New Orleans at Tampa Bay

Final Score: Tampa Bay 27, New Orleans 13

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Dewayne White stripped Saints quarterback Todd Bouman late in the game and rumbled 34 yards for the touchdown, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFC South title with a 27-13 win over New Orleans.

The Bucs (11-5), who ended the regular season with wins in four of their last five games, will host Washington next weekend at Raymond James Stadium in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.



Chris Simms threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while Joey Galloway was on the receiving end of both scores in the win. Rookie Cadillac Williams ran for 81 yards on 22 carries for third-seeded Tampa Bay.

"I would just like to say it is a great feeling, a great accomplishment by our team. I am very proud of them," Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said. "A credit to the New Orleans Saints, they came in here under adverse circumstances, obviously, missing some key players and they competed greatly today. We hung in there and we earned our 11th victory. We look forward to continuing the season at home next week. I am really proud of our football team."

Bouman was 25-of-37 passing for 265 yards and a score with a pair of interceptions, as the Saints (3-13) lost their last five games of the season. It was a tumultuous 2005 campaign for the Saints, who were forced out of their confines in Louisiana due to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

The Saints, who lost out on the first pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, then relocated to San Antonio, TX and played some games at LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

It was reported this week that the Saints will return to Louisiana following the 2005 season. According to the San Antonio Express-News, Saints long-time owner Tom Benson and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue have reached an agreement to return the team to its state-owned training facility in Metairie, Louisiana.

"Well, it's disappointing. I must say this is not a 3-13 football team," Saints head coach Jim Haslett said. "They have gone through a lot. I'm proud of what they have accomplished off the field and what they accomplished playing hard and doing everything right. I'm not happy with our record, but if you'd have seen the circumstances, the things that they went through, you'd be proud of this team."

Trailing 17-10 early in the fourth quarter, New Orleans trimmed the deficit to four points on John Carney's 24-yard field goal.

The Saints almost changed the game minutes later when linebacker Ronald McKinnon picked off a tipped pass by Simms. However, the play was reviewed and overturned after replays showed the ball hitting the grass.

Tampa Bay eventually settled for Matt Bryant's 26-yard field goal that pushed the lead to 20-13 with 7:16 to go.

Bouman and the Saints gambled on fourth down with about 4 1/2 minutes left, but Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice recorded his second sack of the game and 14th of the season to give Tampa Bay possession near midfield.

White later sealed the Tampa Bay win when he knocked the ball loose from Bouman and sprinted 34 yards to the end zone for a 27-13 advantage.

Will Allen picked off a Bouman pass on fourth down early in the first quarter and the turnover led to Galloway's seven-yard TD grab. The Bucs converted three third-down situations during the 15-play, 88-yard drive that lasted 8:00.

"They were really nice plays by [Simms]," Galloway said of both TD catches on the day. "He put both balls on the money where only I could catch them. It?s a nice play call, and when he throws them like that we have no choice but to score."

The Saints got on the scoreboard to make it 7-3 courtesy of Carney's 25-yard field goal at the 13:22 mark of the second quarter.

Tampa Bay reserve running back Michael Pittman returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards to the 30-yard line and sprinted 64 yards on the first play of the drive to the New Orleans one-yard line.

After a Mike Alstott one-yard TD run was waived off for an illegal formation penalty, Simms found Galloway again for a four-yard touchdown and a 14-3 advantage at 11:25 of the period.
Bouman later tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson, pulling the Saints within 14-10. The score capped a nine-play march that covered 88 yards in 5:13.
Bryant gave the Buccaneers a 17-10 halftime edge with a 46-yard field goal.

Game Notes

Rice has 119 career sacks...Simms improved to 5-1 versus the NFC South this season...Tampa Bay has won four of the last five meetings against the Saints...New Orleans ended with a 2-6 mark on the road this season...The Saints own a 17-11 mark in the all-time series...Galloway finished with 38 yards on four catches.
source : sportsnetwork.com