a Although quarterback Aaron Brooks threw three interceptions, the New Orleans Saints still managed to stay in the game through the fourth quarter.
But a fourth interception with less than two minutes to play in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ endzone killed any hopes that the Saints were still hanging onto.
“One thing we wanted to do going into this game was not turn the ball over,” said Coach Jim Haslett. “We turned the ball over way too many times that led to a touchdown. Also a poor punt led to a field goal.”
Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber cut off three of Brooks’ passes. The first interception came in the second quarter to put the Bucs on the New Orleans 45-yard line, leading to the only touchdown of the game by either team. The third was Brooks’ last and ended the game late in the fourth.
“I thought two of them were phenomenal by Ronde,” Haslett said. “I thought the last one Aaron should have probably gone to the outside. It was man to man. He should have looked for a single receiver. They have three guys on that defense who are great players – Ronde, Derrick [Brooks], Simeon [Rice].”
The Saints fought to get on the board before halftime, driving down the field for 57 yards in 10 plays, but had to settle for a field goal by kicker John Carney. Carney’s field goal, which put the Saints on the board 7-3, was their only score of the game.
“We can’t settle for field goals. We got to have touchdowns,” said wide receiver Devery Henderson. “We’ve had a 10-minute drive and got nothing out of it.”
Both teams held each other scoreless through the third quarter but the Buccaneers took the ball at the start of the fourth quarter and drove to the Saints’ 18-yard line. After failing to move the ball further, Tampa Bay settled for a field goal to increase their lead 10-3.
In its last possession of the game, New Orleans attempted to force the game into overtime by moving the ball 70 yards in 11 plays to the 25-yard line.
Barber sealed the victory for the Bucs and kept the Saints winless in Louisiana this season.
“The best players are playing,” said center LeCharles Bentley. “The best coaches are coaching. I don’t know what else we can try. Maybe new trick plays? I don’t know. I can’t figure it out.”
The loss gives the Saints a 3-9 record on the year. The team will not return to Tiger Stadium until Dec. 18 for their last game in Louisiana against the Carolina Panthers.
Although Saints owner Tom Benson said he would never return to Baton Rouge, the NFL released a statement on the Saints Web site announcing Benson planned to attend Sunday’s game with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The statement also said both officials will travel to New Orleans today to visit facilities and discuss the future of the New Orleans Saints.
“Hopefully what comes out of that meeting is we know where we’re going to be,” Bentley said. “That’s the least you can ask for is to know where you’re going to be, know the circumstance and go from there. It’s not fair to those guys [with wives and kids] to keep it up in the air like this. Fans deserve to know what’s going on also. Just for these people to show up like this and cheer like they were cheering today – it means so much to have our fans there.”