Saints vs. Buccaneers: New Orleans Grades, Notes and Quotes
The New Orleans Saints went on the road and scored a 24-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak in the process.
The Saints (5-8) kept themselves in mathematical contention for a playoff spot, as they moved to within a game of the 6-7 Buccaneers and the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South.
Drew Brees led the way for the Saints with 312 passing yards and two touchdown passes, but it was the New Orleans defense that stole the show with its best performance of the season.
The Saints limited Tampa Bay to just 291 yards of offense while frustrating Buccaneers rookie quarterback Jameis Winston.
Head coach Sean Payton's club struck first with a three-yard Brees touchdown strike to Marques Colston on New Orleans’ opening possession. The Brees-Colston duo hooked up again in the second quarter from a yard out to help give the Saints a 14-0 lead.
The 36-year-old signal-caller enjoyed a milestone moment with the throw, as he moved past Dan Marino for fourth-most passing touchdowns in NFL history with 421.
Meanwhile, the Saints defense, which entered the game ranked last in the league, forced punts on the Buccaneers’ first three possessions.
Tampa Bay finally reached paydirt in the second quarter with a Doug Martin scoring run, but New Orleans answered with a field goal, extending its lead to 17-7.
Winston engineered a 46-yard drive to set up a field goal before the half, and New Orleans took a seven-point lead into the locker room.
After Tampa Bay’s Connor Barth missed a field goal on the Buccaneers' initial possession of the second half, New Orleans put together another touchdown drive to extend its lead back to 14. Tim Hightower powered across the goal line for the score, which was his first NFL touchdown since September 2011.
The Buccaneers trimmed the lead back down to seven points with just under nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter, when Winston found a wide-open Adam Humphries on a bootleg from six yards out.
The Saints weren’t to be denied in this one, however, and they milked the final four minutes off the clock to seal their first win since November 1.
Continue reading for more on this Week 14 NFC South divisional contest, including game grades, notes and quotes.
Grades
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Quarterback: A
As if passing Marino on the career touchdown list wasn’t enough, Brees delivered an exceptional all-around performance Sunday, as he helped spur the Saints to victory.
He was as sharp as a tack from start to finish from an accuracy standpoint, and it helped that he was well-protected for the better part of the contest.
The Saints are a tough team to beat when Brees is on point the way he was Sunday, especially when his line provides him with time in the pocket.
Running Back: B+
With Mark Ingram out for the season, Hightower handled the heavy lifting for New Orleans on the ground. The veteran came through with a solid outing, hammering the Buccaneers between the tackles for 85 hard-earned yards on 28 carries.
Hightower only averaged three yards per carry, but he provided the Saints with just enough of a ground threat to keep the Tampa Bay defense honest, which helped allow Brees to shred the Buccaneers through the air.
Wide Receiver/Tight End: A-
Colston’s two first-half touchdown receptions helped the Saints seize the early lead, but it was wideout Willie Snead who eclipsed the 100-yard mark. The second-year man hauled in seven receptions for 122 yards, and he continually worked himself open in the Buccaneers secondary.
Tight end Benjamin Watson had a big day for the Saints with seven catches for 70 yards, and he also made an impact as a blocker.
Wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Brandon Coleman also got involved, as New Orleans enjoyed another prolific outing through the air.
Offensive Line: B+
The New Orleans offensive line has endured some rough patches this season, but Sunday’s performance was one of the best of the year for center Max Unger and Co.
Tampa Bay sacked Brees twice, but for the most part, he enjoyed ample time in the pocket and was able to sit back and survey the field.
The Saints' running game certainly didn’t set the world on fire, but the line was able to grind out the tough yards when it needed to.
Defensive Line: B+
Football games are often won in the trenches, and New Orleans got the job done up front on both sides of the ball Sunday.
The Saints defensive line held its own for most of the afternoon. Martin gained the edge for a couple of nice runs, but the Buccaneers running back never got into a rhythm.
New Orleans also applied consistent pressure on Winston, and although he was only hit three times, the Saints hurried the Tampa Bay signal-caller and forced him off his spots frequently throughout the game.
Linebacker: A-
The New Orleans linebacking corps received a big boost with the return of Dannell Ellerbe to the lineup. The offseason acquisition hadn’t seen the field since October, and he’s been slow to recover from a lingering hip injury.
On the field against Tampa Bay, Ellerbe was anything but slow, as he led the Saints with six tackles. He made a brief trip to the locker room in the second quarter, but he returned shortly thereafter and didn’t appear to miss a beat.
James Anderson and Stephone Anthony also had solid performances, as the Saints displayed major improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive Back: A-
The Saints secondary also played a heavy hand in the Sunday victory. New Orleans received quality play from both its corners and safeties, and Tampa Bay’s sizable wideouts and tight ends repeatedly challenged the defensive backs.
Safeties Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro stood out in pass coverage, and they also made hefty contributions against the Buccaneers' running game.
Meanwhile, cornerback Damian Swann made his first appearance since suffering a second concussion in early November, but his return was short-lived. The rookie cover man went down with an apparent head injury in the second half and did not return.
Special Teams: B
Punter Thomas Morstead led the way for the Saints special teams, dropping two punts inside the 20-yard line and continually setting up the defense with favorable field position.
Return man Marcus Murphy left the game with an injury, and Byrd fielded punts for the Saints during the second half.
Kicker Kai Forbath, meanwhile, drilled his only field-goal attempt, a 23-yard chip shot, just before the half.
Coaching: A
Despite having lost four straight games coming in, the Saints were highly motivated to play Sunday, and they appeared well-prepared in all phases.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was able to generate enough pressure to force Winston out of his comfort zone, which proved to be key for the New Orleans defense.
On offense, Payton’s play-calling was excellent, as the Saints were a step ahead of Lovie Smith’s defense for the majority of the contest.
Drew Brees and Marques Colston Reach Milestone
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Brees and Colston connected for two touchdowns on the day, but their first-quarter hookup was especially significant. The three-yard scoring pass was the 70th passing touchdown for the duo, and it made them just the fifth pair of teammates to combine for at least 70 touchdowns in league history.
Only Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison (112), Steve Young and Jerry Rice (85), Dan Marino and Mark Clayton (79) and Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (78) have more touchdowns than the Brees-Colston team.
The pair has lit up scoreboards around the league since they joined the Saints in 2006, and judging by Sunday’s two-score outing, there could well be a few more touchdowns in store for the duo.
Tim Hightower, on the Saints Leaning on Him Down the Stretch
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After suffering a devastating knee injury in 2011, Hightower has endured a long, difficult road back to the NFL.
The fact that New Orleans repeatedly fed him the ball in the game’s final minutes highlighted his big day on the ground.
He spoke about his key role following the game, and NewOrleansSaints.com posted his comments.
“That’s what you want,” Hightower said. “If you’re a competitor, you want the ball in your hands. You want the team to be counting on you in the most critical situations on the road.”
The Saints called Hightower’s number seven times during their final drive, and he pounded out 28 tough yards to help seal the victory.
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Drew Brees, on Moving Past Dan Marino in Career Touchdowns
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As previously mentioned, Brees now has the fourth-most touchdown passes in NFL history. He spoke about the significance of his latest career achievement, and NewOrleansSaints.com posted his comments.
“It’s humbling,” Brees said. “It’s an honor to be able to play the game this long and have the opportunities I’ve had, both in San Diego and New Orleans. It makes me reflect, just for a short period, about all the teams that I’ve had a chance to play with, and coaches and players and a lot of the guys that have been a part of those.”
There’s no doubt Brees has enjoyed a fantastic career, and he’s a lock for a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Even though the Saints have endured a trying campaign in 2015, he’s quietly enjoying another fine statistical season. With his two-touchdown performance Sunday, Brees has 25 scoring tosses on the year.
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