Download the 63 page pdf program by clicking PDF PROGRAM WEEK 5 SAINTS.
The Bucs have actually won 4 of the last 6 meetings with the Saints! Of course none may have been more exciting than that week 12 win over New Orleans on the road with Luke McCown as the QB. He was masterful, and had a lot of people believing he could be the answer at QB. Last years home game was as forgettable as it gets, with a 38-7 drubbing taken that pretty much got Jim Bates fired! But the Biggest win over New Orleans? Well besides last years win on the road, down 17-3 at the 4th Quarter mark? The 1977 Week 13 win on the road, the first ever win for Tampa Bay! The Bucs and Saints are division foes, but before the creation of the NFC South, no team had played the Bucs as often as the Saints. Tampa Bay took 3 of the last 4 games from the Black and Gold before 2002, one of the biggest wins was the last. In 2001, both teams were fighting for Wild Card positioning. Tampa Bay annihilated New Orleans here at the Ray Jay, and went on to make the playoffs. We were just too experienced of a playoff team, who knew what had to be done to get the job done. This is the exact opposite of what we are now, but that doesnt seem to be information acknowledged by these kids that play for the Pewter! They seem to think they cant lose! All the better, as a 4-1 Bucs team at the end of the day would have a 1.5 game lead on New Orleans going into the 2nd quarter of the season. What do the Bucs have in their favor? Well Tampa Bay has a good pass defense; problem is we cant rush the passer that well, and giving Drew Brees all day long to throw could be deadly. We do NOT stop the run well, but then again, Saints runners are down to 3rd string levels. There are some funny connections between all teams in the NFL, and this game is no exception; OC Greg Olsen was QB coach for Drew Brees at Purdue. K2 and Jeremy Shockey were Tight Ends at Miami. Jimmy Wilkerson, remember him? He’s a Saint now. New Orleans’ Aaron Kromer worked as Bucs assistant in 2005-2007. Some Buccaneers who have good games against the Saints? Ronde Barber,he is one of them. Barber will have started 172 consecutive games, surpasing Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau 171 from 1959-72. With one more pick, Barber will reach 40 interceptions, becoming the only player with 25 sacks and 40 Picks. With those 25 sacks, Ronde needs just two more to surpass Brodrick Thomas, the sandman for 7th in team history. Speaking of history, how about a clip from the first Saints visit to Tampa Ever, Game 16 of 1978.
So instead of Drew Brees, it was Archie Manning, Peyton and Eli’s dad. Doesn’t Mike Washington kinda look like Talib the way he picks that ball off? Maybe this is some foreshadowing huh? Oh and kids, this is why your coaches tell you not to hold the football like a loaf of bread. Game time is 1PM.
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