Saints players and coaches celebrate their Week 15 win over the Cardinals.
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Short takes from New Orleans SaintsCoach Sean Payton'sTuesday teleconference:
- Payton said there were several positive traits to recently acquired receiver Corey Fuller, who was signed off Detroit's practice squad. "He's someone that can run, he blocks well, he's a guy that can stretch the field. There's a handful of things we like about him." Fuller, who's in his third NFL season, has played in 28 career games (two starts), and has 18 receptions for 288 yards and a touchdown. The Saints will place second-year linebacker Stephone Anthony on injured reserve to make room for Fuller. Anthony has been sidelined by a knee injury.
- When the Saints play the Buccaneers on Saturday, it will be the second time in three games, and second game in 20 days, between the teams (Tampa Bay won the first matchup, 16-11, at Raymond James Stadium). The familiarity between the NFC South Division rivals will help with the preparation. "We've done this before but I would say, for both Tampa Bay and New Orleans, it's a short week in that we're playing Saturday, it's a holiday week," Payton said. "I think there's some benefits to both clubs. Clearly, being a divisional game, you look at the cut-ups again but then you look at the changes – they'll look at the (Saints vs.) Arizona game, we'll look at the (Tampa Bay vs.) Dallas game. I say this, it's going to be hard to believe, but when you start putting your plan together and looking at the cut-ups, you feel like the Tampa Bay that we played was four weeks ago."
- The Buccaneers had as much success defensively against the Saints as any team has had this season, limiting New Orleans to 11 points and 294 yards. For the season, the Saints lead the league in yards per game (423.3) and are second in scoring (29). "We found ourselves in minus situations," Payton said. "They forced some turnovers (three). Our third-down numbers were poor. I think they hit the quarterback (Drew Brees) too early, too often, and I think it becomes hard to play that position when you have traffic in your face. There were a handful of things, and credit them, that they did well and things we didn't do well that we've got to be able to correct."
