By DERON SNYDER
The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Keyshawn Johnson believes he's the NFL's best all-around receiver. Few observers would agree with him, while many would nominate San Francisco's Terrell Owens.

But Johnson could let the results for speak for themselves Sunday after Tampa Bay spanked the 49ers, 31-6. And he did, departing the locker room before the media was allowed in.

Owens also let the numbers tell the story. He dressed at his locker with his back toward a group of waiting reporters. He turned around, found a seam in the crowd, and bolted.

It was the first opening he had all day.

Johnson had a game-high 85 yards receiving and tied the Niners' Tai Streets with a game-high five receptions. Owens, who torched the New York Giants for nine catches and 177 yards in last week's playoff game, was a total non-factor. The Bucs limited him to four receptions for 35 yards.

One of those catches - a 9-yarder - came on the game's final series, against the Bucs' second string.

"We made some subtle adjustments to stop Owens, but we're not a team that's going to make wholesale changes," strong safety John Lynch said. "We do what we do. But we have a history of shutting down No. 1 receivers."

Owens is one of the league's biggest talkers, as is Johnson. But Owens has done a better job of backing up his mouth. He tied for fourth in receptions this season (100), eighth in receiving yardage (1,300), and led the league in receiving touchdowns (13). He did all of that despite sitting out the Niners' final two games.

Johnson had 76 receptions for 1,088 yards and five touchdowns this season, after recording 106 catches and 1,266 yards in 2001. But 2001 is the only season in which Johnson reached at least 90 catches and 1,200 yards.

Conversely, Owens has a three-year streak of at least 90 catches and 1,300 yards.

But Johnson made the big plays after a slow start Sunday. The first four passes his way were incomplete, including an interception. But he hauled in a 17-yard, third-down reception to keep Tampa Bay's first scoring drive alive. And he caught two passes for 42 yards on the Bucs' next drive, which also resulted in a touchdown.

"Keyshawn stepped up and played big today," Bucs wideout Keenan McCardell said. "You've got to give him credit. That's what you've got to do when you get opportunities, and he had opportunities today."

Tampa Bay's offense did its share in limiting Owens' opportunities to impact the game. The Bucs dominated time of possession in the second and third quarters, 22:36 to the Niners' 7:24. When San Francisco did have the ball, the Bucs' No. 1-rated defense swarmed quarterback Jeff Garcia, limiting his time to find Owens.

"We knew where (Owens) was," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "We rushed the passer and made it hard for some of the seven step drops to develop. We forced Jeff to move quickly and get the ball out of his throwing hand."

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