GAME INFO
Date: Sunday, November 6, 2011
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. CT)
Site: Louisiana Superdome (68,000)
2011 Records: Tampa Bay 4-3, New Orleans 5-3
Network Television: FOX
Play-by-Play: Dick Stockton, Analyst: John Lynch, Sideline: Jennifer Hale National Radio: Sports USA
Play-by-Play: Tom McCarthy, Analyst: Stan Brock, Sideline: Tony Graziani Bucs Radio: US 103.5, flagship station (103.5 FM, 620 AM) Play-by-Play: Gene Deckerhoff, Analyst: Dave Moore, Sideline: T.J. Rives Last Game: Tampa Bay lost vs. Chicago, 24-18; New Orleans lost at St. Louis, 31-21
Niko’s Take
The rematch with the New Orleans Saints is an interesting one, because normally the Saints kick our butts in Raymond James and then the Bucs suprise/shock New Orleans in the SuperDome. The Bucs win over New Orleans only a few short weeks ago was also a shock because it came on the heels of a terrible blowout loss by the Bucs to the 49ers. Now the situation is reversed, and it’s the Saints who were embarrassed in a loss to the Rams last week, and New Orleans will be looking for revenge.
Still, it’s hard not to notice something is not right in New Orleans this season; the defense isn’t playing up to par, the running game is inconsistant with 3 backs capable of carrying the load, but neither of them stepping up to claim a spot as a feature. Since Drew Brees came to New Orleans, the Bucs are 6-5 against them, with no fewer than 5 Quarterbacks matching wits with the Purdue Product. As powerful as the Saints are, the Bucs have played them well over the years, which tells me Tampa Bay is capable of playing up to their opponents. So in a battle of cat and mouse, who is playing with more fear, which is playing tighter; we will have to wait until 4pm to see.
At stake is an outright possession of First Place from the New Orleans Saints, perhaps a tie at the top with Atlanta should the Falcons beat the Colts, also at 1PM. But if the Bucs win, it would give tiebreaker advantages to Tampa Bay on the grounds of their sweep, so not only would the Bucs be up 1/2 game on the Saits awaiting their bye week to remove the 1/2 game either way, but would effectively add ANOTHER game to the lead because of the sweep.
All-Time Series
Tampa Bay has won six of the last nine meetings, including six of the last eight road contests in the series. New Orleans leads the all-time series 22- 17, but the Buccaneers lead the series 10-9 as NFC South rivals. The teams split the series last year, with New Orleans winning in Tampa in Week 6 and the Buccaneers prevailing at the Superdome in Week 17. The Buccaneers swept both contests in 2005 and 2007 before splitting each series from 2008-10, including a 10-3 victory in 2005 in a road contest played in Baton Rouge and a 27-13 in the 2005 regular season home finale, a victory that clinched the NFC South title for the Buccaneers. Prior to joining the NFC South, Tampa Bay had claimed three of the previous four meetings, includ- ing wins in both 1999 and 2001. The Bucs won the first game between the two clubs, a 33-14 triumph at the Superdome in 1977. Tampa Bay tied an NFL record, which has since been broken, by returning three interceptions for touchdowns. The victory marked the Bucs’ first regular season win after 26 consecutive losses. More than 8,000 fans greeted the team upon its return to One Buccaneer Place. Tampa Bay and New Orleans split the next four meetings, each winning two straight on the other team’s turf before the Saints assembled a six-game winning streak.
SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Regular Season Series: ………….New Orleans leads series, 22-17
Home Record vs. New Orleans Saints: ………………………………….7-10
Road Record vs. New Orleans Saints: ………………………………… 10-12
Current Streak:……………………………….. Buccaneers, two games (2011)
Buccaneers Longest Streak:………….Two games, six times (last in 2011)
Saints Longest Streak:…………………………………..Six games (1983-88)
Regular Season Point Total:………………….Buccaneers 715 – Saints 787
Most Points, Buccaneers:……………………. 48, Buccaneers 48-21 (2001)
Most Points, Saints:…………………………………..44, Saints 44-34 (1987)
Most Points, both teams: ……………………………78, Saints 44-34 (1987)
Fewest Points, Buccaneers: ……………………………. 3, Saints 9-3 (1998)
Fewest Points, Saints: …………………………… 3, Buccaneers 10-3 (2005)
Fewest Points, both teams: ………………………….. 12, Saints 9-3 (1998)
LAST GAME
Chicago 24, Tampa Bay 18 (Oct. 23, 2011) LONDON – Facing a 16-point third-quarter deficit in their NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium in London, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers man- aged to bring the game to within one score, but ul- timately fell to the Chicago Bears, 24-18. The Bears opened the scoring on their second drive, as RB Matt Forte ran in for a 32-yard touchdown. The Bucca- neers punted the ensuing possession, but regained the ball and good field position when S Tanard Jack- son intercepted QB Jay Cutler for a 43-yard return to the Chicago 12. QB Josh Freeman threw his own in- terception on the first play of the new drive, but the Buccaneers still managed to put points on the board after CB Ronde Barber tackled Forte in the end zone for a safety, the first of his 15-season career. Early in the second quarter, Chicago added to its lead with a 25-yard touchdown reception by WR Roy Williams to bring the score to 14-2. Both teams then punted, and, in the final possession of the first half, the Buc- caneers drove 77 yards to the Chicago 16 and con- verted a 33-yard field goal by K Connor Barth, leav- ing the score 14-5 at the break. Tampa Bay received the kickoff to open the second half, but was forced punt back to Chicago, and, despite DE Adrian Clay- born recording his third sack of the season to put the Bears in a third-and-11 situation, Cutler managed to convert and eventually set up a 12-yard touchdown run by RB Marion Barber. The teams then battled back and forth in a series of short drives, before, early in the fourth quarter, Freeman was intercepted by LB Brian Urlacher. However, Chicago immediately returned the ball to Tampa Bay after S Corey Lynch nabbed a Cutler pass and returned it to the Bears’ 21-yard line. Freeman then put together a drive that ended with a touchdown reception by TE Kellen Win- slow. The Buccaneers attempted a two-point conver- sion, but were unsuccessful, leaving the score 21-11. After forcing a Bears punt on the next drive, the Buc- caneers continued building momentum, and Free- man hit WR Dezmon Briscoe on a 24-yard pass for another score, putting the game within three points at 21-18. Chicago ate up the clock on the following drive, and on third-and-four from the Tampa Bay 4, where the Buccaneers defense held strong, leaving Chicago with a 25-yard field goal by K Robbie Gould. With 1:50 left on the clock and six points behind, the Buccaneers began a drive for the comeback, but Freeman was intercepted in Chicago territory by CB D.J. Moore, ending the Tampa Bay drive and allowing Cutler to take a knee and run out the clock.
LAST MEETING
Tampa Bay 26, New Orleans 20 (Oct. 16, 2011) TAMPA – Bouncing back from a road loss in Week 5, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forced four turnovers against division rival New Orleans, defeating the Saints, 26-20, and taking control of first place in the NFC South. After being forced to punt on their open- ing possession, the Buccaneers quickly regained con- trol of the ball when LB Geno Hayes forced Saints RB Pierre Thomas to fumble at the New Orleans 33. The ball was recovered by Buccaneers rookie DE Da’Quan Bowers, and K Connor Barth proceeded to clear a 48- yard field goal. However, QB Drew Brees led his team down the field and found WR Marques Colston for a 38-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead – but it was the only lead the Saints would have for the rest of the game. The Buccaneers put together an explo- sive drive to open the second quarter, as QB Josh Freeman hooked up with WR Arrelious Benn on a 65- yard scoring play. The Saints punted away their next possession, and the Buccaneers added three points with a 42-yard field goal by Barth to make the score 13-3. On New Orleans’ next drive, Brees attempted a deep pass that Bucs S Tanard Jackson – making his first start for the team following his return from a year’s absence – intercepted and returned 16 yards. Following the turnover, Freeman found WR Preston Parker on a third down for a touchdown, bringing the score to 20-7. Brees found no better luck on his next drive, as a second Buccaneers defensive back, CB E.J. Biggers, nabbed a pass intended for Colston at the Tampa Bay 25. The Buccaneers had to punt on the ensuing offensive possession, but man- aged to control the clock to leave little time for the Saints before the quarter expired, which forced New Orleans to settle for a 33-yard K John Kasay field goal, leaving the score at 20-10 going into halftime. The Saints came out in the third quarter and put to- gether a 6:35 drive deep into Buccaneers territory, but the Tampa Bay defense held at their own seven- yard line, forcing the Saints into another field goal by Kasay. Tampa Bay responded in kind, finding its way to the New Orleans 24, where Barth cleared his third 40+-yard field goal of the night. However, the Saints completed a huge third-down conversion in the fourth quarter’s opening possession, as Brees hit WR Lance Moore on a 40-yard pass, setting up a 12-yard touchdown run by RB Mark Ingram, putting the game at 23-20. On the next drive, Tampa Bay found itself deep in its own territory with a fourth- and-14 situation, but special teams standout, P Mi- chael Koenen – who finished the night with a 49.8 net punting average – booted a 58-yard punt to the New Orleans 26, where LB Dekoda Watson chased down the New Orleans returner for an additional loss of 10 yards. The Buccaneers were then able to hold the Saints to a punt of their own, and proceeded to tack another three points to the score on Barth’s fourth field goal, this time of 38 yards. With a now one-score game, at 26-20, the Saints offense took the field and drove into scoring position inside the Tampa Bay five-yard line. But on fourth-and-two at the Tampa Bay 4, LB Quincy Black made the game- clinching interception, snagging a Brees pass in the end zone to prevent the Saints score and return the ball to the Buccaneers. With just over three minutes to play, Tampa Bay looked to run out the clock. In a critical third-and-nine situation, WR Dezmon Briscoe stepped in to preserve the drive, making a diving catch that was upheld following review. RB Earnest Graham then rushed 12 yards for a first down and the sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career. With the time now safely expiring, Freeman was able to take a knee and preserve the win.
SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
CB Mike Washington (45 yards), LB Richard Wood (10) and DE Greg Johnson (0) returned interceptions for scores in 33-14 Bucs win (12/11/77), the first in franchise history… Saints scored 42 unanswered points – all in the second half – en route to 42-14 win at Tampa Stadium (10/14/79)… New Orleans scored five of its six TDs on the ground, rushing for 234 yards on 48 carries… QB Doug Williams threw for 218 yards and two TDs in 31-14 road win (11/29/81)… Teams combined for 600 passing yards in 44-34 Saints win at the Superdome (12/6/87)… WR Mark Carrier caught five passes for 120 yards, helping the Bucs snap six-game series skid with a 20-10 win (9/24/89)… Morten Andersen booted a 50-yard FG to lift New Orleans to a 23-21 victory (11/1/92)… Rookie FB Mike Alstott caught seven passes for 91 yards, including a 17-yard TD in 13-7 Bucs victory (11/24/96)… The Bucs snapped a nine- game road losing streak in the series with a 31-16 victory at New Orleans (11/7/99)… Tampa Bay tied the club’s single-game record for points scored in a 48-21 victory over New Orleans at Raymond James Stadium (12/23/01)… CB Ronde Barber set a club record (later tied) with three interceptions, including a 36-yard return for a touchdown on his final interception, as the Bucs picked off Saints QB Aaron Brooks four times… New Orleans LB James Allen intercepted a desperation pass from P Tom Tupa in the end zone on a botched punt to lead the Saints to a 26-20 overtime win in head coach Jon Gruden’s debut (9/8/02)… Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay posted a frantic 10-point comeback to send the game into overtime… WR Joe Jurevicius made a one-handed grab for an 11-yard TD with 2:41 on the clock and Gramatica nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired to force the extra period… TE Ken Dilger and DT Warren Sapp, who was playing tight end at the time, both caught touchdowns as the Bucs won 14-7 at New Orleans (12/7/03)… QB Chris Simms made his first career start in the NFL at New Orleans (10/10/04) and completed 5-of-8 pass attempts for 68 yards before leaving the game because of injury late in the first quarter… Backup QB Brian Griese relieved Simms and led the Buccaneers to a 20-17 win by completing 16-of-19 pass attempts for 194 yards and one touchdown… CB Ronde Barber recorded his second three-interception game of his career against the Saints in Baton Rouge (12/4/05)… Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South title with a 27-13 win vs. New Orleans (1/1/06)… WR Joey Galloway caught a pair of touchdown passes, his ninth and 10th of the season to set a new team record… Saints RB Reggie Bush scored his first career touchdown on a 65-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter to give New Orleans (10/8/06) a 24-21 win in New Orleans… After losing its first game of the season on the road, Tampa Bay was able to defeat New Orleans (9/16/07) 31-14 at home for their first of nine wins on the season en route to the 2007 NFC South division title… The Buccaneers all but sealed up the 2007 NFC South Championship after they were able to leave New Orleans (12/2/07) with 27-23 come from behind victory… Trailing 23-20 with 3:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, DT Jovan Haye was able to recover a RB Reggie Bush fumble on New Orleans 37-yard line… After marching down the field, QB Luke McCown found TE Jerramy Stevens in the end zone with just 14 seconds remaining in the game to give Tampa the win… The Buccaneers defense intercepted Saints QB Drew Brees three times in 23-20 defeat of the Saints to give Gruden his 100th career victory (11/30/08)… PR Micheal Spurlock return a punt 77 yards for a touchdown, as the Buccaneers erased a 17-3 halftime deficit to knock off the Saints 20-17 at Superdome… RB Carnell Williams rushed 24 times for 129 yards and a touchdown as K Connor Barth hit the game-winning 47-yard field goal in overtime (12/27/09)… WR Micheal Spurlock caught a two yard touchdown pass in the second half during a 31-6 loss to the Saints (10/17/10)… QB Josh Freeman went 21-of-26 for 255 yards and two touchdowns as the Buccaneers defeated the Saints 23-13 at New Orleans, finishing the season 10-6 (1/2/11)… QB Josh Freeman finished 23-of-41 passing for 303 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, marking the second 300-yard passing performance of his career as the Buccaneers earned a 26-20 win… Freeman also recorded the longest completion of his career, a 65-yard touchdown pass to WR Arrelious Benn (10/16/11).
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
– CB Ronde Barber
• With 27.0 career sacks, Barber needs six more to tie Brad Clpepper (33.0 sacks, 1994-99) for sixth- most sacks in team history.
– RB LeGarrette Blount
• Blount has nine career rushing touchdowns and needs two more to surpass Michael Pittman (10 from 2002-07) for the 11th-most rushing touchdowns in team history.
– QB Josh Freeman
• With 634 career rushing yards, Freeman needs 25 more to surpass Trent Dilfer (650 yards) and Steve Young (658 yards) for the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in team history.
– WR Mike Williams
• Williams has 12 career receiving touchdowns and needs 2 more to surpass Courtney Hawkins (1992- 1996) and Mike Alstott (1996-2006) to tie for the 10th-most receiving touchdowns in team history.
– TE Kellen Winslow
• Winslow has 11 career receiving touchdowns with the Buccaneers and needs one more to pass Calvin Magee and Alex Smith (11 touchdowns from 1985- 88 and 2005-08, respectively) for the third-most re-ceiving touchdowns by a tight end in team history.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
