The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints with a recipe from it’s past; Get take aways, turn them into points. Tampa Bay’s defense caused 4 turn overs, and the Bucs got solid kicking from Connor Barth in clutch situations.
The Bucs led 20-7 at one point, but you just knew the Saints were capable of getting back in the game, but the Bucs never let them take the lead. With 4 minutes to go, the Saints were inside the Bucs 5 yard line on 4th down. Quincy Black picked it off.
Once again the Bucs ran the 4 minute offense to perfection, getting first downs from Earnest Graham, and a nice catch from Dezmon Briscoe. Earnest Graham had a 100 yard game, getting 109 yards on 17 carries, showing more depth at yet another position.
Josh Freeman came out cold once again, but an early bomb to Arrelious Benn got him on fire. Freeman finished with 303 yards 23 of 41 2 TD 0 INT, while his counterpart Drew Brees was 29/45 383 yards but only 1 TD and 3 INTs.
The Bucs did an excellent job of regrouping after the loss to the 49ers last year, but I predict you will hear alot of flack about the fact Saints head coach Sean Peyton was knocked out of the game with a broken knee from an early 1st quarter play that rolled into his leg. He spent the first half with a temp cast calling plays, but wasnt able to continue. One would argue while he was calling plays was when the Saints did the worst. Play calling was NOT what lost the game for the Saints. Besides the fact Bucs secondary coach Jimmy Lake went out with an injury too. Ronde Barber was acting defensive backs coach! Drew Brees threw three INTs for the first time in a long time. And Josh Freeman has a typical 2010 Josh Freeman day.
The Bucs are now 4-2 and tied with the Saints on top, but have the tiebreaker now, and virtually sit in first place. The Bucs are a mamoth 2-0 in the division now, and 3-2 in the conference. The Bucs are now 4-1 in close games this season. Next week the Bucs take on the Bears in London.
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