THIS WEEK: The New Orleans Saints will play on the road for the second consecutive week when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a key NFC South divisional contest.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised on FOXwith Sam Rosenproviding play-by-play and Tim Ryanhandling color analysis.* The game will air in the New Orleans area onFOX 8 and in Baton Rouge onWGMB Channel 44. The game also airs onKADNin Lafayette,WDBDin Jackson, MS and *WXXV **in the Mississippi Coast.
RADIO: Jim Henderson and Hokie Gajan will call the game on the Saints Radio Network with Kristian Garicon the Saints sidelines. The game will air live on Saints Radio Network originating on WWL 105.3 FM and 870 AM, with pre and post-game analysis. The radio pregame and postgame shows will feature former Saints Steve Korte and Bobby Hebertas well as host Deke Bellavia.
SPANISH RADIO:Saints 2010 games air in Spanish on*radio stationLa Fabulosa, WFNO 830 AM. Emilio Peralta andMarco Garcia *handle announcing duties.
SERIES:The Saints and Buccaneers first met in 1977, a year after Tampa Bay's inaugural season. New Orleans has posted a 21-15 record against Tampa Bay, the club's best winning percentage (.583) vs. an NFL opponent. The series is defined by tight, hard-fought games. The two clubs have split their two annual meetings for the last two seasons. 16 of the last 20 games have been decided by a touchdown or less - including seven by a field goal since 2002. The Saints hold a 9-7 advantage in games played in Tampa and are 5-4 at Raymond James Stadium. Since Sean Payton became head coach in 2006, the series is tied 4-4.
LAST MEETING: Dec. 27, 2009: Buccaneers 20, Saints 17 (OT) @ the Superdome – Despite jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first half, the Saints dropped their second game in a row when the visiting Buccaneers scored 14 unanswered points in the second half and survived a 37-yard missed field goal by K Garrett Hartley in the waning seconds of overtime that could have won the game for the Saints. The Bucs then won the coin toss in overtime and drove 48 yards in 11 plays (featuring nine runs) and won the contest on a 47-yard field goal in overtime by K Connor Barth midway through overtime. Tampa Bay out gained the Saints, 439 to 373 yards in total yards, and held the ball for 36:15 in time of possession, compared to the Saints' 30:39, with the shift in difference occurring via the Bucs' ability to control the outcome of the game in overtime after winning the coin toss. Saints QB Drew Brees completed 32-of-37 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown, while Bucs rookie signal-caller Josh Freeman completed 21-of-31 attempts for 271 yards and two interceptions. Despite an impressive rushing game that put together 124 yards on the ground on 23 carries for a 5.4 rushing average on offense, the Saints were unable to consistently stop the Bucs' ground game---mainly the powerful rushing of Cadillac Williams--who had 129 yards on 24 carries, including a 23-yard rushing score. In addition the Saints allowed a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown by Michael Spurlock in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 17 all.
CONNECTIONS:Offensive line/running game coach Aaron Kromer served on the Tampa Bay coaching staff from 2005-07...DL Jimmy Wilkerson played in Tampa Bay from 2008-09...DE Alex Brown played at Florida from 1998-2001, where he and Buccaneers RB Ernest Graham were teammates…Buccaneers TE John Gilmore was a sixth round draft choice of New Orleans in 2002. Gilmore and Brown were teammates in Chicago from 2002-07...Tampa Bay C Jeff Faine served as New Orleans' starter from 2006-07...K John Carney played for Tampa Bay from 1987-89...DL Anthony Hargrove prepped at Port Charlotte HS. Hargrove and Tampa Bay LS Andrew Economos were teammates at Georgia Tech...TE Jeremy Shockey, LB Jonathan Vilma and Tampa Bay TE Kellen Winslow Jr. were teammates at the University of Miami (Fl.)...Dir. of player programs Fred McAfee played for Tampa Bay in 1999...QB Drew Brees was tutored by Buccaneers offensive coordinator coach Greg Olson at Purdue from 1997-2000...DT Remi Ayodele, K Garrett Hartley and Tampa Bay G Davin Joseph were teammates at Oklahoma...Tampa Bay DE Stylez White competed for a roster spot with the Saints in 2003...Defensive line coach Bill Johnson and Buccaneers linebackers coach Joe Baker served on the same staff in Denver. Baker served on the Saints staff from 2000-04...Tampa Bay assistant to the head coach Jay Kaiser served as WR Lance Moore's position coach at Toledo in 2001...Buccaneers offensive line coach Pete Mangurian played at LSU from 1975-78 and coached the Tigers line from 1984-87. Johnson, secondary coach Dennis Allen and Mangurian served on the same staff in Atlanta. Mangurian tutored TE Dave Thomas in New England from 2006-08...Buccaneers associate head coach/special teams Richard Bissacia served as an assistant at Mississippi from 1999-2001...C Matt Tennant played for Tampa Bay running backs coach Steve Logan at Boston College from 2007-08, where he served as offensive coordinator...Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt played for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in Buffalo from 2001-03...Buccaneers combine scout Tony Kinkela served as director of football operations at Tulane...CB Patrick Robinson and Tampa Bay LB Geno Hayes were teammates at Florida State...QB Drew Brees and Buccaneers LB Niko Koutouvides were teammates at Purdue...LB Scott Shanle and Tampa Bay LB Barrett Ruud were teammates at Nebraska.
NEXT WEEK:The Saints will return home and host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, October 24 at the Louisiana Superdome. Kickoff is Noon CT and the contest will be televised by CBS.
