The third quarter in Tampa Bay was scoreless for both the Saints and Buccaneers. New Orleans still leads, 28-21, but that's only because the Buccaneers missed two major scoring chances.
First, Tampa took the first drive of the third quarter and rumbled off a 10-play, 56-yard drive that took more than six minutes off the clock, but Connor Barth couldn't connect on a 42-yard field goal to give the Saints the ball again.
Then, after a rare 3-and-out by the Saints, the Bucs were left standing on their own 4-yard line thanks to a perfect punt from Thomas Morstead.
Pinned deep near their own end zone, Vincent Jackson ripped off a huge 95-yard catch-and-run up the left sideline to put the Buccaneers right back in prime position to tie the game at 28. Jackson has five catches for 170 yards and a touchdown today
But the Saints' defense stiffened in the red zone, forcing a turnover on downs by stuffing LeGarrette Blount thrice and running Josh Freeman out of bounds on fourth down.