On Tuesday, Staff Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix and I debated what the top offensive moment of the season was so far for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Today, as we continue with our year-long series of Point-Counterpoint debates, we're going to do the same thing for the defensive side of the ball.

And you know what, if every game had pylon cameras, I don't think there would be much of a debate.

I refer, of course, to the goal-line strip of Atlanta Falcons tight end by All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in Week Eight. Did the ball come loose before or after it got to the end zone? Reasonable minds may differ but the play was reviewed and the original ruling of a touchdown was upheld. The Bucs lost 31-26. Incredibly, Winfield had done virtually the same thing twice in 2023, including once against the Falcons. Those two both counted as turnovers and touchbacks, but this one did not, so it's not really eligible for today's discussion.

So what other moments have stood out for the Buccaneers' defense so far this year? Brianna and I will make our cases, and since she went first in the offensive discussion, this time I get first dibs.

Today's question: What is the top defensive moment from the first 10 games of the Buccaneers' 2024 season?

Scott Smith: Zyon McCollum's First Career Interception in Detroit

Before the 2024 season started, I offered up the take that third-year cornerback Zyon McCollum was the Bucs' X-factor on defense. I thought a strong season from him was the key to the Bucs duplicating what they accomplished in 2023, when they allowed the seventh fewest points in the league, and I thought he would have that strong season.

Turns out I was half right. McCollum has indeed played well, and with Jamel Dean on injured reserve he is clearly the team's best cornerback. Unfortunately, the Bucs' defense as a whole has allowed 26.6 points per game, the fifth most in the NFL in 2024. Still, good young cornerbacks are hard to find and develop, so it's definitely a big plus for the Buccaneers that McCollum has taken a big leap forward this season, his first as a Week One starter.

It was fitting that McCollum's first big introduction to the rest of the league came in Detroit, against a Lions team that had traded with the Buccaneers in the offseason to get cornerback Carlton Davis. Davis had six good seasons in Tampa, but the Bucs felt comfortable swinging that trade for a third-round pick because they believed in McCollum. And in Week Two, the younger corner played a huge role in Tampa Bay avenging its Divisional Round playoff loss in Detroit last January.

McCollum finished the game with six tackles, an interception and four passes defensed. That's impressive output for a cornerback in any given game, but consider the fact that he was targeted exactly five times by Lions quarterback Jared Goff. That means he got his hands on all but one of the passes thrown to a receiver he was covering. The other one was completed for a whopping five yards.

Since I wasn't sure if including McCollum's entire output in that game counted as a "moment," I'll hone in on his interception, the first of his NFL career, which came on Detroit's very first offensive play. Tampa Bay had driven for a field goal on the game's opening drive, though that was a mild disappointment given that the offense had achieved a first-and-goal but then couldn't punch it in. Fortunately, McCollum got the ball right back for that offense.

McCollum started the play lined up over running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who was lined up wide to the offense's right. The Bucs were playing zone defense on the play and McCollum dropped back as Gibbs went in motion and ran a route over the middle of the field. Wide receiver Jameson Williams, in the slot, went straight upfield but was bumped off his route by slot corner Christian Izien. Goff's pass ended up sailing a few feet in front of Williams and McCollum alertly made a diving interception at the Lions' 48. The Buccaneers would tack on another field goal on the ensuing drive on their way to a 20-16 win. The Bucs' defense turned away three straight drives in their territory in the fourth quarter, with McCollum playing a key role. And it all started on Detroit's very first play of the game.

Brianna Dix: Vita Vea's First Sack vs. Chiefs

I do not think enough attention is being brought to what Vita Vea is doing in the NFL at the nose tackle position, so I am going to give the agile big man some love. In one of his best career games to date against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week Nine, Vea set the tone up front. He consistently collapsed the pocket around Patrick Mahomes and concluded the matchup with a two-sack performance. The sack I will focus on came in the first quarter from third-and-eight. The score was tied at zero and Vea utilized his strength on a bull rush against Chiefs' center Creed Humphrey to knock Kansas City out of field goal range. Vea drove Humphrey backward and shed the blocker to drop Mahomes for a loss of 10. That play epitomizes the player that Vea is.

He added another knockdown later in the first half and currently has a team-best 5.0 sacks this year and his 5.0 sacks are the most among nose tackles this season – 2.5 more than the next closest nose tackle per StatsPass position designations. Against the Chiefs, Vea also led the team with a career-best 10 tackles, in addition to three quarterback hits. He overwhelmed at the point of attack, getting penetration throughout the Monday night contest. Both Head Coach Todd Bowles and Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Kacy Rodgers dubbed Vea's performance against the Chiefs as "the best" they have seen him play in his career.

Nose tackles typically are tasked with eating up blockers, commanding double teams to create opportunities for teammates and two-gapping. Well, Vea is an anomaly. He has the size and power of a prototypical nose but adds deceptive speed and elite pursuit quickness to the mix. Vea has the flexibility and range to dislodge and move down the line of scrimmage to make tackles and restrict run lanes. Notably, one of Calijah Kancey's sacks against the Chiefs was a result of Vea, who freed Kancey for the takedown. Vea provided the inside pressure and split the double team, almost getting home. He flushed Mahomes out and Kancey capitalized. On every single play, offensive coordinators have to know where No.50 is for the Buccaneers. Sure, Vea makes routine plays like that and although Bucs' fans have grown accustomed to seeing it, his play still deserves recognition.