BATON ROUGE, La. – Ronde Barber intercepted Aaron Brooks three times and Chris Simms hit Joey Galloway for the only touchdown Tampa Bay needed.
On New Orleans' final drive, Brooks threw for the end zone on what could have been a tying score when Barber picked off the pass. On all three interceptions, Barber appeared to read Brooks' intentions early and cut underneath the intended receiver.
"Ronde likes to bait quarterbacks," said Brooks, who played with Barber at Virginia. "He likes to make them think they have that throw in there and he'll turn his head at the last second. Actually, I made a comment to him today. I said, 'After all these years, you're still batin', huh?' "
Barber's second interception, which came on an underthrown deep pass into double coverage, set up the game's only touchdown.
Tampa Bay 0 7 0 3 – 10
New Orleans 0 3 0 0 – 3
Second Quarter
TB–Galloway 30 pass from Simms (France kick), 4:44.
NO–FG Carney 26, :46.
Fourth Quarter
TB–FG France 28, 9:37.
A–34,411. Time–2:36.
| TB |
NO |
|
| FIRST DOWNS |
14 |
16 |
|
| Rushing |
5 |
2 |
|
| Passing |
8 |
11 |
|
| Penalty |
1 |
3 |
|
| THIRD DOWN EFF |
4-12 |
9-16 |
|
| FOURTH DOWN EFF |
0-0 |
0-1 |
|
| TOTAL NET YARDS |
248 |
279 |
|
| Total Plays |
52 |
63 |
|
| Avg Gain |
4.8 |
4.4 |
|
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
133 |
65 |
|
| Rushes |
30 |
27 |
|
| Avg per rush |
4.4 |
2.4 |
|
| NET YARDS PASSING |
115 |
214 |
|
| Sacked-Yds lost |
1-8 |
2-1 |
|
| Gross-Yds passing |
123 |
215 |
|
| Completed-Att. |
12-21 |
18-34 |
|
| Had Intercepted |
0 |
4 |
|
| Yards-Pass Play |
5.2 |
5.9 |
|
| KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB |
3-0-0 |
2-0-0 |
|
| PUNTS-Avg. |
5-39.8 |
4-44.0 |
|
| Punts blocked |
0 |
0 |
|
| FGs-PATs blocked |
1-0 |
0-0 |
|
| TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE |
180 |
71 |
|
| Punts Returns |
3-36 |
1-4 |
|
| Kickoffs Returns |
2-53 |
3-67 |
|
| Interceptions |
4-91 |
0-0 |
|
| PENALTIES-Yds |
5-26 |
5-35 |
|
| FUMBLES-Lost |
0-0 |
0-0 |
|
| TIME OF POSSESSION |
28:47 |
31:13 |
|
| |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–TB: C.Williams 22-96, Pittman 4-40, Simms 4-(-3). NO: An.Smith 18-49, Brooks 3-9, Stecker 5-5, Thomas 1-2.
PASSING–TB: Simms 12-21-0-123. NO: Brooks 18-34-4-215.
RECEIVING–TB: Galloway 5-75, Hilliard 2-23, Pittman 2-19, C.Williams 2-7, Al.Smith 1-(-1). NO: Stecker 4-55, Hilton 4-50, Henderson 3-42, Stallworth 3-20, Horn 2-40, Hall 1-7, An.Smith 1-1.
PUNT RETURNS–TB: M.Jones 3-36. NO: Stallworth 1-4.
KICKOFF RETURNS–TB: Shepherd 2-53. NO: Stecker 3-67.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
(Tackles-Assists-Sacks)
TB: Quarles 7-3-0, Brooks 8-1-0, Barber 5-3-0, Kelly 7-0-1, D.Jackson 6-0-0, McFarland 3-2-0, Rice 3-0-0, Spires 2-1-1. NO: Thomas 6-3-0, McKinnon 7-1-0, Bockwoldt 3-3-0, W.Smith 5-0-1.
INTERCEPTIONS–TB: Barber 3-70, D.Jackson 1-21. NO: None.
MISSED FIELD GOAL–TB: France 43 (BK). NO: None.
