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Bucs-Saints: 5 Plays That Made A Difference

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2008

The first real indication of just how explosive the Saints can be offensively came during their first series, on a third-and-3 play from the Bucs 39. They sent David Patten straight up the seam on a go route in which Patten quickly breezed past Aqib Talib and into the end zone. That's where he easily took in a Drew Brees pass that Talib tried to bat away somewhere near the 3-yard line. It would have helped immensely if the Bucs could have generated a pass rush here, but even with nickel rusher Greg White in at right end and Gaines Adams at left end, they couldn't pressure Brees enough to keep him from making an easy play.

It was still early in the first quarter when Barrett Ruud came barreling into the Saints backfield on what proved to be a very well-timed blitz. Hitting Saints QB Drew Brees just as he was releasing the ball, Ruud caused the throw to float into the air like a kite on a string. Noticing the poor throw, Phillip Buchanon quickly stopped his backpedal and moved forward, snatching the ball out of the air at the Saints 26. From there Buchanon zigzagged his way through a maze of potential tacklers before diving sideways into the end zone to tie the game at 7.

With 46 yards on eight carries, Bucs RB Earnest Graham already was having a pretty good day when he lined up midway through the third quarter for a first-and-10 play at his own 34-yard line. Graham's day got even better on that play, as he took off to his right and beat a tackle from Scott Fujita near the right sideline. From there he outran Roman Harper and didn't stop until Randall Gay took him down after a gain of 46 yards. The Bucs would only gain 5 more yards the rest of the series, but that was enough to allow Matt Bryant to kick a 34-yard field goal that allowed the Bucs to regain the lead, 13-10.

That lead the Bucs took in the third quarter on the Matt Bryant field goal didn't stand for long. It was erased on the first play of the Saints' next drive, the result of Jovan Haye jumping offside just before the snap. With nothing to lose, Drew Brees decided to go deep to Devery Henderson, who was matched up one-on-one with Ronde Barber. Barber gave Henderson a good bump, but Henderson eventually slipped by as Barber's feet got tangled. That and Brees' perfectly thrown pass were all the Saints needed to finish off an 86-yard touchdown play that gave them back their lead.

It was nothing more than a little flip-out into the flat to Reggie Bush at the Bucs' 42-yard line. That's how it started anyway. By the time this fourth-quarter third-and-5 play was done, Bush had turned it into one for the highlight reel. With his legacy as one of the game's most dynamic playmakers growing with virtually every step he took, Bush first beat an arm tackle from Matt McCoy, then outjuked Jermaine Phillips. In the end he dove for the end zone, hitting the pylon as Phillip Buchanon dived at him in an effort to prevent the score. On this play, though, nothing was going to keep Bush from scoring.

Roy Cummings

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