By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

TAMPA - The Bucs on Wednesday began the business of correcting the flaws that led to their demise at Carolina on Monday. They didn't do so solely by looking inward.

The Bucs also looked at film of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, whose title run began after they suffered a similar meltdown in a 41-17 loss to the Vikings last year.

"Those guys bounced back and went on to win a Super Bowl," Bucs defensive tackle Ryan Sims said. "That's what good teams do. They bounce back. You can't let one game destroy your season."

A loss Sunday at Atlanta, however, could do just that. The Bucs (9-4) have a one-game lead over the Falcons (8-5) in the NFC playoff race, so they must quickly correct their mistakes.

Led by Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, who have run for more than 1,600 yards this year, the Falcons have the league's second-ranked rushing attack at 146.7 yards per game.

The Bucs, meanwhile, could again be without starting under tackle Jovan Haye, a key run-stopper who missed the Carolina game with a knee injury and didn't practice Wednesday.

Haye's absence wasn't the only reason the Panthers ran for 299 yards against the Bucs, though. Bucs defenders failed to stand their ground and tackle properly.

"Your job is to stay in your gap, get off a block and make the play," said nose tackle Chris Hovan, also nursing a sore knee. "When you're not doing one of those things, breakdowns happen."

What happened to the Bucs on Monday was not unprecedented. The Bucs had similar defensive lapses against Oakland in 1999 and Pittsburgh in 2002.

In both cases, the Bucs rebounded, winning three in a row in 1999 to reach the NFC title game and three straight in 2002 to reach the Super Bowl, where they beat Oakland 48-21.

"You're going to have those every once in a while," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said of the letdown. "But I told our guys [Wednesday] that I didn't suddenly become a bad coach and they didn't suddenly become bad players.

"You can be off a little bit, and if the team's not really good, you'll be OK. But [Carolina's] a good team. The last time I looked, Atlanta is a pretty good, too."

(CHART) DIGITS

18TH

NFL ranking of the Bucs' rushing defense, among 32 teams.

2ND

NFL ranking of the Falcons' rushing offense.

111.1

Average yards per game the Bucs allow on the ground.

146.7

Average yards per game the Falcons gain on the ground.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

Photo credit: Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Photo: The Bucs spent much of Monday night trying - unsuccessfully - to stop DeAngelo Williams and Carolina's ground game.

Copyright ? 2008, The Tampa Tribune and may not be republished without permission. E-mail library@tampatrib.com