The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half of the 2016 season were playing to form as one of the NFL’s perennial laughing stocks. They were 3-5 and seemingly on their way to their sixth-straight losing season and ninth straight since their last postseason appearance. Their defense was one opposing teams and fantasy football enthusiasts circled on their calendars, allowing nearly 30 points per game.

But then something unprecedented occurred. The Bucs suddenly have become the best defense in football. Since Week 8, the Bucs...