Bucs Knock off Saints, but Miss Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the New Orleans Saints  on Sunday afternoon at the Superdome in New Orleans.  Buccaneers quarterback, Josh Freeman ,threw for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns leading the Bucs to a 23-13 win against the Saints.  LeGarrette Blount was the leading rusher with 66 yards ,while Dezmon Briscoe and Mike Williams were the leading receivers for the Bucs with 4 catches and 1 touchdown each.  The Bucs defense held the Saints to 13 points by holding Drew Brees, Saints quarterback, to only one touchdown pass.  Larry Asante, Bucs Safety, intercepted a Brees pass as the Saints were driving at the end of the first half.  The defense also forced a couple of key fumbles that helped the Bucs earn their tenth win of the season.

The Bucs knew they needed a little help to get into the playoffs at the beginning of the day.  The New York Giants beat the Washington Redskins 17-14 and the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 10-3 on Sunday afternoon.  The Giants and Packers needed to both lose for the Bucs to make the playoffs.  The Green Bay Packers ended up with the last playoff spot that the Bucs were desperately hoping for at the start of the day.  The Packers will travel to Philadelphia and face Michael Vick and the Eagles next week.

It was a disappointing to learn that the Packers secured the last NFC playoff spot, but the Bucs should take pride in the fact that they reached the goal that Bucs head-coach Raheem Morris set for the team in Training camp.  Last August, Morris went public with a goal he set for the team by stating that this season will be a “Race to 10” meaning the Bucs will strive to win at least 10 games this season.  Most local and national sports writers scoffed at the idea that the Bucs would go from a 3-13 record in 2009 to a 10 win season in 2010.  Morris ignored his critics and motivated the youngest team in the NFL to a 10-6 record this season.  Morris is being strongly considered for the AP Coach of the Year in the NFL and Sunday’s win against the Saints should impress the same sports writers that doubted the Bucs earlier this season.  The Bucs have a bright future ahead of them and it is only fitting that the youngest head-coach in the NFL will lead the youngest team into 2011.

Tampa Parent
Author: Tampa Parent

2 Comments

  1. The bucs definitely turned it around this season even though no one had much faith. Hopefully next year they can go to the playoffs and have something to show for for all their hard work.

  2. I think that they Bucs had a tremendous season and by far had the hottest rookies in the NFL, their last two drafts have been amazing, and getting Blount and also Preston Parker as a free agent rookie is sick. Raheem knows how to choose young talent, Mike Williams should get rookie of the year. Can’t wait until next year when they go 12-4 and make it far in the playoffs 😉

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