Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

WON - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 New Orleans Saints 17

Buccaneers broke a six-game losing streak (dating back to 2003), defeating the Saints 20–17. Slumping Brad Johnson was benched for the season, and Chris Simms started at quarterback. Simms' first NFL start was short-lived, however, as he left the game in the first quarter with a sprained shoulder. Brian Griese took over at quarterback, later connecting on a 45-yard touchdown to Ken Dilger, which proved to be the winning margin.

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GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Mike Carey
• UMPIRE: Dan Ferrell
• HEAD LINESMAN: Steve Stelljes
• LINE JUDGE: Mark Perlman
• SIDE JUDGE: Tom Fincken
• BACK JUDGE: Keith Ferguson
• FIELD JUDGE: Buddy Horton
• REPLAY OFFICAL: Tommy Moore
• VIDEO OPERATOR: Bud Alexander

SCORING

• BUCCANEERS: 7:05-1Q Gramatica FG23
• SAINTS: 7:18-2Q Williams 17 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 5:08-2Q Gramatica FG53
• BUCCANEERS: 4:50-2Q Barber 18 fumble return (Gramatica kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 11:56-3Q Dilger 45 pass from Griese (Gramatica kick)
• SAINTS: 2:46-3Q Horn 3 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)
• SAINTS: 3:43-4Q Carney FG47

STARTERS OFFENSE

• WR: #82 C. Lee
• LT: #70 D. Deese
• LG: #78 M. Stinchcomb
• C: #76 J. Wade
• RG: #60 C. Coleman
• RT: #75 T. Steussie
• TE: #85 K. Dilger
• WR: #80 M. Clayton
• QB: #02 C. Simms
• RB: #32 M. Pittman
• FB: #40 M. Alstott

STARTERS DEFENSE

• LE: #94 G. Spires
• DT: #92 A. McFarland
• DT: #91 C. Darby
• RE: #97 S. Rice
• SLB: #52 I. Gold
• MLB: #53 S. Quarles
• WLB: #55 D. Brooks
• LCB: #25 B. Kelly
• RCB: #20 R. Barber
• SS: #26 D. Smith
• FS: #23 J. Phillips

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 8 Griese 9 Bidwell, 10 Gramatica, 11 Schroeder, 22 White, 24 Cox, 27 Edwards, 34 Comella,35 Ivy, 37 Allen, 38 Howell, 50 Gooch, 51 Burns, 56 Nece, 58 Cooper, 66 Gregory, 67 Walker, 79 Mahan, 81 Brown, 86 Moore, 89 Heller, 90 White, 96 Wyms

DID NOT PLAY

• none

INACTIVE

• 12 Knight, 14 Johnson, 18 Lewis, 43 Cook, 69 Davis, 77 Terry, 84 Galloway, 93 Savage

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Pittman 15-51, Clayton 2-24, Alstott 4-8, Griese 5-(-2).
• SAINTS: McAllister 21-102, Stecker 4-27, Brooks 3-15, Karney 1-1.

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: Simms 8-5-68-0-0 , Griese 19-16-194-0-1.
• SAINTS: Brooks 23-11-106-1-2.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: Pittman 5-29, Lee 4-76, Clayton 4-61, Dilger 3-60, Alstott 2-7, Comella 1-12 , Heller 1-11, Brown 1-6.
• SAINTS: Pittman 5-29, Lee 4-76, Clayton 4-61, Dilger 3-60, Alstott 2-7, Comella 1-12 , Heller 1-11, Brown 1-6.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: Kelly 1-10.
• SAINTS: none

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Cox 4-108.
• SAINTS: Lewis 3-37, Stecker 1-14, Hall 1-6.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Brown 1-5.
• SAINTS: Lewis 3-25.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: none
• SAINTS: Grant 2-11, Smith 1-8, Howard 0.5-2.5, Sullivan 0.5-2.5.

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