Philadelphia ? At the Vet or the Linc, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still own Philadelphia.

The Super Bowl champions began defense of their title Monday night with — what else — a suffocating defense. They also got some sharp passing from Brad Johnson and two spectacular touchdown catches by Joe Jurevicius in a 17-0 victory over the Eagles that sent a message to the rest of the NFL: We’re at home anywhere.

“Philly fans will definitely remember us for a lot of years,” Johnson said.

Less than eight months after they marched into Philadelphia and throttled the Eagles for the NFC championship in the final game at Veterans Stadium, the Bucs moved their act across the street to Lincoln Financial Field. Led by defensive linemen Simeon Rice, Warren Sapp and Greg Spires, the Bucs were as impressive as the $520 million stadium that made its regular-season debut.

Never allowing Donovan McNabb and the Eagles any breathing room, the Bucs showed the kind of balance that made them champions for the first time. They shut down the running lanes and befuddled McNabb, who finished 19-for-36 for 148 yards. Philadelphia gained 245 yards overall, much of it in garbage time.

It was the second straight regular-season shutout for Tampa Bay, which ended the 2002 season with a 15-0 win at Chicago.

“We played the way we expected to play,” Sapp said. “Once we got it rolling, you know how we are. We’re like sharks with blood in the water. We’re coming.”

Sapp even got into the act on offense, making a 14-yard fourth-quarter reception on which he faked out two Eagles to get to the Philadelphia 11-yard line. After his first career catch, Sapp made an exaggerated first-down signal, the final insult to the quiet fans who expected so much more from their team.

“He could start at tight end for a lot of teams,” Johnson said. “He brings something to our huddle. I am glad he is on our side.”

Philadelphia's N.D. Kalu, left, and Brian Dawkins, center, team up to drag down Tampa Bay fullback Mike Alstott. Regardless, the Buccaneers blanked the Eagles, 17-0, Monday in Philadelphia.

Jurevicius finished that drive with a brilliant seven-yard TD catch for his second score of the night. Jurevicius tipped a high pass into the air at the two, slipped around a defender and made a lunging reception in the end zone for a 17-0 lead.

Johnson was 13-of-14 in the second half for 119 yards and both TDs. He hit Jurevicius on a 13-yard score to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive in the third period.

On their first possession of the second half, the Bucs’ long drive ended when Jurevicius leaped in the corner of the end zone for Johnson’s pinpoint pass and caught it while barely tiptoeing inbounds for the touchdown.

Eagles coach Andy Reid challenged the call, but it was upheld.

Johnson was 27-for-36 for 238 yards.

For much of the night, the game had a preseason look, not that of a prime-time showcase rematch of January’s NFC championship game. Penalties and missed assignments easily outnumbered big plays.

But when the Bucs got going, they left no doubt that the Eagles — and probably every other NFL team — have much catching up to do.