Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10 Things We Think We Learned After the Upset of the Saints

SBNation Tampa Bay looks at the 10 Things they think they learned after the Bucs shocked the Saints, 26-20.

Buccaneers Vs. Saints: Tampa Bay Holds On To Defeat New Orleans And Move Into First In NFC South

The second half was more sluggish for the Bucs offense, but the defense rose up to hang on against the Saints, giving Tampa a share of the lead in the NFC South with New Orleans.

Down six and with their last possession, the Saints drove deep into Bucs territory but Tampa’s defense held strong, forcing a Drew Brees interception on fourth and two from the four yard line. The Bucs would take over at the 20 yard line up six and looking to ice the clock. The Bucs started the drive throwing the ball – a questionable decision that stopped the clock on an incomplete pass. But Josh Freeman would connect with Desmond Briscoe for 17 yards on 3rd and 9 to get the Bucs a first down and get to the two minute warning.

From there, Earnest Graham would take over, running the ball straight up the middle and down the Saints’ throats to ice the clock and finish the game.

Freeman would finish the game with 23 completions for 301 yards. Earnest Graham, filling in for the injured LeGarrette Blount, broke the century mark, rushing for 109 yards on 17 carries.

After a twenty point first half, the Buccaneers offense slowed the pace down significantly in the second half, adding only two field goals as they desperately tried to hold off the Saints. New Orleans could not breakthrough, however, with Sean Payton forced to watch the 2nd half on TV from the locker room – Jay Glazer reported that the coach suffered a broken knee and a torn MCL.

After a franchise-worst beating in San Francisco last week, it was a huge home win over a Saints team that had won four in a row before Sunday. The Buccaneers are now 4-2, tied with New Orleans for first in the division. They travel to London next week for a “home” game against the Chicago Bears.

For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation.

Buccaneers Vs. Saints: Tampa Bay Leads, 20-10, At Halftime

With LeGarrette Blount inactive, the Bucs were expecting to lean heavily on quarterback Josh Freeman and Freeman has certainly delivered Sunday in the first half against the New Orleans Saints. Freeman connected with both Arrelious Benn and Preston Parker for touchdowns as the Bucs offense looks to rebound from their woeful performance in San Francisco.

Freeman finished the half 16 of 24 for 193 yards while back up running back Earnest Graham has not missed a beat with Blount out, carrying the ball 7 times for 46 yards, including a 34 yard run that got the Bucs from inside their 20 and out to midfield.

The highlight, however, came when Freeman connected with Benn on their 65 yard TD. Benn ran a simple deep slant, coming off the line of scrimmage untouched by Malcom Jenkins. He streaked across the field with no defenders within five yards of him. Freeman hit him in stride and Benn raced to the corner of the end zone. It was a quick Bucs response to the Saints first touchdown of the game.

The Saints will receive the 2nd half kickoff, after adding a late field goal to cut the Bucs lead to ten. Their coach, Sean Payton, will coach the 2nd half from the booth upstairs after suffering a nasty hit on the sidelines when Jimmy Graham was tackled out-of-bounds. It appeared to be a serious knee injury, one that forced him to coach the remainder of the first half sitting on the bench (photo via @Jose3030).

Buccaneers Vs. Saints: McCoy and Blount Inactive, Tanard Jackson To Start

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints meet at Raymond James Stadium about an hour from now, and the Bucs have announced their inactives for the game.

As expected, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is out with an ankle injury suffered against the 49ers last week. Running back LeGarrette Blount is also inactive as he recovers from what is believed to be an MCL sprain. (With a trans-Atlantic flight following this game, and a bye to follow that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if both of them sat out next week’s game as well and got healthy for the rematch with the Saints at the Superdome after the bye.)

The Bucs’ other inactives are Sammie Stroughter, Luke Stocker, Zac Diles, Derek Hardman, and James Lee.

However, safety Tanard Jackson, whose NFL suspension ended earlier this week, will start for the Bucs. Tampa Bay activated Jackson quickly once the league reinstated him, but it will be interesting to see how fit he is to jump right back into NFL action after sitting out over a year… especially against the dynamic New Orleans offense.

Only Zach Strief is a notable inactive for the Saints, but his absence was already expected.

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Week 6 NFL Lines And Odds: Buccaneers Vs. Saints

A week after suffering a 48-3 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) return to Raymond James Stadium this Sunday, Oct. 16, to host the New Orleans Saints (4-1), with first place in the NFC South on the line. They'll do so as the underdogs, according to SB Nation partner Oddsshark. Betting opened with the Saints holding a 3.5-point edge, but it's gone up to five in some places.

The oddsmakers have soured on Tampa Bay, likely due at least in part to injury news about LeGarrette Blount. The Bucs' leading rusher (328 yards, thrree touchdowns) will miss at least a month because of an MCL sprain.

Tampa Bay's already meager offense--the team ranks No. 27 in the NFL in scoring--becomes more suspect without Blount, but nobody's mistaking the Saints' defense for that of the 1985 Chicago Bears, either. New Orleans ranks a modest No. 20 in points allowed. When the Bucs have the ball, it'll be a case of stoppable force meeting moveable object.

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LeGarrette Blount Injury Update: Tampa Bay Bucs Running Back Could Miss Four To Six Weeks

It was initially reported that Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount was held out of practice and was not expected to play this weekend against the Saints. The injury appears more serious, however, as on Thursday, radio man J.P. Peterson reported that Blount has an MCL sprain and could miss four to six weeks.

Blount suffered the injury on Sunday when the Bucs were routed by the San Francisco 49ers. The running back took a direct hit to the knee, resulting in an MCL sprain that has been ruled as a grade 2 tear. The recovery time is typically four to six weeks for an injury of that nature.

Running back Earnest Graham would be the immediate answer at running back, if Blount is indeed sidelined for an extended period of time. Graham has 18 carries for 84 yards this season, filling in on a 3rd down basis for the incredibly productive Blount. Kregg Lumpkin is the only other running back currently on the roster, after Allen Bradford was released just this week.

For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation.

Buccaneers Vs. Saints Game To Be Blacked Out

Buccaneers Injury Report: McCoy, Blount, Stocker Unlikely Against Saints

When it rains it pours. Down in Tampa Bay, this phrase can take on a literal meaning at times, but the figurative is enough for us in this case. After suffering an embarrassing 48-3 loss to the 49ers last week, the Buccaneers will be missing some key players in their upcoming matchup against the Saints: Gerald McCoy, LeGarrette Blount, and Luke Stocker.

According to Stephen Holder from the St. Petersburg Times, all three players were missing from practice on Wednesday and are not expected to play this weekend. This will hurt the Bucs considerably on offense and defense, as Blount and Stocker have been two of the Bucs best offensive weapons, while McCoy is one of the bright stars on an otherwise poor defense.

Holder also went on to note that Quincy Black (ankle) was in attendance, but it was unclear how hard he was going to be worked. Also, Mason Foster was missing from Wendesday’s practice, although the nature and severity of his injury is unclear right now.

The Bucs are banged up and beat around, and they have an important game this weekend against the Saints. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but considering how mediocre the Bucs have played at full strength, this weekend’s game may not be fun to watch.

Bucs Vs. Saints: Tanard Jackson Likely To Play

After being reinstated by the NFL earlier this week, there were doubts about how quickly Tanard Jackson would be ready for game action. But after appearing in practice yesterday with the Bucs, it sounds as though he could be ready to go as early as this upcoming game against the Saints.

From Stephen Holder, St. Petersburg Times:

Joining the Bucs for his first practice since his yearlong drug-related ended on Tuesday, Jackson impressed coaches who were eager to see whether he was ready to contribute to the team. Jackson re-joined practice with no limitations, looking fast and quick — just like he used to.

“You have to get through the week (first),” coach Raheem Morris said. “But we know how good a player Tanard is. There’s no secret about that. He’s done a great job getting his body ready to practice and play. It’ll be a decision that’s up to myself and I’ll lean on my guys like (general manager) Mark Dominik to make that decision at the end of the week”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could certainly use all the help they can get on defense. According to the statistics kept by Football Outsiders, the Bucs currently have one of the worst defenses in the NFL; they rank as 19% below average, 30th overall. And that’s not considering the fact that Gerald McCoy is injured and likely to miss at least one week of action.

It’s unclear about how much the Buccaneers would ask Jackson to play against the Saints, but if he’s truly ready to go, it certainly couldn’t hurt their defense to put him out there. We’ll have to wait and see if the Bucs agree.

Buccaneers (3-2) Vs. Saints: Facts And Figures For NFC South Front Runners

Week 5 was one to forget for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After grinding out three wins in their first four games, the Buccaneers were knocked down to size last Sunday by a surging San Francisco 49ers squad. The 48-3 loss was the worst in the young Raheem Morris era, and no doubt the head coach will be in his team's ear all week as they try to correct the myriad mistakes that plagued them in Week 5.

The Bucs face a tough test though in Week 6. The New Orleans Saints are coming to town and first place atop the NFC South standings is at stake. Here's a few facts and figures for each team courtesy of the incredible communications arm of the National Football League.

BUCCANEERS:

• QB Josh Freeman aims for 3rd division win in row. Completed 21 of 26 (80.8 pct.) for 255 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 133.2 rating in last game vs. NO. In career, when he starts & has 100+ rating, Bucs are 7-1.
• In past 6 home games with 15+ att., RB LeGarrettte Blount has rushed for 676 yards (122.7 per game) & 4 TDs. Bucs have won 7 of 8 games when Blount has 18+ att.
• WR Mike Williams had TD in last meeting. Has 5 TDs in past 8.
  
• WR Preston Parker leads team with 236 rec. yards. 
• TE Kellen Winslow has catch in 81 games in row.
•  CB Ronde Barber has started 188 consecutive games, most by CB in NFL history. Only player in NFL annals with 25+ sacks (26) & 40+ INTs (41). Has recorded career-high 3 INTs in game 2 times, both vs. NO. 
• DE Adrian Clayborn & LB Mason Foster tie for 2nd among NFC rookies with 2 sacks.
  
• TB leads NFL holding foes to 18.2 avg. drive start on KOs.

SAINTS:

• In past 2 at TB, QB Drew Brees is 2-0 & has completed 40 of 61 (65.6 pct.) for 450 yards with 6 TDs vs. 1 INT for 113.4 rating. Is 9-3 (.750) in past 12 starts vs. division. Has 20+ completions in NFL-record 25 consecutive games.
• RB-PR-KR Darren Sproles is only player in NFL with rush, rec. & ret. TD. Ties for NFL lead with 13 catches on 3rd down.
  
• RB Mark Ingram leads NFL rookies with 216 rush yards. 
• RB Pierre Thomas has 9 TDs (5 rush, 4 rec.) in past 10 division contests.
• TE Jimmy Graham had 8 catches for 129 yards last week & is 1st Saints TE with 100+ rec. yards in 3 consecutive games. Leads NFL TEs with 32 catches & 496 yards. Has 7 TDs in past 8. 
• WR Marques Colston aims for 5th in row vs. TB with 5+ catches.
  
• WR Deverey Henderson has 5 rec. TDs vs. TB & averages 50 yards per TD catch. 
• WR Robert Meachem has 20 career rec. TDs & 13 have gone for 25+ yards. Has 4 TDs in past 4 vs. TB. 
• WR Lance Moore has TD in 2 of past 3 meetings.
• Since entering NFL in 2006, S Roman Harper has 13 sacks, most by DB. Had 2 FFs in last game at TB. 
• DE Will Smith has sack in 3 of past 4 vs. TB...

Buccaneers (3-2) Vs. Saints (4-1): 1st Place At Stake As Tampa Bay Tries To Bounce Back From Week 5 Disaster

First place in the NFC South is on the line this Sunday as the Buccaneers look to bounce back from a blow out loss in Week 5