Sunday September 7, 2008 - New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gameday Report

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 New Orleans Saints 24

The Buccaneers began their 2008 campaign on the road against their NFC South foe, the New Orleans Saints.

In the first quarter, Tampa Bay trailed as Saints QB Drew Brees completed a 39-yard TD pass to WR David Patten. The Bucs would respond with CB Phillip Buchanon returning an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Tampa Bay took the lead with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 37-yard field goal. In the third quarter, New Orleans would reply with kicker Martín Gramática getting a 34-yard field goal, yet the Buccaneers replied with Bryant nailing a 33-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Saints got their lead back with Brees completing an 84-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay would go ahead again as QB Jeff Garcia completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard. However, New Orleans regained the lead after Brees completing a 42-yard TD pass to RB Reggie Bush.

Inside the final minute, Garcia drove the Buccaneers to the Saints 24-yard line. Facing 4th down & 6, Garcia threw an interception, and the Saints clinched the victory. With the loss, the Buccaneers began their season at 0–1 and lost on opening day for the third straight year.

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

GAMEDAY BRIEF

WEATHER: Mostly Cloudy - 87°F. - Humidity 69% - Wind N.N.E. 6 mph Wind Chill 97°F.

OFFICALS

REFEREE: Alberto Riveron
UMPIRE: Roy Ellison
HEAD LINESMAN: Ed Camp
LINE JUDGE: Ron Phares
SIDE JUDGE: Joe Larrew
BACK JUDGE: Lee Dyer
FIELD JUDGE: Steve Zimmer
REPLAY OFFICAL: Bob McGrath
VIDEO OPERATOR: NOT DOCUMENTED

SCORING

SAINTS: 11:27-1Q Patten 39 pass from Brees (Gramatica kick)
BUCCANEERS: 8:13-1Q Buchanon 26 interception return (Bryant kick)
BUCCANEERS: 0:03-2Q Bryant FG37
SAINTS: 2:49-3Q Gramatica FG34
BUCCANEERS: 0:33-3Q Bryant FG33
SAINTS: 0:13-3Q Henderson 84 pass from Brees (Gramatica kick)
BUCCANEERS: 10:38-4Q Hilliard 2 pass from Garcia (Bryant kick)
SAINTS: 7:38-4Q Bush 42 pass from Brees (Gramatica kick)

STARTERS OFFENSE

WR: #84 J. Galloway
LT: #70 D. Penn
LG: #78 A. Sears
C: #52 J. Faine
RG: #76 J. Zuttah
RT: #65 J. Trueblood
TE: #81 A. Smith
WR: #89 A. Bryant
QB: #07 J. Garcia
RB: #34 E. Graham
FB: #35 B. Askew

STARTERS DEFENSE

LE: #93 K. Carter
DT: #95 C. Hovan
DT: #71 J. Haye
RE: #90 G. Adams
SLB: #59 C. June
MLB: #51 B. Ruud
WLB: #55 D. Brooks
LCB: #31 P. Buchanon
SS: #23 J. Phillips
FS: #36 T. Jackson
RCB: #20 R. Barber

SUBSTITUTIONS

3 Bryant, 9 Bidwell, 10 Jackson, 19 Hilliard, 21 Piscitelli, 25 Talib, 26 Allen, 28 Dunn, 43 Mack, 44 Storer, 48 Economos, 50 McCoy, 57 Hayward, 58 Black, 71 Haye, 79 Mahan, 83 Troupe, 85 Stovall, 88 Gilmore, 91 White, 97 Wilkerson, 98 Sims

DID NOT PLAY

8 Griese

INACTIVE

11 Johnson, 12 McCown, 29 Bennett, 54 Hayes, 75 Joseph, 77 Lee, 80 Clayton, 96 Peterson

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

BUCCANEERS: Graham 10-91, Dunn 9-54, Garcia 1-1.
SAINTS: Thomas 10-52, Bush 14-51, Brees 3-(-2).

PASSING

BUCCANEERS: Garcia 41-24-221-1-1.
SAINTS: Brees 32-23-343-1-3.

RECIEVING

BUCCANEERS: Galloway 6-56, Hilliard 6-45, Bryant 3-43, Graham 3-27, Askew 3-20, Smith 2-19, Dunn 1-11.
SAINTS: Bush 8-112, Shockey 6-54, Colston 3-26, Moore 2-17, Thomas 2-11, Henderson 1-84, Patten 1-39.

INTERCEPTIONS

BUCCANEERS: Buchanon 1-26.
SAINTS: Fujita 1-2.

KICK RETURNS

BUCCANEERS: D.Jackson 3-84, Smith 1-0.
SAINTS: Thomas 4-67, Campbell 1-0.

PUNT RETURNS

BUCCANEERS: D.Jackson 5-29, Hilliard 1-11.
SAINTS: White 1-6.

SACKS

BUCCANEERS: White 1-6.
SAINTS: Grant 1-8, McCray 1-7.