Brooks Counfounded By Bucs D; Throws Away Game
Barber collects three of four Buc interceptions, Saints shut out in 2nd half

posted December 4, 2005 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com
By Chris Pika - courtesy of neworleanssaints.com

BATON ROUGE, La.--CB Ronde Barber's third interception of the game at the goal line with 1:20 remaining in the fourth quarter helped Tampa Bay hold on to a 10-3 victory over New Orleans in Tiger Stadium.

The Saints (3-9) got the ball back with 3:56 remaining in the fourth quarter and down a touchdown. QB Aaron Brooks converted a third-and-six at the Saints' 45 with a seven-yard pass to TE Zachary Hilton with 2:33 to play. Brooks went to Hilton again on the next play for 18 yards to the Bucs' 30 with 2:06 on the clock. A two-yard run by RB Aaron Stecker on first down brought the clock to the two-minute warning.

After an incomplete pass attempt to Hilton on second down, Brooks handed off to Stecker, who gained eight yards to the first-down marker at the 20. Brooks came to the line of scrimmage as the officials were determining whether Stecker's gain was good enough for the first down. Brooks took a quick snap and went up the middle for 10 yards, but New Orleans was whistled for illegal motion. The five-yard penalty made it first-and-15 at the Bucs' 25.

On the next play, Brooks went for Horn who headed for the goal line. At the last second, Barber turned his head, saw the ball and picked it off to seal the victory for the Bucs (8-4).

After a scoreless first quarter, the Buccaneers took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter as a result of a Saints turnover. New Orleans Brooks was picked off for the second time by Barber at the Bucs' 34 and he had a two-yard return to the 36 with 7:24 to go in the half.

Simms hit WR Joey Galloway for 19 yards out to the Saints' 45. RB Carnell Williams followed with runs of five, eight and two yards to the New Orleans 30. QB Chris Simms then dropped back and hit Galloway for a 30-yard touchdown strike with 4:44 to play.

The Saints came back on their next possession to cut the margin to 7-3. The key play was a swing pass from Brooks to Stecker at the Saints' 34. Stecker took the pass at the line of scrimmage and raced for 41 yards after the catch to the Bucs' 25. With 1:52 left before halftime, New Orleans got an automatic first down after a defensive holding call on Tampa Bay. The five-yard penalty gave the Saints the ball at the Bucs' 9. Four plays later, K John Carney made a 26-yard field goal with 46 seconds to play which capped the 10-play, 57-yard drive for New Orleans.

Tampa Bay extended their lead to 10-3 with 9:37 left in the fourth quarter. On third-and-seven at the Saints' 16, Simms used a shovel pass to Williams to gain nine yards and a first down at the 7. Williams was dropped for a four-yard loss on first down, picked up two yards to the Saints' 9 on second down and a Simms shovel pass to TE Alex Smith was stopped for a one-yard loss a play later. K Todd France came on and made a 28-yard field goal for the Bucs.

The teams traded punts before the Saints got the ball back at their 20 with 3:56 left for their final drive.

Brooks was 18-of-34 passing for 215 yards and was intercepted four times. Stecker had four catches for 5 yards while Hilton added four receptions for 50 yards for New Orleans. RB Antowain Smith led the Saints rushers with 18 carries for 49 yards.

Simms was 12-of-21 passing for 123 yards and one TD for the Bucs. Galloway had five receptions for 75 yards and the one score. Williams finished with 22 carries for 96 yards rushing for Tampa Bay.

The Saints make their return to ABC's Monday Night Football next week (Dec. 12) as they travel to take on the Atlanta Falcons (8 pm CT; ABC, WWL 870-AM, KGLA 1540-AM [Spanish], Saints Radio Network, Westwood One) in the Georgia Dome.

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