GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: TAMPA BAY (7-4) at NEW ORLEANS (5-6)

NFL: TAMPA BAY (7-4) at NEW ORLEANS (5-6)

<h3>Saints can tighten race in NFC South</h3>



Tampa Bay (7-4) at New Orleans (5-6) 4:15 pm EST


NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Having twice salvaged their season fromthe brink of disaster, the New Orleans Saints still have achance to win a division title.


To accomplish that, the Saints will have to beat the visitingTampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in an NFC South matchup.

Following an 0-4 start to the season, New Orleans rebounded withfour consecutive victories to climb to the .500 mark and backinto the division race.


That momentum came to a screeching halt as the Saints droppedtheir next two games before bouncing back with a thorough 31-6beating of the Carolina Panthers last week.


Not only did that vault New Orleans into a six-team logjam at5-6 in the NFC, it kept the Saints within two games of surgingTampa Bay, which won its third straight contest by holding offthe Washington Redskins, 19-13.


Drew Brees sandwiched a pair of scoring passes around his ownrushing touchdown in a 21-point third quarter to help NewOrleans blow out Carolina.


Completing passes to nine different receivers, Brees threw for260 yards and three touchdowns.


"I think we really made an emphasis of this game," Brees said."We really had to have this game. I think that when we'rerolling, we can just open up the playbook."


The Buccaneers did just the opposite with their playbook in thesecond half.


Quarterback Jeff Garcia was injured on the first series of thegame, but the defense forced six turnovers including four in thefirst half to take a 19-3 lead.


With Bruce Gradkowski subbing for Garcia, the Bucs failed topick up a first down in the second half and watched the Redskinsclose within six points.


The defense came to the rescue again, with Ronde Barber andBrian Kelly making interceptions in the last four minutes tosnuff out Washington's last two drives.


It was Barber's 32nd career interception, setting a franchiserecord.


Garcia, who suffered a bruised back, was unable to throw Mondayand his status for Sunday's game is questionable.


In Week Two, Garcia threw a pair of touchdown passes to JoeyGalloway as the Bucs scored the first 28 points in a 31-14 routof the Saints.

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 0
NEW ORLEANS 0 14:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 27 YD

TAMPA BAY 3
NEW ORLEANS 0 9:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 3
NEW ORLEANS 0 9:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 18 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 53 YD ATTEMPT SHORT

TAMPA BAY 3
NEW ORLEANS 0 5:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NOR
TERRANCE COPPER 4 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(OLINDO MARE KICK)

TAMPA BAY 3
NEW ORLEANS 7 2:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 3
NEW ORLEANS 7 2:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

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

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: TAM - FG, MATT BRYANT 27 YD, 5:06. Drive: 10
plays, 65 yards in 5:06. Key plays:
McCown 15-yard pass to Galloway to
New Orleans 47; McCown 16-yard pass
to Askew to New Orleans 31; McCown
12-yard pass to Bennett to New
Orleans 18. TAMPA BAY 3-0
NOR - TD, TERRANCE COPPER 4 YD PASS FROM DREW
BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK), 12:55.
Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards in 3:06.
Key plays: Brees 9-yard pass to
Stecker on 3rd-and-6 to Tampa Bay
44; Brees 40-yard pass to Colston
to Tampa Bay 4. NEW ORLEANS 7-3</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 3
NEW ORLEANS 7 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD TAM
ANTHONY BECHT 1 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)

TAMPA BAY 10
NEW ORLEANS 7 14:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 10
NEW ORLEANS 7 14:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR

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

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FG TAM
MATT BRYANT 31 YD

TAMPA BAY 13
NEW ORLEANS 7 7:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 13
NEW ORLEANS 7 7:46 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NOR
DEVERY HENDERSON 45 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(OLINDO MARE KICK)

TAMPA BAY 13
NEW ORLEANS 14 3:21 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 13
NEW ORLEANS 14 3:17 LEFT, 2ND QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF

TAMPA BAY 13
NEW ORLEANS 14

TAM BALL AT MIDFIELD
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 13
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 14 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: TAM - FG, MATT BRYANT 27 YD, 5:06. Drive: 10
plays, 65 yards in 5:06. Key plays:
McCown 15-yard pass to Galloway to
New Orleans 47; McCown 16-yard pass
to Askew to New Orleans 31; McCown
12-yard pass to Bennett to New
Orleans 18. TAMPA BAY 3-0
NOR - TD, TERRANCE COPPER 4 YD PASS FROM DREW
BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK), 12:55.
Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards in 3:06.
Key plays: Brees 9-yard pass to
Stecker on 3rd-and-6 to Tampa Bay
44; Brees 40-yard pass to Colston
to Tampa Bay 4. NEW ORLEANS 7-3
2ND QUARTER: TAM - TD, ANTHONY BECHT 1 YD PASS FROM LUKE
MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK), 0:40.
Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 2:45.
Key plays: McCown 14-yard pass to
Galloway to Tamba Bay 34; McCown
60-yard pass to Galloway to New
Orleans 1. TAMPA BAY 10-7
TAM - FG, MATT BRYANT 31 YD, 7:08. Drive: 6
plays, 52 yards in 3:21. Key plays:
Clayton 20-yard run to New Orleans
45; Graham 23-yard run to New
Orleans 22. TAMPA BAY 13-7
NOR - TD, DEVERY HENDERSON 45 YD PASS FROM
DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK),
11:39. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards in
4:31. Key plays: Bush 14-yard run
to Tampa Bay 41. NEW ORLEANS 14-13</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 13
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 14 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

5:06 TAM - FG, M Bryant 27 Yd.
Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards in 5:06.
Key plays: McCown 15-yard pass to Galloway to New Orleans 47; McCown
16-yard pass to Askew to New Orleans 31; McCown 12-yard pass to Bennett to
New Orleans 18. Tampa Bay 3-0.
12:55 NOR - TD, T Copper 4 Yd Pass From D Brees (O Mare Kick).
Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards in 3:06.
Key plays: Brees 9-yard pass to Stecker on 3rd-and-6 to Tampa Bay
44; Brees 40-yard pass to Colston to Tampa Bay 4. New Orleans 7-3.

2ND QUARTER:

0:40 TAM - TD, A Becht 1 Yd Pass From L Mccown (M Bryant Kick).
Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 2:45.
Key plays: McCown 14-yard pass to Galloway to Tamba Bay 34; McCown
60-yard pass to Galloway to New Orleans 1. Tampa Bay 10-7.
7:08 TAM - FG, M Bryant 31 Yd.
Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards in 3:21.
Key plays: Clayton 20-yard run to New Orleans 45; Graham 23-yard run
to New Orleans 22. Tampa Bay 13-7.
11:39 NOR - TD, D Henderson 45 Yd Pass From D Brees (O Mare Kick).
Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards in 4:31.
Key plays: Bush 14-yard run to Tampa Bay 41. New Orleans 14-13.

Tampa Bay - New Orleans End 2nd Qtr Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS Tampa Bay New Orleans

FIRST DOWNS 14 7
Rushing 3 3
Passing 10 4
Penalty 1 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 2-6-33% 3-5-60%
TOTAL NET YARDS 285 161
Total offensive plays 33 20
Average gain per play 8.6 8.1
NET YARDS RUSHING 67 49
Rushing attempts 10 10
Average gain per rush 6.7 4.9
NET YARDS PASSING 218 112
Times sacked: Number-Yards 2-12 0-0
Gross passing yards 230 112
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 21-18-0 10-7-0
Avg gain per pass play 9.5 11.2
PUNTS: Number and Average 0-0.0 2-45.5
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 4-30 3-20
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 0-0 0-0
TOUCHDOWNS 1 2
Rushing 0 0
Passing 1 2
Interceptions 0 0
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 1-1 2-2
Kicking: Made-Attempts 1-1 2-2
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-3 0-0
SAFETIES 0 0
TIME OF POSSESSION 18:07 11:53


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Tampa Bay New Orleans

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
E GRAHAM 8 39 4.9 23 0 R BUSH 7 41 5.9 14 0
M CLAYTON 1 20 20.0 20 0 A STECKER 2 4 2.0 2 0
L MCCOWN 1 8 8.0 8 0 D BREES 1 4 4.0 4 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
L MCCOWN 18-21-230 0 1 60 D BREES 7-10-112 0 2 45

Sacked-Yards Lost: L MCCOWN 2-12. Sacked-Yards Lost: None

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J GALLOWAY 6 148 24.7 60 0 M COLSTON 2 39 19.5 40 0
E GRAHAM 3 7 2.3 5 0 A STECKER 2 18 9.0 9 0
B ASKEW 2 29 14.5 16 0 D HENDERSO 1 45 45.0 45 1
I HILLIARD 2 18 9.0 9 0 B MILLER 1 6 6.0 6 0
M PITTMAN 2 6 3.0 3 0 T COPPER 1 4 4.0 4 1
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0
M STOVALL 1 9 9.0 9 0
A BECHT 1 1 1.0 1 1

KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
M BRYANT 1/1 2/3 O MARE 2/2 0/0
Dist.: 27 (53) 31</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 13
NEW ORLEANS 14 14:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR

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

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD TAM
EARNEST GRAHAM 25 YD RUN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)

TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 14 9:36 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>