Week 5 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, New Orleans Saints 24

What you need to know

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski definitely showed why Coach Gruden likes him so much, as the youngster filled in admirably for injured starter Chris Simms in his first NFL start. Gradkowski was fairly accurate, completing 20 of 31 passes and threw two touchdown passes, finishing with a QB rating of 107.6. He showed poise and the ability to make good decisions, and also did not make mistakes or do much to hurt Tampa Bay’s chances to win. His touchdown passes were completed to WR Joey Galloway and TE Alex Smith, and he finished with 225 yards passing.

Joey Galloway shows no signs of slowing down, as he continues to beat defensive backs downfield for big plays. Against the Saints, Galloway finished with four catches for 110 yards, including an 18 yard touchdown. He was once again the most targeted receiver, getting eight looks for the game. Tight end Alex Smith had only 16 yards on five receptions, but one of those was a three yard touchdown catch.

RB Cadillac Williams got it going on the ground, running for 111 yards on 20 carries, showing he still has the skills and ability he showed last year when given the chance. Tampa Bay was able to keep the score in check, and as a result, Cadillac was able to be utilized more in the running game.

Defensively, the Buccaneers still have a lot to figure out. The first thing they need to do is figure out what they need to do to slow down opposing rushers. The Saints ran for 143 yards and one score on the ground, and used their running game to soften the Tampa Bay defense. That led to a very efficient day for Saints QB Drew Brees, who threw for one touchdown and had two other touchdown passes dropped in the end zone. DB Brian Kelly returned from injury to lead the Buccaneers with eight tackles. Tampa Bay did not force a turnover for the game.

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees had a solid game for the Saints, completing 21 of 33 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown. Brees showed great poise and seems to make the right decision almost every time he drops back to pass. He looked to RB Reggie Bush frequently, targeting the back eleven times for the game. In the red zone, Brees connected with TE Ernie Conwell for his only score of the game, but had two would-be scores dropped in the end zone.

Reggie Bush led the way in the passing game, catching 11 passes for 63 yards. Most of his receptions came in the short passing game, and only one of his catches resulted in a first down. His major contribution came in the fourth quarter, when Bush returned a punt 65 yards for both the game winning touchdown and the first touchdown of his young career.

Deuce McAllister led the way on the ground, running for 123 yards on 15 carries, and ran for a 24 yard touchdown in the second quarter. McAllister ran hard for the whole game, and showed no signs of wearing down.

The Saints’ defense did not play extremely well, giving up 187 yards rushing and allowing Buccaneer QB Bruce Gradkowski to throw for 225 yards and two touchdowns. However, New Orleans did enough to win and stopped Tampa Bay when they needed to, keeping the Buccaneers out of scoring position on their last possession of the game.

What you ought to know

QB Bruce Gradkowski, Pass: 20 - 31 - 225 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 6 - 19 - 0

Gradkowski played well in his first career start for Tampa Bay in a hostile environment in New Orleans. He led the Buccaneers on an opening drive score, showing poise and making good decisions. It was capped off with an 18 yard touchdown pass to WR Joey Galloway. After that, New Orleans was able to shut down the Tampa Bay offense for the rest of the first half, as Gradkowski was able to convert on only three of seven third downs. In the second half, the rookie signal caller was able to lead the Buccaneers on two scoring drives, including his second touchdown pass of the game to tight end Alex Smith. This score came after a touchdown pass to rookie WR Maurice Stovall was called back on off-setting penalties.

On the negative side, Gradkowski did lose a fumble on a sack in the third quarter that the Saints turned into a touchdown. But his total body of work for the game was definitely a good sign for Tampa Bay. For the game, he finished 20 of 31 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed some ability to tuck the ball and get out of the pocket, rushing six times for 19 yards. And most importantly, he had the Buccaneers in a position to win the game and did little to hurt their chances to do so.

RB Cadillac Williams, Rush: 20 - 111 - 0, Rec: 3 - 14 - 0 (4 targets)

Williams finally got something going on the ground, rushing for 111 yards on 20 rushes, for a 5.6 ypc average. He was pulled in goal line situations for the Buccaneers in most of their short yardage packages. Williams did get a shot at a short yardage touchdown, but was hit for a one yard loss on his only attempt from inside the five yard line. It appeared that Cadillac had an extra spring in his step, and his offensive line had improved success in pushing the Saints back and opening up holes for their talented back. Williams was also targeted four times in the passing game, catching three passes for 14 yards.

RB Michael Pittman, Rush: 2 - 27 - 0, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (3 targets)

Pittman had two rushes for 27 yards, and caught two passes for 31 yards for the game. One of his receptions went for 23 yards on Tampa Bay’s first drive that helped set up a Gradkowski to Galloway touchdown.

RB Mike Alstott, Rush: 4 - 3 - 1

Alstott got the bulk of the goal line work for the Buccaneers, scoring a one yard touchdown in the third quarter. For the game, he rushed four times for three yards.

WR Joey Galloway, Rec: 4 - 110 - 1 (8 targets)

Galloway had a productive game, catching four passes for 110 yards and an 18 yard touchdown reception. He was Gradkowski’s favorite target, getting eight passes thrown his way.

WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 4 - 34 - 0 (5 targets)

Hilliard finished with 34 yards on four catches, and was targeted five times. He did have a crucial 38 yard reception called back late in the fourth quarter on an offensive interference by WR Joey Galloway.

WR Michael Clayton, Rush: 1 - 27 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (4 targets)

Clayton continues to be overshadowed in the passing game, getting only four targets and catching one pass for seven yards for the game. He did have a nice 27 yard run on a double reverse play, and as always, was solid blocking downfield for Tampa Bay. His one reception did result in a first down.

TE Alex Smith, Rec: 5 - 16 - 1 (6 targets)

Smith was targeted six times, catching five passes for 16 yards that included a three yard touchdown reception.

TE Anthony Becht, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (1 targets)

Becht was only targeted once, finishing with one catch for thirteen yards.

PK Matt Bryant 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Bryant did not attempt a field goal, and hit all three of his extra point attempts to finish with three points.

TB Rush Defense

Tampa Bay is really struggling to stop the run. They were picked apart by Saints RB Deuce McAllister for 123 yards on the ground, and for the game, they gave up 143 yards for a 5.7 ypc average. Included in that is McAllister’s 24 yard touchdown run, a play that the Buccaneers missed at least two tackles on. They held Reggie Bush to only 23 yards on 9 carries, but just haven’t figured out how to keep opposing rushing attacks under control. Tampa Bay defensive backs were the four leading tacklers for the Buccaneers, another sign that their front seven just wasn’t getting it done.

TB Pass Defense

The passing numbers given up by Tampa Bay don’t tell the whole story for this game. While Drew Brees threw for only 171 yards and one touchdown, the Saints had two other touchdown passes dropped in the end zone on balls that should have been caught. While the Buccaneers can be pleased that the balls weren’t caught, they will need to figure out what is going on with their coverages, especially in the red zone. Tampa Bay did not get much pressure on Brees, and did not record a sack or force a turnover for the game.

QB Drew Brees, Pass: 21 - 33 - 171 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - -3 - 0

Brees had an efficient outing, completing 21 of 33 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown. He seems to be the perfect fit in New Orleans, and his experience and decision making are definitely something the Saints haven’t had in the recent past. His one touchdown was a nine yard strike to tight end Ernie Conwell, but Brees also had touchdown passes dropped by both Conwell and WR Joe Horn. Both were very catchable passes that should have been hauled in.

RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 9 - 23 - 0, Rec: 11 - 63 - 0 (11 targets)

Bush is simply electric. Every time he touches the ball is exciting, and he has to be accounted for at all times, whenever and wherever he is on the field. While McAllister got most of the work rushing, Bush was used extensively in the passing game. He was targeted eleven times, catching all eleven passes for 63 yards. He ran the ball only nine times for 23 yards. Most importantly, he had 75 yards in punt returns that included a 65 yard punt return for a touchdown that gave the Saints the lead and proved to be the game winner. The punt return was the first touchdown of his career. On a side note, a few times during the game, New Orleans fans broke out in Reggie! Reggie! Reggie! cheers, showing just how excited they are about this talented rookie.

RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 15 - 123 - 1, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (3 targets)

McAllister took advantage of the struggling Tampa Bay rush defense, running through the Buccaneers for 123 yards on 15 carries, for an 8.2 ypc average. His big plays included a 57 yard rush and a 24 yard rushing score in the second quarter to put the Saints ahead going into half. The one/two punch of he and Reggie Bush seems to be working well for New Orleans, whether the two are in the game together or not. McAllister was targeted three times in the passing game, but caught only one pass for eight yards for the game.

WR Joe Horn, Rec: 4 - 48 - 0 (9 targets)

Horn was targeted nine times, finishing with four catches for 48 yards. Three of his four catches resulted in first downs, but Horn was kept in check for the most part. He did drop a short pass in the end zone that definitely should have been caught for a touchdown.

WR Marques Colston, Rec: 3 - 38 - 0 (6 targets)

Colston had a quiet game, catching three passes for 38 yards on six targets.

TE Ernie Conwell, Rec: 2 - 14 - 1 (4 targets)

Conwell was thrown to four times, catching two passes for 14 yards, including a nine yard touchdown reception. He also dropped a touchdown pass that hit him in the numbers and should have been hauled in.

PK John Carney 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Carney hit his only field goal attempt from 21 yards out and made good on his three extra point attempts, finishing with six points.

NO Rush Defense

The Saints’ defense could not find a way to slow down the Tampa Bay rushing attack, surrendering 187 yards on the ground at 5.7 yards per carry. The Buccaneers had big plays of 16, 27 and 34 yards on run plays, and their inability to stop the run took a lot of pressure off of rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski.

NO Pass Defense

New Orleans could not rattle the Buccaneers young quarterback, and because of their inability to do so, Tampa Bay was able to score twice through the air. While they gave up only 225 yards passing, the Saints defensive backfield did not have their strongest outing. While they held the Buccaneers to five of 13 on third down conversions, they were beaten a number of times on long pass plays and only forced one turnover for the game. The front four of New Orleans undoubtedly did not get the pressure on Gradkowski that they wanted or expected, and as a result he was able to have a solid outing. For the game, they finished with two sacks and a forced fumble