Buccaneers...23 Saints...20
Relentless all day long, Tampa Bay’s defense finally shut down Drew Brees when it mattered most.
Jermaine Phillips and Phillip Buchanon intercepted the NFL’s leading passer in the closing minutes and Matt Bryant kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining to help the Buccaneers stay atop the NFC South with a 23-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Brees, on pace to break Dan Marino’s single-season yardage record, threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns on a rainy day but also was picked off three times -- once in the end zone.
The win was the fourth in a row for Tampa Bay (9-3), which is 6-1 since Jeff Garcia regained the starting quarterback job. He lost it after a poor performance in a season-opening loss against the Saints (6-6).
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams scored on an eight-yard run, his first touchdown since a career-threatening knee injury 14 months ago.
Quoteworthy: “I really feel something special about this team. This is a championship team.” -- Carnell Williams, Buccaneers running back
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