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

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 14 9:31 LEFT, 3RD QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 19 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NOR
MIKE MCKENZIE 53 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(OLINDO MARE KICK)

TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 21 3:05 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 21 3:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 22 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 7 20
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 7 21 END, 3RD 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
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
3RD QUARTER: TAM - TD, EARNEST GRAHAM 25 YD RUN (MATT
BRYANT KICK), 5:24. Drive: 6 plays,
55 yards in 3:27. Key plays: McCown
7-yard pass to Graham on 3rd-and-5
to New Orleans 43; McCown 12-yard
pass to Askew to New Orleans 25.
TAMPA BAY 20-14
NOR - TD, MIKE MCKENZIE 53 YD INTERCEPTION
RETURN (OLINDO MARE KICK), 11:55.
NEW ORLEANS 21-20</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 21 14:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 21 10:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 21 4:15 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL SAFETY NOR
LUKE MCCOWN TACKLED BY WILL SMITH IN END ZONE

TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 23 3:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 20
NEW ORLEANS 23 3:41 LEFT, 4TH QTR

TAM BALL ON NOR 49 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD TAM
JERRAMY STEVENS 4 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN
(MATT BRYANT KICK)

TAMPA BAY 27
NEW ORLEANS 23 0:14 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TAMPA BAY 27
NEW ORLEANS 23 0:07 LEFT, 4TH QTR

TAM BALL ON TAM 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 7 7 27
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 7 2 23 FINAL

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
3RD QUARTER: TAM - TD, EARNEST GRAHAM 25 YD RUN (MATT
BRYANT KICK), 5:24. Drive: 6 plays,
55 yards in 3:27. Key plays: McCown
7-yard pass to Graham on 3rd-and-5
to New Orleans 43; McCown 12-yard
pass to Askew to New Orleans 25.
TAMPA BAY 20-14
NOR - TD, MIKE MCKENZIE 53 YD INTERCEPTION
RETURN (OLINDO MARE KICK), 11:55.
NEW ORLEANS 21-20
4TH QUARTER: NOR - SAFETY, LUKE MCCOWN TACKLED BY WILL SMITH
IN END ZONE 11:08. NEW ORLEANS
23-20
TAM - TD, JERRAMY STEVENS 4 YD PASS FROM LUKE
MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK), 14:46.
Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards in 3:16.
Key plays: Haye recovery of Bush
fumble at New Orleans 37; Graham
2-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New
Orleans 26; McCown 21-yard pass to
Graham to New Orleans 5. TAMPA BAY
27-23

ATT:</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NFL
TAMPA BAY 27
NEW ORLEANS 23 FINAL</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 7 7 27
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 7 2 23 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

5:06 TAM - FG, MATT 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, TERRANCE COPPER 4 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO 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, ANTHONY BECHT 1 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN (MATT 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, MATT 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, DEVERY HENDERSON 45 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards in 4:31.
Key plays: Bush 14-yard run to Tampa Bay 41. NEW ORLEANS 14-13.

3RD QUARTER:

5:24 TAM - TD, EARNEST GRAHAM 25 YD RUN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards in 3:27.
Key plays: McCown 7-yard pass to Graham on 3rd-and-5 to New Orleans
43; McCown 12-yard pass to Askew to New Orleans 25. TAMPA BAY 20-14.
11:55 NOR - TD, MIKE MCKENZIE 53 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
NEW ORLEANS 21-20.

4TH QUARTER:

11:08 NOR - SAFETY, LUKE MCCOWN TACKLED BY WILL SMITH IN END ZONE .
NEW ORLEANS 23-20.
14:46 TAM - TD, JERRAMY STEVENS 4 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards in 3:16.
Key plays: Haye recovery of Bush fumble at New Orleans 37; Graham
2-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New Orleans 26; McCown 21-yard pass to Graham
to New Orleans 5. TAMPA BAY 27-23.

TAMPA BAY - NEW ORLEANS Final Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS TAMPA BAY NEW ORLEANS

FIRST DOWNS 24 13
Rushing 7 5
Passing 16 8
Penalty 1 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-13-38% 5-11-45%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-0-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS 466 246
Total offensive plays 66 47
Average gain per play 7.1 5.2
NET YARDS RUSHING 172 84
Rushing attempts 26 21
Average gain per rush 6.6 4.0
Tackles for loss-yards 0-0 0-0
NET YARDS PASSING 294 162
Times sacked: Number-Yards 3-19 3-17
Gross passing yards 313 179
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 37-29-1 23-17-0
Avg gain per pass play 7.4 6.2
KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 7-0-0 4-2-0
PUNTS: Number and Average 2-35.0 6-42.8
Had blocked 0 0
Net punting average 30.5 42.8
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 9 53
Number-Yards: Punt Returns 4-9 0-0
Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 4-89 7-103
Number-Yards: Interception Returns 0-0 1-53
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 7-55 6-40
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 0-0 3-1
TOUCHDOWNS 3 3
Rushing 1 0
Passing 2 2
Interceptions 0 1
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 3-3 3-3
Kicking: Made-Attempts 3-3 3-3
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-3 0-0
FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 2-4-50% 1-1-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 2-2-100% 1-1-100%
SAFETIES 0 1
TIME OF POSSESSION 34:46 25:14


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

TAMPA BAY NEW ORLEANS

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
E GRAHAM 22 106 4.8 25 1 R BUSH 13 64 4.9 14 0
L MCCOWN 2 34 17.0 26 0 A STECKER 7 16 2.3 4 0
M CLAYTON 1 20 20.0 20 0 D BREES 1 4 4.0 4 0
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
L MCCOWN 29-37-313 1 2 60 D BREES 17-23-179 0 2 45

Sacked-Yards Lost: L MCCOWN 3-19. Sacked-Yards Lost: D BREES 3-17.

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J GALLOWAY 7 159 22.7 60 0 A STECKER 4 35 8.8 12 0
E GRAHAM 7 37 5.3 21 0 R BUSH 3 13 4.3 13 0
I HILLIARD 4 29 7.3 9 0 M COLSTON 2 39 19.5 40 0
B ASKEW 3 41 13.7 16 0 L MOORE 2 18 9.0 14 0
J STEVENS 2 8 4.0 4 1 E JOHNSON 2 12 6.0 7 0
M PITTMAN 2 6 3.0 3 0 D HENDERSO 1 45 45.0 45 1
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0 M KARNEY 1 7 7.0 7 0
A SMITH 1 11 11.0 11 0 B MILLER 1 6 6.0 6 0
M STOVALL 1 9 9.0 9 0 T COPPER 1 4 4.0 4 1
A BECHT 1 1 1.0 1 1

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M MCKENZIE 1 53 53.0 53 1

PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J BIDWELL 2 70 35.0 0 2 42 S WEATHERF 6 257 42.8 0 1 54

T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
I HILLIARD 2 13 6.5 13 0
J GALLOWAY 1 2 2.0 2 0
P BUCHANON 1 -6 -6.0 0 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M CLAYTON 4 89 22.3 26 0 L MOORE 5 83 16.6 32 0
D PATTEN 2 20 10.0 10 0

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

O-D O-D
FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
J PHILLIPS 0 0 1 0-0 R BUSH 2 1 0 1-0
J HAYE 0 0 1 0-1 D BREES 1 0 0 0-0
J NESBIT 0 0 0 1-0

DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
D BROOKS 9 8 1 0-0 J BULLOCKS 12 10 2 0-0
J PHILLIPS 8 8 0 0-0 S SHANLE 10 5 5 0-0
C JUNE 6 4 2 0-0 K KAESVIHARN 8 8 0 0-0
G ADAMS 4 4 0 1-6 C GRANT 6 6 0 0-0
R BARBER 3 3 0 1-7 M SIMONEAU 6 5 1 1-4
P BUCHANON 3 3 0 0-0 S FUJITA 5 5 0 0-0
K CARTER 3 1 2 0-0 W SMITH 5 2 3 1-7
J HAYE 2 2 0 1-4 R HARPER 4 4 0 0-0
B KELLY 2 2 0 0-0 M MCKENZIE 3 3 0 0-0
C HOVAN 1 1 0 0-0 H THOMAS 3 1 2 0-0
B RUUD 1 1 0 0-0 J CRAFT 2 2 0 0-0
T JACKSON 1 1 0 0-0 R WYNN 1 1 0 1-8
S DAVIS 1 1 0 0-0 T EVANS 1 1 0 0-0
R SIMS 1 1 0 0-0 B YOUNG 1 1 0 0-0
J DAVID 1 1 0 0-0
B SIMMONS 1 0 1 0-0</div>

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- A questionable coaching decision openedthe door for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to steal a game from theNew Orleans Saints and take command of the NFC South.

Luke McCown threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevenswith 14 seconds to play to lift the Buccaneers to a stunning27-23 victory over the Saints on Sunday.


In his first start in three years, McCown threw for 313 yardsand two touchdown passes as Tampa Bay (8-4) opened a three-gamelead in the division over the Saints (5-7) and the CarolinaPanthers.


McCown's late heroics helped him atone for a major gaffe, whenhe was sacked for a safety by Will Smith to give New Orleans a23-20 lead and the ball with 3:52 to play.


A poor punt by the Bucs then gave the Saints excellent fieldposition at their own 49-yard line, but a controversial playcall handed the ball back to Tampa Bay.


The Saints attempted an end-around, but running back ReggieBush's pitch to Devery Henderson went awry and tackle Jovan Hayerecovered at the Saints' 37-yard line.


McCown needed eight plays to get Tampa Bay into the end zone,including a gamble on 4th-and-1 at the 29-yard line that EarnestGraham converted.


Graham rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries andadded seven catches for 37 yards. Wide receiver Joey Gallowayhad seven receptions for 159 yards.


Saints quarterback Drew Brees finished 17-of-23 for 179 yardsand two scoring passes.


<div class="pre">Brees had thrown touchdown passes to Henderson and Terrance</div>Copper, and cornerback Mike McKenzie returned McCown's onlyinterception of the game 53 yards for a touchdown to give NewOrleans a 21-20 lead heading into the fourth period.

McCown completed 29-of-37 passes for 313 yards, two TDs and aninterception.

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 7 7 27
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 7 2 23 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

5:06 TAM - FG, MATT 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, TERRANCE COPPER 4 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards in 3:06.
Key plays: New Orleans takes over after missed field goal at New
Orleans 43; 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, ANTHONY BECHT 1 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 2:45.
Key plays: McCown 14-yard pass to Galloway to Tampa Bay 34; McCown
60-yard pass to Galloway to New Orleans 1. TAMPA BAY 10-7.
7:08 TAM - FG, MATT 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, DEVERY HENDERSON 45 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards in 4:31.
Key plays: Bush 14-yard run to Tampa Bay 41. NEW ORLEANS 14-13.

3RD QUARTER:

5:24 TAM - TD, EARNEST GRAHAM 25 YD RUN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards in 3:27.
Key plays: Weatherford 38-yard punt to Tampa Bay 45; McCown 7-yard
pass to Graham on 3rd-and-5 to New Orleans 43; McCown 12-yard pass to
Askew to New Orleans 25. TAMPA BAY 20-14.
11:55 NOR - TD, MIKE MCKENZIE 53 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
NEW ORLEANS 21-20.

4TH QUARTER:

11:16 NOR - SAFETY, .
NEW ORLEANS 23-20.
14:46 TAM - TD, JERRAMY STEVENS 4 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards in 3:16.
Key plays: Haye recovery of Bush fumble at New Orleans 37; Graham
2-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New Orleans 26; McCown 21-yard pass to Graham
to New Orleans 5. TAMPA BAY 27-23.

TAMPA BAY - NEW ORLEANS Final Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS TAMPA BAY NEW ORLEANS

FIRST DOWNS 24 13
Rushing 7 5
Passing 16 8
Penalty 1 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-13-38% 5-11-45%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-0-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS 466 246
Total offensive plays 66 47
Average gain per play 7.1 5.2
NET YARDS RUSHING 172 84
Rushing attempts 26 21
Average gain per rush 6.6 4.0
Tackles for loss-yards 0-0 0-0
NET YARDS PASSING 294 162
Times sacked: Number-Yards 3-19 3-17
Gross passing yards 313 179
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 37-29-1 23-17-0
Avg gain per pass play 7.4 6.2
KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 7-0-0 4-2-0
PUNTS: Number and Average 2-35.0 6-42.8
Had blocked 0 0
Net punting average 30.5 42.8
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 9 53
Number-Yards: Punt Returns 4-9 0-0
Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 4-89 7-103
Number-Yards: Interception Returns 0-0 1-53
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 7-55 6-40
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 0-0 3-1
TOUCHDOWNS 3 3
Rushing 1 0
Passing 2 2
Interceptions 0 1
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 3-3 3-3
Kicking: Made-Attempts 3-3 3-3
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-3 0-0
FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 2-4-50% 1-1-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 2-2-100% 1-1-100%
SAFETIES 0 1
TIME OF POSSESSION 34:46 25:14


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

TAMPA BAY NEW ORLEANS

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
E GRAHAM 22 106 4.8 25 1 R BUSH 13 64 4.9 14 0
L MCCOWN 2 34 17.0 26 0 A STECKER 7 16 2.3 4 0
M CLAYTON 1 20 20.0 20 0 D BREES 1 4 4.0 4 0
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
L MCCOWN 29-37-313 1 2 60 D BREES 17-23-179 0 2 45

Sacked-Yards Lost: L MCCOWN 3-19. Sacked-Yards Lost: D BREES 3-17.

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J GALLOWAY 7 159 22.7 60 0 A STECKER 4 35 8.8 12 0
E GRAHAM 7 37 5.3 21 0 R BUSH 3 13 4.3 13 0
I HILLIARD 4 29 7.3 9 0 M COLSTON 2 39 19.5 40 0
B ASKEW 3 41 13.7 16 0 L MOORE 2 18 9.0 14 0
J STEVENS 2 8 4.0 4 1 E JOHNSON 2 12 6.0 7 0
M PITTMAN 2 6 3.0 3 0 D HENDERSO 1 45 45.0 45 1
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0 M KARNEY 1 7 7.0 7 0
A SMITH 1 11 11.0 11 0 B MILLER 1 6 6.0 6 0
M STOVALL 1 9 9.0 9 0 T COPPER 1 4 4.0 4 1
A BECHT 1 1 1.0 1 1

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M MCKENZIE 1 53 53.0 53 1

PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J BIDWELL 2 70 35.0 0 2 42 S WEATHERF 6 257 42.8 0 1 54

T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
I HILLIARD 2 13 6.5 13 0
J GALLOWAY 1 2 2.0 2 0
P BUCHANON 1 -6 -6.0 0 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M CLAYTON 4 89 22.3 26 0 L MOORE 5 83 16.6 32 0
D PATTEN 2 20 10.0 10 0

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

O-D O-D
FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
J PHILLIPS 0 0 1 0-0 R BUSH 2 1 0 1-0
J HAYE 0 0 1 0-1 D BREES 1 0 0 0-0
J NESBIT 0 0 0 1-0

DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
D BROOKS 9 8 1 0-0 J BULLOCKS 12 10 2 0-0
J PHILLIPS 8 8 0 0-0 S SHANLE 10 5 5 0-0
C JUNE 6 4 2 0-0 K KAESVIHARN 8 8 0 0-0
G ADAMS 4 4 0 1-6 C GRANT 6 6 0 0-0
R BARBER 3 3 0 1-7 M SIMONEAU 6 5 1 1-4
P BUCHANON 3 3 0 0-0 S FUJITA 5 5 0 0-0
K CARTER 3 1 2 0-0 W SMITH 5 2 3 1-7
J HAYE 2 2 0 1-4 R HARPER 4 4 0 0-0
B KELLY 2 2 0 0-0 M MCKENZIE 3 3 0 0-0
C HOVAN 1 1 0 0-0 H THOMAS 3 1 2 0-0
B RUUD 1 1 0 0-0 J CRAFT 2 2 0 0-0
T JACKSON 1 1 0 0-0 R WYNN 1 1 0 1-8
S DAVIS 1 1 0 0-0 T EVANS 1 1 0 0-0
R SIMS 1 1 0 0-0 B YOUNG 1 1 0 0-0
J DAVID 1 1 0 0-0
B SIMMONS 1 0 1 0-0

Officials: Referee-Ron Winter, Umpire-Roy Ellison, Head Linesman-Tom
Stabile, Line Judge-Tom Stephan, Field Judge-Mike Weir, Side Judge-Tom
Hill, Back Judge-Steve Freeman.

Att: 70,009 Time of Game: 3:05</div>

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 3 10 7 7 27
NEW ORLEANS 7 7 7 2 23 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

5:06 TAM - FG, MATT 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, TERRANCE COPPER 4 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards in 3:06.
Key plays: New Orleans takes over after missed field goal at New
Orleans 43; 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, ANTHONY BECHT 1 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 2:45.
Key plays: McCown 14-yard pass to Galloway to Tampa Bay 34; McCown
60-yard pass to Galloway to New Orleans 1. TAMPA BAY 10-7.
7:08 TAM - FG, MATT 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, DEVERY HENDERSON 45 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards in 4:31.
Key plays: Bush 14-yard run to Tampa Bay 41. NEW ORLEANS 14-13.

3RD QUARTER:

5:24 TAM - TD, EARNEST GRAHAM 25 YD RUN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards in 3:27.
Key plays: Weatherford 38-yard punt to Tampa Bay 45; McCown 7-yard
pass to Graham on 3rd-and-5 to New Orleans 43; McCown 12-yard pass to
Askew to New Orleans 25. TAMPA BAY 20-14.
11:55 NOR - TD, MIKE MCKENZIE 53 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
NEW ORLEANS 21-20.

4TH QUARTER:

11:16 NOR - SAFETY, .
NEW ORLEANS 23-20.
14:46 TAM - TD, JERRAMY STEVENS 4 YD PASS FROM LUKE MCCOWN (MATT BRYANT KICK).
Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards in 3:16.
Key plays: Haye recovery of Bush fumble at New Orleans 37; Graham
2-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New Orleans 26; McCown 21-yard pass to Graham
to New Orleans 5. TAMPA BAY 27-23.

TAMPA BAY - NEW ORLEANS Final Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS TAMPA BAY NEW ORLEANS

FIRST DOWNS 24 13
Rushing 7 5
Passing 16 8
Penalty 1 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-13-38% 5-11-45%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-0-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS 466 246
Total offensive plays 66 47
Average gain per play 7.1 5.2
NET YARDS RUSHING 172 84
Rushing attempts 26 21
Average gain per rush 6.6 4.0
Tackles for loss-yards 0-0 0-0
NET YARDS PASSING 294 162
Times sacked: Number-Yards 3-19 3-17
Gross passing yards 313 179
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 37-29-1 23-17-0
Avg gain per pass play 7.4 6.2
KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 7-0-0 4-2-0
PUNTS: Number and Average 2-35.0 6-42.8
Had blocked 0 0
Net punting average 30.5 42.8
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 9 53
Number-Yards: Punt Returns 4-9 0-0
Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 4-89 7-103
Number-Yards: Interception Returns 0-0 1-53
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 7-55 6-40
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 0-0 3-1
TOUCHDOWNS 3 3
Rushing 1 0
Passing 2 2
Interceptions 0 1
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 3-3 3-3
Kicking: Made-Attempts 3-3 3-3
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-3 0-0
FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 2-4-50% 1-1-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 2-2-100% 1-1-100%
SAFETIES 0 1
TIME OF POSSESSION 34:46 25:14


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

TAMPA BAY NEW ORLEANS

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
E GRAHAM 22 106 4.8 25 1 R BUSH 13 64 4.9 14 0
L MCCOWN 2 34 17.0 26 0 A STECKER 7 16 2.3 4 0
M CLAYTON 1 20 20.0 20 0 D BREES 1 4 4.0 4 0
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
L MCCOWN 29-37-313 1 2 60 D BREES 17-23-179 0 2 45

Sacked-Yards Lost: L MCCOWN 3-19. Sacked-Yards Lost: D BREES 3-17.

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J GALLOWAY 7 159 22.7 60 0 A STECKER 4 35 8.8 12 0
E GRAHAM 7 37 5.3 21 0 R BUSH 3 13 4.3 13 0
I HILLIARD 4 29 7.3 9 0 M COLSTON 2 39 19.5 40 0
B ASKEW 3 41 13.7 16 0 L MOORE 2 18 9.0 14 0
J STEVENS 2 8 4.0 4 1 E JOHNSON 2 12 6.0 7 0
M PITTMAN 2 6 3.0 3 0 D HENDERSO 1 45 45.0 45 1
M BENNETT 1 12 12.0 12 0 M KARNEY 1 7 7.0 7 0
A SMITH 1 11 11.0 11 0 B MILLER 1 6 6.0 6 0
M STOVALL 1 9 9.0 9 0 T COPPER 1 4 4.0 4 1
A BECHT 1 1 1.0 1 1

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M MCKENZIE 1 53 53.0 53 1

PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J BIDWELL 2 70 35.0 0 2 42 S WEATHERF 6 257 42.8 0 1 54

T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
I HILLIARD 2 13 6.5 13 0
J GALLOWAY 1 2 2.0 2 0
P BUCHANON 1 -6 -6.0 0 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M CLAYTON 4 89 22.3 26 0 L MOORE 5 83 16.6 32 0
D PATTEN 2 20 10.0 10 0

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

O-D O-D
FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
J PHILLIPS 0 0 1 0-0 R BUSH 2 1 0 1-0
J HAYE 0 0 1 0-1 D BREES 1 0 0 0-0
J NESBIT 0 0 0 1-0

DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
D BROOKS 9 8 1 0-0 J BULLOCKS 12 10 2 0-0
J PHILLIPS 8 8 0 0-0 S SHANLE 10 5 5 0-0
C JUNE 6 4 2 0-0 K KAESVIHARN 8 8 0 0-0
G ADAMS 4 4 0 1-6 C GRANT 6 6 0 0-0
R BARBER 3 3 0 1-7 M SIMONEAU 6 5 1 1-4
P BUCHANON 3 3 0 0-0 S FUJITA 5 5 0 0-0
K CARTER 3 1 2 0-0 W SMITH 5 2 3 1-7
J HAYE 2 2 0 1-4 R HARPER 4 4 0 0-0
B KELLY 2 2 0 0-0 M MCKENZIE 3 3 0 0-0
C HOVAN 1 1 0 0-0 H THOMAS 3 1 2 0-0
B RUUD 1 1 0 0-0 J CRAFT 2 2 0 0-0
T JACKSON 1 1 0 0-0 R WYNN 1 1 0 1-8
S DAVIS 1 1 0 0-0 T EVANS 1 1 0 0-0
R SIMS 1 1 0 0-0 B YOUNG 1 1 0 0-0
J DAVID 1 1 0 0-0
B SIMMONS 1 0 1 0-0

Officials: Referee-Ron Winter, Umpire-Roy Ellison, Head Linesman-Tom
Stabile, Line Judge-Tom Stephan, Field Judge-Mike Weir, Side Judge-Tom
Hill, Back Judge-Steve Freeman.

Att: 70,009 Time of Game: 3:05</div>

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- A questionable coaching decisionopened the door for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to steal a gamefrom the New Orleans Saints and take command of the NFC South.

Luke McCown threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevenswith 14 seconds to play to lift the Buccaneers to a stunning27-23 victory over the Saints on Sunday.


In his first start in three years, McCown threw for 313 yardsand two touchdown passes as Tampa Bay (8-4) opened a three-gamelead in the division over the Saints (5-7) and the CarolinaPanthers.


"I've never been in a game like that in all my life," McCownsaid. "All I know is that we never quit. All the time Coachtold me it wasn't over, and you saw out there today why you haveto have faith."


McCown's late heroics helped him atone for a major gaffe, whenhe was sacked for a safety by Will Smith to give New Orleans a23-20 lead and the ball with 3:52 to play.


A poor punt by the Bucs then gave the Saints excellent fieldposition at their own 49-yard line, but a controversial playcall handed the ball back to Tampa Bay.


The Saints attempted an end-around, but running back ReggieBush's pitch to Devery Henderson went awry and tackle Jovan Hayerecovered at the Saints' 37-yard line.


"That was a disappointing loss and probably the worst job I havedone as a head coach since I've been here," Saints coach SeanPayton said. "Obviously I regret the play call that resulted ina fumble and cost us the game. It starts with me."

McCown needed eight plays to get Tampa Bay into the end zone,including a gamble on 4th-and-1 at the 29-yard line that EarnestGraham converted.


"There was a lot of emotion out there today," Graham said. "Onthat fourth-down play, it shows Coach had a lot of faith in usand I am glad he had that confidence in our line to take it tohim.


"The call won us the division. We are in the driver's seat nowwe have to take it home."


Graham rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries andadded seven catches for 37 yards. Wide receiver Joey Gallowayhad seven receptions for 159 yards.


McCown completed 29-of-37 passes for 313 yards, two TDs and aninterception. Tampa Bay only punted twice - with one coming asa result of a safety.


"We tried not to play defensively with a young quarterbackplaying in his first game in a long time," Buccaneers coach JonGruden said. "Luke McCown responded. For us to win this game,we knew we would have to score some points. The only way wewere going to do it was by throwing it."


Saints quarterback Drew Brees finished 17-of-23 for 179 yardsand two scoring passes.


"They (Tampa Bay) really seemed to possess the ball a lot today,"Brees said. "They were very efficient and we couldn't puttogether really solid drives like they could."


Brees had thrown touchdown passes to Henderson and TerranceCopper, and cornerback Mike McKenzie returned McCown's onlyinterception of the game 53 yards for a touchdown to give NewOrleans a 21-20 lead heading into the fourth period.

 

NFL: TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NFL
TAMPA BAY 27
NEW ORLEANS 23 FINAL</div>