GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: NEW ORLEANS (0-1) at TAMPA BAY (0-1)

NFL: NEW ORLEANS (0-1) at TAMPA BAY (0-1)

<h3>Saints hope to bounce back against Bucs</h3>



New Orleans (0-1) at Tampa Bay (0-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Drew Brees will be looking to repeathis performance from the last time the New Orleans Saints facedthe Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


Hoping to get his offense in gear, Brees leads the Saints intoSunday's NFC South matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brees enjoyed a monster season in 2006, leading the league with4,418 passing yards and finishing third with 26 touchdowns. Withhim leading the way, New Orleans led the league in totaloffense, averaging 391.5 yards.


One of Brees' many big games last season came at the expense ofthe Bucs in a 31-14 victory here on November 5. He dissectedthe Bucs' secondary, completing 24-of-32 passes for 314 yardsand three touchdowns.


Marques Colston and Devery Henderson also proved difficult tocontain. Colston had 11 catches for 123 yards and a touchdownwhile Henderson had TD catches of 52 and 45 yards.

Brees and the Saints' high-powered offense never got going in a41-10 season-opening loss at defending Super Bowl championIndianapolis. Brees threw for 192 yards and two interceptionsas the Saints were held without an offensive touchdown. Theironly score came on cornerback Jason David's 55-yard fumblereturn.


Trying to rebound from a disappointing 4-12 season, the Bucs'2007 campaign got off to painful start in a 20-6 loss at Seattlelast Sunday.


Quarterback Jeff Garcia and running back Carnell "Cadillac"Williams both were banged up in the second half. Garcia leftthe game briefly after taking a hard hit to the head, whileWilliams, who rushed for 60 yards on 12 carries, departed withbruised ribs.


If Williams is unable to go in this contest, Michael Pittman andEarnest Graham will split the load in the backfield.

The offensive futility was a familiar sight for the Bucs, whoscored 10 points or less in eight games last season.

In the first meeting between the teams last season, Bushreturned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown with under five minutesremaining, lifting the Saints to a 24-21 win.

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 15:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NFL NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 13:21 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 21 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 11:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 44 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 10:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 0 6:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL TD TAM
CARNELL WILLIAMS 1 YD RUN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)

NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 7 5:25 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 7 3:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 7 2:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 23 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 7 1:21 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 21 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 0 0
TAMPA BAY 7 7 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: TAM - TD, CARNELL WILLIAMS 1 YD RUN (MATT
BRYANT KICK), 9:35. Drive: 8 plays,
57 yards in 4:36. Key plays: Ruud
recovery of McAllister fumble at
Tampa 43; Garcia 33-yard pass to
Smith to New Orleans 24; Garcia
11-yard pass to Pittman to New
Orleans 12; Garcia 7-yard run on
3rd-and-6 to New Orleans 1. TAMPA
BAY 7-0</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 7 14:46 LEFT, 2ND QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 32 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL TD TAM
JOEY GALLOWAY 69 YD PASS FROM JEFF GARCIA
(MATT BRYANT KICK)

NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 13:09 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 13:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 8:35 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG NOR
OLINDO MARE 38 YD ATTEMPT WIDE LEFT

NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 6:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 6:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 29 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 5:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: NEW ORLEANS at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0
TAMPA BAY 14 4:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>