After coming up with two interceptions in a Nov. 24 victory over Green Bay, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback was referred to as "Reggie" Kelly by two anchors for the World Wide Leader in Sports.

"An honest mistake," Kelly said on Thursday as the Bucs prepared for Sunday's divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. "That's cool. It happens. They'll figure it out one day."

Clearly, that day has arrived.

	Kelly had 2 interceptions in the season finale against Chicago.

Last year, opposing offenses tried to throw on Bucs' corner Ronde Barber. All he did was come up with 10 interceptions, tied with Cleveland's Anthony Henry for the lead league. This year, with teams trying to avoid Barber, Kelly picked off eight passes, again, tied for the NFL lead, this time with the Raiders' ageless Rod Woodson.

"I think I'm the best cornerback in the NFL," says Barber, along with the Rams' Aeneas Williams, chosen at corner for the 2001 NFL All-Pro team, "but Brian Kelly is giving me a run for my money.

"I think teams are scheming us differently than they used to. We're seeing a lot of different looks than we have in the past and that's why you see B.K. getting a lot of opportunities."

It's tough when you're playing in a secondary with two Pro Bowl players, Barber and strong safety John Lynch, not to mention a host of high-visibility players up front like defensive tackle Warren Sapp, defensive end Simeon Rice and outside linebacker Derrick Brooks, the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

More than anyone, Kelly understands interceptions are merely the by-product of a team effort.

"It might start off with Simeon Rice coming off the corner, rushing the quarterback … like he feels the pressure and lets the ball out of his hand," Kelly said. "It can start from Derrick Brooks sitting in the window, takes away a window, guy goes second level and all of a sudden you're in that level and you pick off the ball.

"An interception is always a collective thing."

The Bucs, it should be noted, made a living this season stealing people's lunch money.

They led the NFL in seven -- count them, seven -- defensive statistical categories, including the all-important points per game (12.3), yards per game (252.8) and passing yards (155.6). Tampa Bay's 196 points allowed is the fifth-lowest total since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.

The skill that allowed them to accomplish this? Flat out stealing. The Bucs had 31 interceptions, easily the league's best total ahead of Baltimore (25), Atlanta and Green Bay (24).

"It's the nature of the business, man," Barber said. "We get paid to steal."

Well, it depends who you talk to.

"You put that ball in the air, it's for anybody that wants it," Sapp insisted. "I got just as much right to it as you do. That's not stealing. If I throw a $100 bill up in the air, it's up for anybody who grabs it, isn't it? Just like that ball -- that's how we always look at it. Let's go get it because it's ours."

	“	I think I'm the best cornerback in the NFL, but Brian Kelly is giving me a run for my money. ”
		— Bucs CB Ronde Barber

No fewer than 10 players have contributed to the thievery. The list is impressive: Kelly (8), Brooks (5), nickel back Dwight Smith (4), Lynch (3), free safety Dexter Jackson (3), Sapp (2), middle linebacker Shelton Quarles (2), Barber (2), Rice (1) and outside linebacker Alshermond Singleton (1).

That means the defense caught almost as many passes as wide receiver Joe Jurevicius (37) and fullback Mike Alstott (35). Kelly, amazingly, has caught more passes than wideout Karl Williams and four other offensive players. Brooks returned three of his interceptions for touchdowns, something no NFL linebacker has ever done. He also took back a fumble (after a lateral from Sapp) for his fourth touchdown, leaving him one short of the all-time NFL record for defensive touchdowns.

He said his motivation came from head coach Jon Gruden, who challenged the defense to score nine touchdowns. They only got five as a unit, but that remains an impressive number.

When you break it down, the system is set up for interceptions. The Bucs play the popular, no-frills "Cover 2" defense that former head coach Tony Dungy preached and has taken root in places like Indianapolis, New York (with former Dungy assistant Herman Edwards) and St. Louis (with Lovie Smith, another Dungy man). Most teams have a version of the "Cover 2"; the Atlanta Falcons, for instance, use it exclusively.

The three linebackers and two corners flood the field in zone coverage just off the line of scrimmage. The two safeties -- the "2" -- play deep and each takes responsibility for half the field. This is an essentially conservative approach, which tends to cut down on big plays. Most teams that play the "Cover 2", however, are susceptible to the short dinks that chew up the clock and move the chains.

Not the Bucs.

Because their front four is so dominant, Tampa Bay manages to get pressure on the quarterback without blitzing on every down. This means quarterbacks are hurrying their passes and, consequently, there are some loose balls to be had.

According to the players, it is the personnel, not the scheme, that makes it work.

"It's never the scheme," Sapp said. "You can scheme people with smoke and mirrors in this league for maybe a week and then it's going to come down to the men in the scheme with the skill. We have a lot of skilled men on this team."

That, and a long time in the system.

"We've been doing this for seven years, so that really plays a part in this thing," Sapp said. "It's just (like) getting up and putting on your clothes in the morning or brushing your teeth."

Said Barber, "We understand what we have to do in our defense better than anyone will ever understand a defense. You get comfortable in your movements: re-routing, hinging, making a play on the ball … you do it so much that you should be able to make plays."

When the Bucs allowed cornerback Donnie Abraham -- Tampa Bay's career interception leader with 31 -- to sign with the Jets as a free agent, they committed to Kelly. The fifth-year player from USC only had three career interceptions, but the Bucs liked his physical bump-and-run skills. He was a tough special teams player and he had never missed a game in four seasons. Kelly got a six-year, $15 million contract. So far, he's been more than worth it.

Problem is, his cover is blown. Who will teams throw at next year?

"I don't know," Kelly said. "They'll have to pick their poison."

Barber can't wait.

"Sooner or later," he said, "somebody is going to bring charges against us. Hopefully, not until the Super Bowl's over with." Greg Garber is a senior writer at ESPN.com.