We all know the hooded figure on the New England sidelines is a great coach. Now that Bill Belichick is no longer tethered to Tom Brady, we'll see just how great. ... The Lions started four former Bucs on defense at Atlanta (NT Chuck Darby, DE Dewayne White, CB Brian Kelly, SS Dwight Smith) yet still managed to surrender 474 yards to Tampa Bay's next opponent. Detroit defensive coordinator Joe Barry doesn't seem to have any answers when the Lions hit the road. ... Let's just admit it - the Cowboys have the most talent in the league. ... A 10-point win in San Francisco is a decent start, but I'm not buying into the Cardinals until they beat a good team on the road. ... Every time you watch Drew Brees play, you appreciate him a little more. ... The Jaguars have a heck of a time beating Tennessee because the Titans are one of the few teams that match Jacksonville's physicality. ... Disgraceful effort by Cincinnati's offense at Baltimore, averaging 3.1 yards on 50 snaps. ... Texans owner Bob McNair keeps waiting for a breakthrough season, but Houston just can't play with the big boys. Still, DE Mario Williams, LB DeMeco Ryans and WR Andre Johnson can play with anybody. ...more

September 9, 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. ...more

September 8, 2008

The play seemed impossible to make - even for the impossibly talented Reggie Bush. As New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees lofted a screen pass over the heads of defenders, nothing about it said winning touchdown. ...more

September 8, 2008

A decorated cornerback gets his foot tangled up with a receiver. A rookie corner misses an assignment. A 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker has to leave in crunch time due to a strained hamstring. ...more

September 8, 2008

Player Of The Game Elite quarterbacks shake off mistakes and Drew Brees made a whopper in the first quarter, throwing up a duck that Phillip Buchanon ran back 26 yards to tie the score at 7. ...more

September 8, 2008

What went right for the Bucs: The defense scored the first points of the season when CB Phillip Buchanon returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown, the fifth of his career. ...more

September 8, 2008

Derrick Brooks wanted to cry. More than that, he wanted to play. ...more

September 8, 2008

Not enough offense, not enough defense, not enough at the end in a 24-20 loss. ...more

September 7, 2008

Reggie Bush turned a routine screen pass into a 42-yard touchdown catch and Devery Henderson scored on an 84-yard touchdown reception as the host Saints defeated the Bucs 24-20 today at the Superdome. ...more

September 7, 2008

The Saints allowed their opponents to throw an NFL-high 32 touchdown passes against them last year. ...more

September 7, 2008