Saints Overcome Buccaneers, 23-21 : NFC: New Orleans wastes 13-point lead but comes back to win on 50-yard field goal.

The New Orleans Saints made it difficult for themselves Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Saints committed three turnovers that led to Buccaneer touchdowns before coming back for a 23-21 victory.

“That was a long way from being an artistic win by our football team,” Saints’ Coach Jim Mora said. “I don’t know why we hurt ourselves out there, but we did.”

The Saints (6-2) got two touchdowns from Dalton Hilliard and three field goals from Morten Andersen. Andersen’s 50-yard field goal with 5:46 left gave the Saints the victory.

“We were powerless,” Buccaneer Coach Sam Wyche said. “There were times in there that we just could not hold our own, much less move the ball.”

Midway through the third quarter, the Saints held a 20-7 lead over the Buccaneers (3-5). One minute 57 seconds into the fourth quarter, New Orleans was behind, 21-20.

Hilliard, who rushed for 55 yards and caught five passes for 60 yards, put the Saints ahead, 17-7, early in the third quarter on a 17-yard scoring run.

Andersen increased the lead to 20-7 on the Saints’ next possession when he kicked his second field goal, a 45-yarder.

But on the first play of the Saints’ next possession, Vaughn Dunbar fumbled and Broderick Thomas recovered. Thomas earlier intercepted a pass and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.

Steve DeBerg’s four-yard touchdown pass to Willie Drewrey pulled the Buccaneers to within 20-14.

“The defense made some big plays and some big turnovers and gave us an opportunity to stay in the game,” said DeBerg, who completed 13 of 25 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Moments later, Marty Carter intercepted a pass by Bobby Hebert. Eight plays later Reggie Cobb ran four yards up the middle to score and give Tampa Bay a 21-20 lead.

The Saints finally got a drive mounted on their next possession, but settled for Andersen’s 50-yard field goal and their defense held on for the victory.

Hebert completed 14 of 27 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. He had three passes intercepted.