penn Hills High School Indians. He has won one WPIAL title.

Offense: B+

With a halfback pass for a touchdown and long scoring run, it was a Jerome Bettis show. Any time an NFL team is able to rush for more than 200 yards, the offensive line should get a bonus. The Steelers dominated the line of scrimmage, controlled the tempo and outcome of the game. The only blemishes were two interceptions and a critical late-game fumble. 

Offense: D-

Tampa Bay never got the running game going with Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn. Although the Brad Johnson-to-Keyshawn Johnson connection was successful, a one-dimension attack will not get the job done. Ten sacks and five batted balls -- devastating blitz packages totally humiliated and destroyed this second-rate offense.

Defense: B

Ten sacks, four knockdowns and an interception highlighted a superb defensive effort. The late-game drive by the Buccaneers only made the final three minutes interesting. The game was essentially decided by relentless defensive pressure. The Buccaneers were supposedly a Super Bowl contender, but that was before they met the NFL's best defense.

Defense: D

The star-studded front was embarrassed the old-fashioned way -- they were pounded and dominated in the trenches. Warren Sapp, Anthony McFarland, et al, were ineffective in stopping Amos Zereoue and Jerome Bettis, and even more helpless in pressuring Kordell Stewart. What has happened to this high-profile defensive package?

Special Teams: B

The special teams kept Tampa Bay kick returners in check and helped with field position. Kris Brown continues to be impressive with a field goal and long kickoffs. The hands team somehow came up with the ball on the onside kick. Wonder what actually happened on the bottom of the pile?

Special Teams: C-

The field-position battle was woefully lost by subpar special teams aggression. The highlight of the day was on Martin Gramatica's onside kick, but that was fumbled away and put the final nail on this dismal day. No spark was provided when the offense and defense were mirrored in mediocrity.

Coaching: A

Mike Mularkey continues to utilize the talent at hand. His play selection is diverse and keeps the defenses off balance. Each week we see a new wrinkle and that's just good football. Tim Lewis doesn't receive enough credit. He has developed the league's best defense.

Coaching: C+

No improvement in a hapless offense and no intensity in the high-payroll defense. The boo-birds were out and justifiably so -- Tony Dungy needs to address and explain this lackluster showing in all aspects of the game. The Buccaneers' ship appears to be sinking fast.

Team Score: 94

Team Score: 72

Key

100-95

Super Bowl performance

94-90

Division title contenders

89-80

Wild Card possibility

79-70

Shooting for high draft picks in 2002

69-less

Check waiver wire