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Week 13 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, New Orleans Saints 23
What you need to know
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Tampa Bay was without starting QB Jeff Garcia, who was a scratch due to a back injury. Garcia was replaced by Luke McCown, who was impressive in relief. McCown was extremely efficient, completing 29 of 37 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He connected with TE Anthony Becht on a one yard scoring play in the second quarter, and lead two drives that resulted in successful field goals as Tampa Bay trailed 14-13 going into halftime. McCown continued his strong play in the second half, although he did have two big errors with an interception for a New Orleans touchdown and being sacked in the end zone for a safety. He shrugged off those two plays to lead the team downfield late in the fourth quarter, where he connected with TE Jerramy Stevens from four yards out for the game winning touchdown.
RB Earnest Graham continued to be the workhorse in the Buccaneers rushing attack, as he rushed for 106 yards on 22 attempts, including a 25 yard third quarter touchdown run. Graham also added seven receptions for 37 yards in the passing game.
Joey Galloway torched the New Orleans defensive backfield for 159 yards on seven receptions and had 148 yards on six catches before halftime. TEs Anthony Becht and Jerramy Stevens accounted for Tampa Bay's touchdown receptions.
Tampa Bay's defense gave up a few big plays downfield in the passing game in the first half, including a 45 yard touchdown pass, but made adjustments at halftime and played much better in the second half. They gave up no points while on the field in the second half and for the game, allowed just 246 total yards. DL Jovan Haye recovered a Reggie Bush fumble in the fourth quarter that gave Tampa Bay a much needed break that they turned into the game winning touchdown.
| New Orleans Saints |
QB Drew Brees threw two first half touchdown passes that put his club up 14-13 going into the half. In the second half, the Tampa Bay defense bottled up the Saints offense, and New Orleans could not match the production of their defense, who accounted for nine second half points on a touchdown and safety. Brees had pass plays of 45 and 40 yards, but totaled less than 100 yards on his other 15 completions in the game.
Reggie Bush finished with 64 yards on 13 carries, but was in and out of the game with numerous minor injuries. He ran well when he got the chance, but had a crucial miscue late in the fourth quarter that really hurt the Saints. With the ball and the clock on their side, New Orleans called a WR reverse play, and Bush's pitch attempt fell to the ground and Tampa Bay recovered. Tampa marched the ball downfield for the game winning score.
WRs Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper each recorded touchdown receptions, but Marques Colston was slowed down to the tune of two receptions for 39 yards.
New Orleans gave up 466 yards for the game, including a touchdown run and two scores through the air. They could not slow down the Tampa Bay offense in either the passing game or rushing attack, but did come up with two big plays defensively. The first came when DB Mike McKenzie intercepted a McCown pass and returned it 53 yards for a third quarter score. DL Will Smith later sacked McCown in the end zone for a safety that gave the Saints a 23-20 lead. However, following the Bush fumble on the reverse play, they gave up the game winning touchdown with 14 seconds left.
What you ought to know
| QB Luke McCown, Pass: 29 - 37 - 313 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 34 - 0 |
McCown got the start for the injured Jeff Garcia, who missed the game with a back injury, and shined for Tampa Bay. At one point early in the game, McCown was 15 for 15 passing and finished the first half 18 of 21 for 230 yards and a one yard touchdown pass to TE Anthony Becht. McCown continued his strong play in the second half and finished 29 of 37 for 313 yards, two touchdowns and added 34 yards rushing on the ground. His second score came with fourteen seconds left, where McCown connected with TE Jerramy Stevens from four yards out on third down for the game winning touchdown. He showed great leadership and play making ability throughout the game, but did make a mistake on an interception New Orleans returned for a touchdown. On the play, McCown changed the play at the line and WR Joey Galloway misread the hot route with a blitz coming and DB Mike McKenzie returned the miscue 53 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, McCown made another inexperienced mistake on a drive that started inside their own five yard line, he was sacked in the end zone for a safety. On the play, McCown was flushed out of the pocket and tried to make a play using his athleticism instead of throwing the ball away, and was brought down for the safety. He made everyone forget the two mistakes on the late touchdown pass to Stevens that won the game.
| RB Earnest Graham, Rush: 22 - 106 - 1, Rec: 7 - 37 - 0 (8 targets) |
Earnest Graham ran the ball 22 times for 106 yards and added a 25 yard touchdown run while he shouldered the load for the Buccaneer rushing attack. He also contributed seven receptions for 37 yards in the passing game, including a 21 yard catch and run that set up the game winning touchdown. Graham ran the ball hard, showed great vision and has a nasty stiff arm that he used along the way to over 100 yards rushing.
| RB Michael Pittman, Rec: 2 - 6 - 0 (2 targets) |
Michael Pittman made a small contribution in the passing game, catching two passes for six yards on two targets.
| WR Joey Galloway, Rec: 7 - 159 - 0 (9 targets) |
Joey Galloway was a nightmare for the Saints. Galloway continued to build on his strong history against New Orleans with seven receptions for 159 yards that included a 60 yard reception that set up a Buccaneers touchdown. Six of his receptions resulted in first downs and he was targeted four times on third downs.
| WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (7 targets) |
Hilliard was targeted seven times and finished with four receptions for 29 yards.
| WR Michael Clayton, Rush: 1 - 20 - 0 |
Clayton did not register a catch, and did not receive a target, but had one rush for 20 yards. He was also used in the kick return game, and had a costly late hit penalty blocking downfield on a running play.
| TE Jerramy Stevens, Rec: 2 - 8 - 1 (2 targets) |
Stevens was targeted twice, both on third downs, and made the biggest play of the game for the Buccaneers, catching a four yard touchdown pass on third and goal with fourteen seconds left to give Tampa Bay the lead. On the play, Stevens split out wide and made a nice play on a jump ball play, snatching the pass out of the air.
| TE Anthony Becht, Rec: 1 - 1 - 1 (1 targets) |
Becht caught a one yard touchdown reception on his only target and reception of the game.
| TE Alex Smith, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets) |
Alex Smith was targeted twice, and came down with one reception for 11 yards.
| PK Matt Bryant 2 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points |
Bryant missed a 53 yard attempt, but connected on field goals from 27 and 31 yards out and added three extra points to finish with nine points.
| TB Rush Defense |
The Buccaneers were respectable against the run, giving up 84 yards on 21 attempts for a 4.0 ypc average. They forced one fumble that the Saints recovered, and had another fumble drop in their lap on a questionable play call on a reverse play late in the game.
LB Derrick Brooks led the way with eight solo tackles and one assist and DB Jermaine Phillips chipped in with eight solo tackles and a forced fumble to lead the Tampa Bay defense. DL Jovan Haye made a big play in the game, recovering the late Bush fumble that led to the game winning score.
| TB Pass Defense |
Tampa Bay gave up two first half touchdowns but tightened up their coverage after halftime, and held the Saints to 162 net passing yards. Along the way, they shut down talented WR Marques Colston, who finished with just two receptions for 39 yards.
DL Gaines Adams, DB Ronde Barber and DL Jovan Haye each recorded sacks for the Buccaneers defense.
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 17 - 23 - 179 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0 |
Drew Brees was able to make a few big plays in the passing game, but they were too few and far between. Brees connected on touchdown passes with WR Devery Henderson from 45 yards out and WR Terrance Copper from four yards out. He also hit WR Marques Colston on a 40 yard pass play, but aside from that and the 45 yard touchdown to Henderson, Brees accounted for just 94 yards on his 15 other completions for just over six yards per completion. He did not have any turnovers, but was sacked three times.
| RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 13 - 64 - 0, Rec: 3 - 13 - 0 (7 targets) |
Bush ran well against the Buccaneers, averaging nearly five yards per rush on 13 carries, finishing with 64 yards on the ground. He also added three receptions for 13 yards on seven targets in the passing game. On the negative side, while Bush ran well when he was called on, he received just 13 carries and had a fumble on a questionable handoff / reverse play late in the fourth quarter that Tampa Bay recovered, and their offense later turned into the game winning touchdown. Bush also had another fumble that he was able to recover and seemed to be hobbled by numerous injuries throughout the game.
| RB Aaron Stecker, Rush: 7 - 16 - 0, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (5 targets) |
Stecker spelled Reggie Bush in the rushing attack with seven rushes for 16 yards, and also chipped in with four receptions for 35 yards on five targets in the passing game.
| WR Marques Colston, Rec: 2 - 39 - 0 (2 targets) |
Marques Colston was targeted just two times in the game, and finished with 39 yards on two receptions. He did have one big play, catching a 40 yard pass that helped set up the Saints first touchdown of the ball game.
| WR Terrance Copper, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (1 targets) |
Copper was targeted one time, catching a four yard touchdown in the first quarter that put New Orleans up 7-3.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 1 - 45 - 1 (1 targets) |
Henderson had one pass thrown his way, and was able to come down with a 45 yard touchdown reception on third down for his only catch of the ball game.
| TE Eric Johnson, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (3 targets) |
Johnson was targeted three times and finished with two receptions for 12 yards.
| PK Olindo Mare 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points |
Mare did not attempt a field goal and made good on three extra points to total three points for the game.
| NO Rush Defense |
The Saints could not stop the Tampa Bay rushing attack, who shredded their defense for 172 yards on 26 attempts for the game (a 6.6 ypc average). They also gave up a score on a 25 yard run by RB Earnest Graham, and missed numerous tackles on the scoring play.
DB Josh Bullocks led the way defensively for the Saints with ten solo tackles and two assists.
| NO Pass Defense |
The New Orleans pass defense was picked apart by McCown and the Tampa Bay offense from start to finish on their way to 294 net passing yards, 16 passing first downs and two touchdowns, including the game winner with fourteen seconds left in the game. One of the positives for the Saints pass defense came when DL Will Smith sacked Buccaneers QB Luke McCown in the end zone for a safety, and the biggest play by the defense came on a 53 yard interception return by DB Mike McKenzie.
LB Mark Simoneau and DL Renaldo Wynn joined Smith as New Orleans defenders that registered sacks and DL Charles Grant added six solo tackles along the line before limping off the field with an injury.
