QB Drew Brees

Payton's Offense Falters Badly
Playoff hopes seriously damaged by risky play call, 27-23 loss

posted December 2, 2007 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com
by neworleanssaints.com

Seemingly in control of the game late in the fourth quarter after Saints DE Will Smith sacked Tampa Bay QB Luke McCown for a safety that gave the Saints a 23-20 lead and the football near midfield, everything fell apart of the New Orleans Saints in a hard-fought NFC South battle.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored a TD on a four-yard pass from QB Luke McCown to TE Jerramy Stevens with :14 left to hand the Saints a 27-23 loss to the first place Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Saints had control of the football at their own 49 yard-line with 3:36 left in the game when the Saints tried a reverse from Reggie Bush to Devery Henderson that was recovered by Tampa Bay DE Jovan Haye at the NO 37 with 3:30 remaining in the game.

The Bucs then drove the remaining 37 yards in scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fade route with just :14 left, sending the Saints to a heart-wrenching defeat and in a fight for their lives for a wild-card berth in the NFC playoff picture.

“This is a really disappointing loss and I feel it’s probably the worst job I’ve done as a head coach since I have been here,” said Head Coach Sean Payton to begin his post-game press conference. “When we got safety and the ball near midfield, we certainly had every opportunity to win this game. I just feel terrible.”

Payton stated that the play-call was a call the Saints have in their short-yardage running package that is intended to combat an aggressive defense that is intent on flying to the football.

Payton didn’t point out that the same play was used in 2006 against the Atlanta Falcons and resulted in a touchdown by Devery Henderson.

“It was one of those things were if we handle that play, it probably results in a big play,” said QB Drew Brees. “It was something that they weren’t expecting but something we had to execute, and we didn’t. If we hit that play we probably only have to pick up one more first down and we win the game.

“It’s heartbreaking because we laid it all on the line. We still have a chance for the playoffs and when we play like we can, we are a playoff team. But it’s something we are going to have to dig deep to find and not let it happen again.”

FIRST HALF

Tampa Bay accepted the opening kickoff and, as expected, opened with QB Luke McCown as their starting quarterback. The Bucs mixed short inside runs along with quick hitting passes to the perimeter to effectively march down the field in 10 plays and covered 65 yards in 5:06. The Bucs’ longest plays on the drive came on completions of 16 yards to FB B.J. Askew and a 15-yarder to WR Joey Galloway. The Saints’ defense held the Bucs on a third-and-long inside the 20 and forced the visitors to settle for a 27-yard Matt Bryant field goal.

Saints’ First Possession

On the Saints’ first possession, the Black and Gold began at their own 18 yard-line and could only muster six yards before punting the ball away to the Bucs, who then set up shop at their own 22 after a 54-yard Steve Weatherford punt that was downed by LB Troy Evans.

Bucs’ Second Series Starts with 41-Yard Completion to Galloway; Defense Jumps Up and Halts Scoring Opportunity

Tampa Bay picked up a big play right away, as McCown hit Galloway on a quick slant that the speedster from Ohio State turned into a 41-yard gain to the Saints’ 37. The Bucs then were found guilty of a holding infraction and after a nine-yard gain from McCown to WR Ike Hilliard, LB Scott Fujita dropped RB Earnest Graham for a one-yard loss on a screen. A third down pass netted only two yards and the Bucs tried a 52-yard field goal that fell yards short of the crossbar.

Saints Begin Second Series at their Own 43; 40-Yard Pass to Colston Sparks First TD

After opening the first drive with three passes, the Saints ran twice, picking up four yards. On a third-and-six, Brees stepped up in the pocket and found RB Aaron Stecker underneath the coverage for nine yards and first down. On the next play, RB Reggie Bush took a handoff and started for the lineup of scrimmage before he stopped and pitched the ball back to Brees, who fire deep down the left side of the field for Marques Colston. The rangy second-year receiver from Hofstra made a leaping over the shoulder reception over CB Phillip Buchanon at the Bucs’ 4. On the next play, Brees lofted a pass into the corner of the end zone for WR Terrance Copper, who easily caught the touchdown aerial in stride. The Saints covered the 57 yards in five plays in 3:06.

60-Yard Completion to Galloway Ends First Quarter; Bucs Score on 1-Yard Pass

The Bucs responded right back with a big play of their own, as McCown fired a deep pass down the field and found a sprinting Galloway down the middle of the field for a 60-yard completion to the N.O. 1. The Saints stuffed Graham for no gain and then came back with a play action fake to TE Anthony Becht for a one-yard score and his first TD (and reception) of the season.

Saints Begin Third Drive at Own 20; Get to Own 40 Before Punting

The Saints came out running, as Bush picked up 9 yards on a second-and-ten and then Brees faked a hand-off into the line of scrimmage. Bush then picked up seven yards more and Stecker picked up two yards to the NO 40 before TB called a timeout facing a third-and-one. A quick-out pass to Colston was sniffed out by CB Sammy Davis in the flat and stopped for no gain and the Saints were forced to punt.

End Around Nets 20 Yards on First Down; Bucs Extend Lead to 13-7

Leading 10-7 and starting at their own 35, Tampa came out and picked up a quick 20 yards on an end-around by WR Michael Clayton to the Saints’ 45. Graham then picked up 23 yards around the right end on a hand-off and picked up an additional six yards on two plays, which brought up a third-and-four from the Saints’ 16 with 8:39 left in the second quarter. With the Saints’ home crowd in full throat, the Bucs were flagged for a false start on their starting right tackle, which brought up a third-and-nine from the 21. McCown found Galloway over the middle for an eight-yard gain, and the Bucs opted to kick the 31-yard field goal and widen their lead to 13-7.

New Orleans overcome two false starts and a holding infraction and Brees struck with a perfectly thrown 45-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson with just over 3:00 left in the first half. The TD pass was the Saints’ longest TD pass of the season and came on a third-and-14 from the Tampa 45. Henderson made an incredible effort in getting behind the two defenders and an even better effort in reeling the spiral in.

Saints’ Defense Steps Up to Stymie Bucs’ Two-Minute Offense

The Bucs mounted a two-minute drive late in the first half, getting two big plays on a third down run by McCown and a third down reception over the middle by Galloway. However, the Saints turned in the bigger plays, as DE Renaldo Wynn sacked McCown for an 8-yard loss and the Bucs were flagged for an offensive pass interference call on WR Ike Hilliard. Tampa could get no further than the Saints’ 43 before time ran out and the Saints took at 14-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.

SECOND HALF

Saints Unable to Get Going on First Possession

The Saints started at their own 20 after a 17-yard kickoff return by Lance Moore. A first down pass attempt fell incomplete and then Bush picked up three yards on an inside run. Brees scrambled for a first down out to the 35, but a holding infraction on Eric Johnson backed the Saints up 10-yards and left them with the prospect of trying to convert a 3rd-and-17, which they were unable to do so after the Bucs sniffed out a screen pass.

Tampa Bay Takes Over at their Own 45 Following Weatherford Punt

Tampa Bay took advantage of their positive field position and powered their way to a six play, 55-yard drive in 3:07. The Bucs took the lead on a 25-yard run off the right edge of their line by Graham. The Bucs converted a third down earlier in the drive when McCown scrambled away from Saints’ pass rushers and hit Graham for a 7-yard completion and the first down, which kept their drive alive.

Penalty Negates Momentum Building Effort

Trailing 20-14, the Saints began a drive at their own 19 and Bush picked up 12-yards on two carries. Stecker then managed a hard earned four yards and the Saints appeared to be in business after Brees hit Stecker on a screen pass for five yards. On a third-and-one, Brees worked his way behind the offensive line but the Saints were flagged for an illegal motion penalty that on replay was hard to detect. Thus instead of the first down, the Saints faced a third-and-six and rookie DE Gaines Adam sacked Brees for a six-yard loss and forced the Saints to punt.

McKenzie Pick 6 Puts Saints Ahead 21-20

Facing a third-and-10, the Saints heated up McCown with a powerful blitz and CM Mike McKenzie, who was covering Galloway, stepped in front of McCown pass and returned it 52-yards for a score. McKenzie was patient on his return, waiting for his fellow defenders to pick up key blocks before bolting untouched into the end zone and the Saints’ score.

Saints Halt Bucs Early In 4th

Following a key pass breakup by Jason Craft on a pass intended for Galloway, the Bucs were faced with a fourth-and-six from the Saints’ 36. The Bucs lined up but then called a time out and elected to punt the ball away to the Saints and try to pin them deep in their own territory, rather than trying a 55-yard field goal or risk not converting the fourth down and giving the Saints the ball at their own 35.

Saints Take Possession at their Own 9 with 14:07 Remaining

The Saints came out throwing in an effort to get some breathing room but after driving as far as their own 39, the Saints suffered a dropped pass and then a CB blitz that ended their drive and forced a Weatherford punt.

Tampa Takes Over at Own 36 with 10:19 Left in Game; Saints D Steps Up Again

Facing a third-and-five from the Bucs 41, McKenzie tipped a pass intended for WR Mark Clayton that while caught by TB TE Jerramy Stevens, was still short of the first down and the Bucs punted the ball away to the Saints, downing the ball at the Saints’ 13 with 8:02 left in the game.

Saints Pin Bucs At Two On Weatherford’s Punt

The Saints then churned some time off the clock with an 8 play drive but were forced to punt and the Steve Weatherford hits his finest punt of the season, pinning the Bucs back at their own 2 yard-line inside of 4 minutes.

Smith Safety Gives Saints 23-20 Lead With Less than 4 Minutes To Play

On a first down, the Bucs picked up five yards on a quick pass. On second down, DE Will Smith tracked down McCown for a seven-yard sack in the end zone and a safety, giving the Saints a 23-20 lead with 3:41 remaining in the game.

Saints Fumble Recovered By Bucs in Saints’ Territory

The Bucs then hit a high punt that was recovered by the Saints’ Lance Moore at the NO 49. Following an Aaron Stecker run, the Bucs called their final timeout of regulation with 3:36 left and the Saints were faced with a second and 10. The Saints tried some trickery on an end-around and the Bush’s attempted lateral on a reverse was recovered by the Bucs at the NO 37.

Bucs Score Go-Ahead TD with :14 Left

The Bucs then ran Graham three straight times, picking up 9 yards, which brought up a fourth-and-one at the Saints’ 28 as the clock hit the two-minute warning. Tampa kicker Matt Bryant came on to attempt a 46-yard field goal, but the Bucs elected to run Graham again and he picked up two yards and the first down. McCown then hit Graham for 21 yards, taking the ball to the Saints’ 5 yard-liner with under a minute to play. McCown then hit Graham for a one-yard gain and McCown spiked the ball to stop the clock with :17 left. On a third-and-four, McCown hit TE Jerramy Stevens for a TD in the corner of the end zone with :14 left, and following Bryant’s extra point, the Bucs led 27-23.

Lance Moore then returned the kickoff to the New Orleans 30 before being gang-tackled. The Saints could muster only two plays before time ran out and the Saints dropped to 5-7 while Tampa improved to 8-4.

Notes: Saints defensive tackle Brian Young’s wife, Noelle Young, provided a stirring rendition of the National Anthem before the game ... MLB Mark Simoneau recorded his first sack of the season in the first quarter when he pushed McCown out of bounds for a four-yard loss … CB Mike McKenzie tied a team-record with his second INT returned for a TD in the third quarter. The last player to achieve the feat was Sammy Knight in 2000.

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