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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Alex Van Pelt shuddered when asked whether Terrell Owens is OK with being used as a decoy for most of his first two games with the Buffalo Bills.

"We don't use the 'D' word," the Bills rookie offensive coordinator said.

The Bills and quarterback Trent Edwards stopped using him like one, too.

After being limited to four catches for 55 yards through the first seven quarters of the season, Owens finally made an impact by scoring on a 43-yard touchdown reception to help seal Buffalo's 33-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

It came in T.O.'s first game at Ralph Wilson Stadium since signing a one-year contract with the Bills in March. And it provided a glimpse into what Buffalo's no-huddle offense could be capable of now that it's showing signs of shedding its popgun identity.

Owens didn't stick around to talk about his touchdown. His teammates were left to share their excitement.

"I was excited and he was excited," Edwards said. "The more we can get the ball in the air and hit him in the end zone, I think we will be winning a lot more football games."

It's one step at a time for the Bills (1-1), who snapped a streak of five home losses while showing resilience to bounce back from a demoralizing 25-24 loss at New England last week, when Buffalo squandered an 11-point lead in the final 2:06.

"It was big," coach Dick Jauron said. "They get knocked down and they get up and go."

Aside from Owens, running back Fred Jackson had a career-best 163 yards rushing and added 25 yards receiving. And safety Donte Whitner returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown and added a key fourth-down tackle that sapped the momentum from the Bucs after they overcame a 17-0 deficit to close to within 6 points.

The Buccaneers still have plenty of questions to address, particularly concerning a once-dominant defense that has now allowed 900 yards in its first two games: 438 against Buffalo a week after giving up 462 in a 34-21 loss to Dallas.

"No, I'm not worried about their confidence," rookie head coach Raheem Morris Said. "We've just got to play better."

Where to start?

The secondary continued to get beaten deep a week after giving up three touchdown passes of 40 yards or more. Aside from Owens' touchdown, the Bucs were burned by Lee Evans, who opened the scoring with a 32-yard touchdown catch. And then there was the inability to contain Jackson.

"Every defensive formula revolves around stopping the run and not giving up big plays," linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "If we're not going to do either, we're not going to win many games."

Tampa Bay has now lost six straight.

Byron Leftwich went 26 of 50 for 296 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. But the Bucs fell too far behind early to use their running game.

Derrick Ward had 32 yards rushing, while Carnell Williams had 16 yards rushing to go with seven catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. Kellen Winslow and Jerramy Stevens also scored for the Bucs.

Owens' touchdown six minutes into the fourth quarter put the Bills ahead 30-14.

Running stride for stride with cornerback Aqib Talib up the right sideline, Owens out-leaped the defender at the goal line and came down with the ball. He then celebrated by jumping into several teammates arms before heading to the sideline.

It didn't matter to Van Pelt that Owens had a similar pass fall through his hands earlier in the game.

"We would throw it to him three or four more times if we can," Van Pelt said. "One drop doesn't make a game."

NOTES: Evans' touchdown was his first in 12 games. It was also Buffalo's first TD in four home games, including a 16-3 "home" loss to Miami at Toronto last season. ... The Bucs opened a season 0-2 for the 15th time in franchise history. They've rebounded to make the playoffs only once, during the strike-shortened season in 1982. ... Bills K Rian Lindell hit all four field goal attempts, including a 43-yarder.

By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

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