TAMPA — It may not show in the record, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting better — at least on defense.

Since the bye week, the Bucs have ranked in the top five in yards allowed per game (302.0 – fourth) and passing yards allowed per game (201.2 – fifth), while sitting in the top half of the league in rushing yards allowed per game (100.8 – 14th) and points allowed per game (19.2 – 11th).

That type of effort will be needed Sunday when the Bucs host the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals (7-3-1) lead the highly contested AFC North, where every team has seven wins. It’s the opposite of the NFC South, where every team has a losing record and even the last-place Bucs (2-9) are only two games behind division-leading New Orleans (4-7).

“We’re definitely playing better,” Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “One of our statisticians gave me some numbers over the last five weeks coming out of the bye (week) on where we are and how much improvement we’ve made and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good.’ Part of it is guys having a better understanding for sure, we’ve been together longer now, they’ve heard these terms a lot more often at practice and they’re practicing their techniques a lot more at this point in the season, but I think also some of the changes.”

The improvement begins up front, where the emergence of Jacquies Smith at left defensive end and the improving health of right defensive end Michael Johnson has solidified the pass rush.

“I think Jacquies Smith is giving us something at the left-end position, he’s helped us with his pass-rush ability and his ability to win one-on-ones,” Frazier said. “Gerald (McCoy) is Gerald, he’s always a big-play guy. Also seeing our secondary improve; I think Major Wright is definitely giving us a shot in the arm and we’re playing better on the back end. It hurt not having Lavonte (David), but Mason (Foster) has stepped up and he’s gotten better form early in the season and that’s made us better. I think Michael is getting a little bit healthier and his play has picked up some and it will continue trending forward. We’re a little bit healthier and I think we’ve been together a little bit longer and guys have a better feel of what we’re asking them to do and it’s showing on the field.”

Where the Bucs defense has been disappointing is creating turnovers. They lost that battle 4-1 in a 21-13 loss to the Chicago Bears. Even though they dominated that game, the Bears needed to travel only 13 and 15 yards for touchdowns.

Had the Bucs defense held Chicago to field goals instead of three touchdowns in three trips to the red zone, they could’ve won the game 10-9. That’s the next step for Smith’s defense to round into form.

That said, the Bears and Redskins offenses have been struggling for most of the season. What they face Sunday against the Bengals is one of the NFL’s most potent attacks.

They can run the ball with rookie Jeremy Hill or Giovani Bernard and they can throw it deep with quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green.

Offensively, quarterback Josh McCown has played well since returning from a torn ligament in his right thumb. But he’s 1-2, in large part because of more costly turnovers.

Playing in rainy conditions, McCown attempted a season-high 48 passes last Sunday at Chicago. But he had an interception and lost a fumble, giving short fields to the Bears in a disastrous third quarter.

The Bucs also have gotten very little help from their special teams. This week they released kick returner Marcus Thigpen. They also haven’t gotten much from punter Michael Koenen, who ranks last in the league.

But for all the Bucs have done wrong under Smith, only one thing has gone right: The rest of the NFC South is inept, keeping them in the race long enough to play meaningful games in late November and December.