Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17 New Orleans Saints 21

Former Buccaneer Aaron Stecker returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown (something he never accomplished playing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers) as New Orleans Saints beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21–17. Buccaneers fell to 5–9, guaranteed themselves of their second consecutive losing season, and effectively eliminated themselves from playoff contention.

The Buccaneers led 17–7 with just over 3 minutes to go, but late-game miscues on offense and defense sunk the Buccaneers. Aaron Brooks connected on two touchdowns in the final three minutes, lifting the Saints to victory.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights

GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Jeff Triplette
• UMPIRE: Scott Dawson
• HEAD LINESMAN: Ron Marinucci
• LINE JUDGE: Jeff Seeman
• SIDE JUDGE: Greg Meyer
• BACK JUDGE: Richard Reels
• FIELD JUDGE: Duke Carroll
• REPLAY OFFICAL: Mark Burns
• VIDEO OPERATOR: NOT DOCUMENTED

SCORING

• SAINTS: 14:40-1Q Stecker 98 kickoff return (Carney kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 11:25-1Q Galloway 3 pass from Griese (Taylor kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 8:57-3Q Galloway 59 punt return (Taylor kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 11:17-4Q Taylor FG37
• SAINTS: 3:33-4Q Horn 4 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)
• SAINTS: 0:38-4Q Stallworth 7 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)

STARTERS OFFENSE

• WR: #84 J. Galloway
• LT: #70 D. Deese
• LG: #78 M. Stinchcomb
• C: #79 S. Mahan
• RG: #60 C. Coleman
• RT: #67 K. Walker
• TE: #43 J. Cook
• WR: #80 M. Clayton
• QB: #08 B. Griese
• RB: #32 M. Pittman
• FB: #40 M. Alstott

STARTERS DEFENSE

• LE: #90 D. White
• DT: #94 G. Spires
• 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: #38 J. Howell

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 6 Taylor, 9 Bidwell, 27 Edwards, 28 Jackson, 35 Ivy, 36 Smart, 37 Allen, 46 Lawrie, 50 Gooch, 51 Burns, 56 Nece, 58 Cooper, 72 O'Dwyer, 75 Steussie, 81 Brown, 83 Jurevicius, 85 Dilger, 86 Moore, 95 Ahanotu

DID NOT PLAY

• 2 Simms, 68 Wright, 93 Savage

INACTIVE

• 14 Johnson, 23 Phillips, 24 Cox, 34 Comella, 44 Baber, 69 Davis, 77 Terry, 82 Lee,

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Pittman 24-131, Galloway 2-19, Graham 3-16, Alstott 2-2, Smart 1-1, Griese 2-0.
• SAINTS: McAllister 25-89, Brooks 3-17, Stecker 1-9.

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: Griese 22-13-118-1-1.
• SAINTS: Brooks 21-14-169-0-2.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: Clayton 4-53, Galloway 2-18, Pittman 2-10, Brown 1-17, Alstott 1-5, Dilger 1-5, Jurevicius 1-5, Moore 1-5.
• SAINTS: Horn 4-64, Stecker 3-26, Stallworth 2-29, Williams 2-22, Pathon 1-15, McAllister 1-9, Karney 1-4.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: none
• SAINTS: McKenzie 1-0.

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Smart 2-44, Graham 1-17.
• SAINTS: Stecker 1-98, Lewis 1-22, McAfee 1-16, Whitehead 1-12.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Galloway 2-59.
• SAINTS: Lewis 1-53.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: Rice 3-13, Spires 1.5-10.5, Barber 1-8, Ahanotu 1-4, White 0.5-1.5.
• SAINTS: Howard 1-4.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights