QB BRAD JOHNSON

(On establishing the Bucs' running game early) "We wanted to come out the very first series and stress the run, and we thought we had three very good runs. We wanted to pound the rock."

(On Dallas' blitzing defense) "They had all-out blitzes the last two-and-a-half weeks, and I didn't get blitzed once. It says something about what we're doing pass-protection wise and us getting rid of the ball and completing a lot of balls."

(On getting an 'ugly win' against the Cowboys) "A couple weeks ago, we had a great moral victory but it turned out to be a loss, and I didn't need that. I'll take an ugly win any day of the week, and today was one of these days for us offensively. But we did some great things, too. Obviously, we would like to score more points, but I'll take the win every day of the week."

(On the flea-flicker) "We've been working on it and hoping to get the right look, but you don't know if they're going to bite on it. We've been trying to set it up, and it obviously was a big play for us. It changed the momentum of the game, it changed the feel for us and we actually ended up scoring a touchdown on that drive."

(On Dallas' defense) "They are very, very sting with the yards. I expected a lot more blitzes and a lot more man-to-man coverage. They are a very tough defense, and there is a reason why they are 5-2 and winning their division and have a good chance to win the division when it is all said and done."

TE KEN DILGER

(On his 48-yard reception) "We saw their safeties were playing pretty aggressive on the run, and we saw on film that this could work. It was a great throw by Brad (Johnson), and my biggest thing was just catching the ball and getting as much out of it as I could."

(On what the play did for the Bucs) "Against a defense like theirs, any time you can get 30 or 40 yards on a big play like that, it takes the wind out of the sails of the defense."

(On the play of the Buccaneers' offense against Dallas) "It was an efficient day by the offense. There were not too many turnovers. When we needed the big play, we got it."

WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON

(On the game) "It was tough losing to Carolina and Indy, so we needed to get a victory at home. We won this one, I guess you can say convincingly, because they didn't score. Our defense played extremely well. When we needed to score, we scored on offense. Whether it was field goals or touchdowns."

(On the importance of playing well at this point in the season) "I think (it is important to play well at this point of the season). We have three losses in our loss column and we can't afford to get more. We won the Super Bowl last year, but that was last year. It is important to get on a winning track and get back to the way we are used to."

T ROMAN OBEN

(On why he played today with a fractured right hand) "I didn't want that to be another excuse or another reason why we weren't playing well. I felt like I could suck it up and go, and that's what I did. I'm just glad I was able to get in front of the guys long enough to help my running and passing game. It wasn't pretty, but it got it done."

(On the play of the Buccaneers' offensive line) "I think we play well together, and we ran the ball a lot more this week. That was an indication of coach wanting to put it on our shoulders. I'm just glad that we all responded."

(On adjusting to playing with the fractured right hand) "It was difficult, but it's something I just have to get used to. It's going to be a three or four-week deal, so I'm going to have to get better each week. Hopefully, next week will be better than today was."

RB MICHAEL PITTMAN

(On today's win) "It's a great win for the fans and for our team. We regained our confidence. We went out there and pounded the rock like we always said. We needed this win. We defeated a great Dallas team today, and it's great for us."

(On Dallas' defense being ranked No. 1 in the NFL) "They showed it today. They were good. They were aggressive up front and the linebackers ran great. Yards were tough to come by today. We just kept pounding, believed in ourselves and got the win."

(On his 48-yard pass to Ken Dilger) "That was fun. Coach (Jon) Gruden is up late at night drawing up plays and thinking about plays. We practiced that all week, and it was open all week against our defense. I think Brad (Johnson) asked coach Gruden to run it, and it was wide open. It was a great play."

DT WARREN SAPP

(On the Bucs' effort on defense) "We just made an effort to come out and get back to the basics; gap responsibilities, assignments on the field and tackling. You see what happens when we have it down."

(On if the win against Dallas made a statement around the league) "We're not really worried about it. The only people we are concerned about are the people in this locker room that go out and fight with us week in and week out. We came out today and got a good, hard-fought victory against a good ball club in the Cowboys. We got them pretty soundly."

(On how the Bucs game planned to stop Dallas QB Quincy Carter) "I tell you what, we were just going to make a conscious effort to get to him because we had some young guys in the back. (Defensive coordinator) Monte (Kiffin) challenged us that we had to stop this run with a seven-man front because we couldn't use our safeties. We couldn't afford to be up there with an eight-man front. These guys (Dallas) would have been running out like thoroughbreds. We said, 'Ya'll stay back and we'll handle it,' and we got enough."

(On the Bucs' defense facing criticism in the last few weeks) "The day we get outplayed physically or rolled over by somebody, then we'll come out and tell you that we just got beat physically today. When we tell you miss tackles and you look at us like, 'here they go with that again,' it's quite all right because we know."

(On the play of the defense) "Our front and our back played well, and we know (LB) Derrick (Brooks) will always be there."

(On Dallas' strength of schedule) "I wish I had that schedule. You don't worry about it. When you come out with the schedule, you never know who's going to be good and who's going to be bad. You just go out and play. We had to come out today and play because they came out with the No. 1 offense and the No. 1 defense, five (wins) in a row and rolling, doing things they are supposed to do. It's still the Bucs."

(On why the Bucs did not have a 'spy' on Dallas QB Quincy Carter) "We don't spy anybody. We don't care what you can do. Our front four can handle it. We don't spy anybody, not even Michael Vick."

(On recording his sack without a helmet) That's my first. I had a real good one up in Green Bay against (Brett) Favre one time when I put my hat on his hat and drove him to the ground. This is the first one without one, so that's a special one."

S DWIGHT SMITH

(On Jermaine Phillips' interception) "Jermaine Phillips' interception was big because we went down and got some points off of it. I think that was the biggest change, as a defense, in the game. I think we came in and responded after that."

(On the effect of Phillips' interception on Dallas throwing the ball deep) "It showed them that it wasn't going to be an easy day against our secondary. I think that slowed them down on the deep ball because on the tapes we were watching, they were averaging one or two deep balls per quarter, but we didn't get that. I think it was because of that interception."

(On stopping the Cowboys' running game) "For the past six or seven years around here, when guys are in their gaps and playing their positions, we're the best defense in the NFL. We're trying to get back to the basics right now getting guys where they need to be, and if we do that, we're going to perform from there."