NO Jerseys Vs Bucs 4th Quarter

We open the 4th Quarter with the Saints dominating this game and Josh Freeman looking like a guy with amnesia who doesn't know he's a Quarterback. The Saints lead 31 to 7 and have possession at the Bucs 41.

Bell up the middle picks up 6.  2nd and 4.

Brees overthrows Darnell Dinkins to bring up 3rd and 4.

Next play Pierre Thomas takes the ball 7 yards for a 1st down to the Bucs 27.  Nice work Tommy boy.

The Pierre Thomas Jersey Getting it Done

Mike Bell hammers his way for 2 more.  2nd and 8.

Mike Bell this time hops around for a while before deciding to pick a hole and gains a massive 1 yard more.  3rd and 7.

Draw play Pierre Thomas and after spinning, twisting and dancing he takes it 19 yards to the Bucs 7.  Great run by Thomas.  That's 92 off 11 carries today for the Saints ace number 23.  I think I'm going to ask for a Pierre Thomas jersey for Xmas... but then I've asked for a Mike Bell jersey already... and a Darren Sharper jersey... and a... basically I want them all, OK?

1st down and goal.

Mike Bell drives up the middle for 2.  2nd and goal at the 4.

Mike Bell battles his way for 3 and a half yards.  3rd and goal.

Mike Bell dives over the pile and... TOUCHDOWN!!  And the 2 Bucs fans still in the stadium are booing bless their little crying hearts.  Great effort again there by the Saints RB's and linemen on that drive.  Talk about a perfectly balanced offence who can dominate through the air or ground on consecutive drives.

Is it a Bird?  A Plane?  No it's SuperBell

Saints 38 Bucs 7.  So that's 38 unanswered points?  Most excellent.

1st down Bucs at their own 20.

Freeman to someone for 6.

Derrick Ward pounds out a load up the middle for a 1st down at the 35.

Freeman looks deep to someone who wasn't there but Usama Young is called for doing something bad (pass interference).  Bucs ball at the Saints 45.

Freeman to Bryant who gets hammered after a pick up of 6.

Freeman to Winslow for 4 and a 1st at the Saints 35.

Freeman decides it's time to throw to a Saints player again but this time Chris Reis decides we've had enough interceptions for the day and drops the ball.  2nd and 10.

Freeman looks for a Buc this time and completes to Ward for 4.  3rd and 6.

Freeman to Ward again for a couple so we're looking at 4th and 2.

Freeman drops back and throws to a camera man with a long zoom lens on the sidelines.  I'm assuming he didn't want his picture taken so was trying to take the cameraman out... it's literally the only thing I can think of given that a guy paid millions of dollars threw a ball so beyond any team mate on 4th and 2.  Those 2 Bucs fans left in the Disney World stadium look bemused.

1st down Saints at their own 27 with 6.47 on the clock.

Mark Brunell checks into the game as Drew Brees hits the showers early to clip his toe nails as he's taking Mrs Brees out for a steak dinner tonight.

We're quickly to 3rd and 3.

Future Saints Hall of Famer Lynell Hamilton takes it 2 yards to bring up 4th and 1 and Sean Payton is going for it... and gets it, no sweat.  Hamilton ran hard.

Hamilton again for 5.  Next up Hamilton slips on that banana skin from the 1st Quarter and only picks up 1.  3rd and 4.

Hamilton picks up a couple more to bring up 4th and 2.  Hamilton gets the call again and he's stuffed for a loss so the Saints give up the ball on downs and I give up writing about it as there's only 2 mins left and this one is in the bag.

No sooner do I write that than Freeman bombs the ball straight to Chris Reis who adds another pick to the Saints tally and takes the team total to 20.  We now lead the NFL in takeaways and wrap up the game with a nice pretty red bow.

So can I first thank Josh Freeman for being such an obliging host today.  It's rare you encounter an opponent who is so willing you to win on their home turf.  Secondly start to whisper it and then get louder and louder:

N.O. Ten and 0
N.O. Ten and 0
N.O. Ten and 0
N.O. Ten and 0
N.O. Ten and 0!!!!

NO Jerseys Vs Bucs 2nd Quarter

NO Saints 7 TB Bucs 7

The 2nd Quarter opens with a hand off to Pierre Thomas on a draw play and the white jersey spins his way for 7.  2nd and 3.

Brees to Devery Henderson who looses 2.  3rd and 5.

Drew Brees to David Thomas and the ball pops out of Thomas's hands and falls incomplete.  Thomas goes from living legend to vaguely appropriate status.  Thomas Morstead punts.

Thomas Morstead doesn't even bother getting suited up these days.

1st down Bucs at their own 30.

Ward picks up 5.

Ward again but he is stuffed by Remi Ayodele.  3rd and 3.

On the next play Freeman demonstrates his inability to hit a barn door with his passes and the Bucs will punt.

Devery Henderson gets jacked up on the return and the Saints will start at their own 33.

1st down Saints.

Brees incomplete to Pierre Thomas.  2nd and 10.

Brees to Thomas again who spins, ducks, dives, weaves and other such actions on his way for a pick up of 6.  Great effort Mr 23.  3rd and 4.

Brees to David Thomas for a 13 yard pick up and Thomas returns to MVP status.

1st down Saints.

Brees looks deep to Robert Meachem and... the ball is incomplete but a beautiful yellow flag comes out and then... inexplicably goes back in.  That was pass interference all the way.  Damn zebras.  2nd and 10.

Brees short to the Saints 21 jersey filled amply by Mike Bell for a pick up of 3 to bring up 3rd and 5 at the Bucs 43.

Brees to Jeremy Shockey but the ball is broken up by Barber so the Saints will have to punt AGAIN.

Thomas Morstead really wishes he had put his pants on now

The Thomas Morstead punt is batted down at the one by Courtney Roby and Usama Young downs it there to give Freeman a headache when he takes the field.  Great play by the Saints special teamers there.  They must have been practicing extra hard since the poor mid term grade.

1st down Bucs.

Derrick Ward is tripped up in the end zone by Roman Harper but just about gets out.  That was damn close to a safety.

Next play Freeman to Graham for a pick up of 6 on the play fake bringing up 3rd and 3.  Come on D!

False start by Buc 65 helps the D no end and pushes them back to a 3rd and 8 situation.

Next up Freeman completes somehow against Saints rookie Malcolm Jenkins.  Jenkins had great coverage but Freeman proved he can actually hit something even smaller than a barn door with that 21 yard pass completion.

1st down Bucs.

Hard running for 7 by some guy in red.  2nd and 3.

Scott Fujita comes in and shows the Saints running D how it's done by taking Ward down for a loss of 1.  3rd and 4.

Next up Freeman looks down field and... It’s picked by Malcolm Jenkins for his 1st NFL INTERCEPTION!  Congratulations to Malcolm Jenkins and family.

1st down Saints at the Bucs 29.

Hamilton up the middle for 3.  2nd and 7.

Brees throws incomplete bringing up 3rd and 7... It's being challenged however by Tampa as they think they intercepted a ball that clearly bounced off the ground first... idiots.  But hey that's 2 failed challenges already by the Bucs so congrats to them for helping us in our hour of need.

Brees to Courtney Roby on the crossing pattern but he's tackled a yard shy of the 1st down marker.  Brees wants to go for it on 4th and 1.5 but is told to 'get off the field please' by John Carney as his mum wants to see him kick a field goal for the first time in years... and he's good!!

Saints 10 Bucs 7.  4.11 left in the half.

1st down Bucs at the Bucs 23.

Cadillac Williams for 5.  2nd and 5.

This time Williams hits a Saints wall led by Jonathan Vilma to leave the ball with 3rd and 4 to go.

Freeman is rushed by Scott Shanley and throws incomplete so the Bucs will punt.  Freeman is now 4 of 10 and clearly got the money I left for him in that brown paper bag this week.

1st down Saints at their own 31.

Brees' pass it tipped and falls incomplete after 4 Bucs dived for it.  2nd and 10.

A Pierre Thomas draw picks up 2.  3rd and 8.

Brees is hit as he throws and the ball flies into the sidelines.  This really is pretty ugly stuff.

1st down Bucs at their 22.

Williams is dropped for 0 gain after Vilma got in there early and stuffed the run to bring up the 2 minute warning.  2nd and 10.

Freeman throws another incomplete.  Malcolm Jenkins had pretty good coverage and is looking sound so far today.  3rd and 10.

Freeman again incomplete as Jonathan Vilma gets his bear claw in there to break it up.  Bucs punt.

1st down Saints at their own 36.

Brees to Colston for 16 to the Bucs 47.

1st down.

Brees pressured and throws it away. 

Brees to Colston over the middle for a pick up of 19 to the Bucs 26.  45 ticks on the clock.

1st down Saints.

Brees to Colston again for 20 to the Bucs 6, 35 secs to go.

1st down Saints.

Drew Brees rolls out right and... TOUCHDOWN ROBERT MEACHEM!!  That's Meachems 6th TD of the season off just 16 receptions.  Great pass and catch and a perfect example of how the Saints offence seems to click when under pressure.  63 yards in 5 plays in 1.10... Maybe we should play hurry up offence on every drive today? 

TD number 6 for the Robert Meachem Stats sheet

Saints 17 Tampa Bay 7 with 28 secs left in the half.

1st down Bucs at their 28.

Freeman to Winslow who is taken down by Jonathan Vilma who has been all over the field today.  Ball spiked so 3rd and 5 with 5 to go on the clock.

Leigh Torrence and Roman Harper converge on Freeman for a QB sandwich and sack to take us to half time.

So the Saints are again a little indifferent today.  Josh Freeman is enjoying far too much time in the pocket for my liking.  We're just lucky he's young and pretty stinky at this point in his career.  On the other side of the ball Drew Brees is getting pressured more than is comfortable so it would be nice to calm that side of things down in the second half.  Overall we're professional without being explosive.  But it's all about chalking up win number 10 and keeping enough of the roster healthy.

Saints Vs Rams 3rd Quarter report

Trent Green and Chris Rose are eulogising about Steven Jackson.  It really has been a game of 1 Vs 22.  I've not seen such a one man team since Barry Sanders used to have to do it alone for the Lions... but what an athlete Jackson is.  I guess if that's your main weapon then use it, especially if the Saints can't find a way to stop him.

Courtney Roby takes the second half kick off and... Returns it all the way for a 97 yard TOUCHDOWN!!  That's the 1st kick off return for a TD in nearly 5 years (since Michael Lewis in 2004 according to Green and Rose) for the Saints.  That will do.  The Saints Special Teams now get marked up to a straight C from my New Orleans Saints mid term paper report.

Courtney Roby TOUCHDOWN!!

The Rams will start the second half at their own 23.
Bulger to Gibson, breaks 2 tackles and takes it to the Rams 48.  He beat Tracy Porter and Usama Young with fine moves.  Youngs leg collided with Porters and the Saints 2nd year man is down as we go to commercials.

That's all we need, another member of the secondary out with and injury.  Oh no, I spoke to soon, the Direct TV commercial is all I need after that bad news.  Some rubbish about something or other, blah, blah. 

We return and Tracy Porter is only just getting to his feet now.  Our first round pick in the 09 draft, Malcolm Jenkins, is coming in to take his place.  I hope the rookie has stretched his legs as he could be in for the long haul here.

So back to the game and it's a 1st down for St. Louis at their own 48. 
Steven Jackson hands off to himself (being a 1 man team them's the breaks that come your way) and takes it for 1 after every Saints lineman jumps on his turtle back.

Next up a screen to Jackson but he can't hold on so it's 3rd and 9.  Good break for the Saints as we don't want Jackson getting into the banged up secondary with the ball in his hands.

3rd and 9 and... Mark Bulger overthrows Jenkins who was worryingly wide open. Rams will punt and Reggie Bush fair catches at Saints 17.

1st down New Orleans.
Pierre Thomas bursts through the hole between centre and right guard for a big 11 yard pick up. 

The Saints Pierre Thomas Jersey getting it done!

1st down Saints.
Brees to Henderson on a crossing pattern for a 26 yard pick up into Rams territory.  1st down at Rams 47.

Next up Thomas stopped for 0.  Oooh man Tracy Porter is being carted off with head in hands.  Not looking good.  Let's hope that's not as serious as his demeanour tells it.

Brees tries to thread the needle to Shockey but over throws and... It’s picked off.  That's a double 'not looking good' moment in a few brief seconds.  We could have really built up a healthy lead there but alas no.  We're making this look hard work against a team of 1. 

TV cuts to Saints sideline as Drew Brews yells at Jeremy Shockey - nice blame shift.  Actually maybe that was on Shockey... only those guys know as I don't have the play book in front of me.  Drew Brees Jeremy Shockey fight coming soon anyone?

1st down Rams at their own 40.
Jackson now for 1.  Next play… pass incomplete, 3rd and 9.
A pass completion for 10 sees the Rams move the chains.

1st down.
Steven Jackson cuts back and picks up 8.  2nd and 2.  Guess who the ball will go to next?
Nope I'm wrong as Mark Bulger is caught in the backfield but somehow manages to wriggle free and completes for 20 over the middle.

1st down St. Louis.
Bulger throws incomplete before Jackson runs up the middle for 7.  3rd and 3.  Fox announce Steven Jackson has just hit 6,193 career yards to move into 3rd place in franchise history behind Marshall Faulk and Eric Dickerson.  Not bad going.  Neither of them carried a whole team on his back.

Bulger throws back across the field and Roman Harper does just enough to break up the pass.  4th and 3 so the Rams will attempt a field goal and... Get it.

Saints 21 Rams 17.

Saints will take over at their own 20 after Courtney Roby takes a knee in the end zone with 7.08 on the 3rd Quarter clock.

1st down Saints. 
Bell over left tackle for a pick up of 2.
Reggie Bush breaks through the big right tackle hole and takes it 55 to the Rams 22.  Great hole by Stinchcomb and Evans and a great run by Mr. Bush.  Rocket man Reggie was due a big one and today he's looking good.

1st down New Orleans. 
Thomas runs for 2.
Colston end around for gain of 6.  First touch of the ball for Colston today.  3rd and 2.
Thomas takes pitch over right tackle and gets the first down.  Good job guys.

1st and goal at 9.  Brees to Colston who leaps the pile at the 1... But looses the ball and it trickles out the end zone for a touch back.  Oh man, Colston can not catch a break at the moment (although at least he's back to catching passes after last weeks debacle).  It will be the Rams ball at their own 20. 

1st down Rams with 3.33 on the clock.
Rams penalty so 1st and 15.
Jackson takes pitch and is wrapped up for a loss of 2... FINALLY.
Pass to Jackson in the flat but Roman Harper makes a great tackle for a loss of 1.  3rd and 17.

Pass completion but the Ram (who cares what his name is as I need some beer) is short of the first down marker. 

Rams punt to Bush who makes some moves and gets it 20 odd yards before the gain is called back against Leigh Torrence for holding so we continue killing ourselves and start at our own 23.

1st down Saints. 
Thomas over right guard for 5.
Slant pass to Henderson for a first down.  Great pick up by Devery to the Saints 41.  It's between Usama Young and Devery Henderson for Saint of the Week at the moment as we close out the 3rd Quarter.

Saints Vs Rams 2nd Quarter Analysis

You join me in the Saints Vs Rams 2nd Quarter having just been advised that I'm watching FOX NFL Sunday by a baritone voice.  That's lucky they confirmed that or I would have been left thinking I was watching the sound of music in Slavic.  Now a fan holds up a sign confirming we are watching Fox as we return to the game; did the PR department pay him for that?

OK so the score is Saints 0 Rams 0.

Drew Brees throws to David Thomas who is stopped short and then forces his way for an extra 3.  GREAT effort.  4th catch of day by the backup Tight End.  Only 7 catches before today, how bout that?

1st down Black and Gold. 
Draw to Bush who does his Michael Jordan leap and gets a... 3 yard TOUCHDOWN!! His 5th of the season.

The Reggie Bush mph read +22 on that one!

That was a 13 play, 78 yard drive in 7.30. Brees went 6 for 6 for 58 yards.  Textbook drive - Very impressive. Brees spread the ball around to receivers and tight ends and was complimented by some good runs by the backs.  There were also 3 straight 3rd down conversions on the drive which is akey indicator of ruthless efficiency.

New Orleans Saints 7 St Louis Rams 0

1st down Rams at their own 25, 14.09 on the clock.
Steven Jackson big run for 14 - An important open field tackle by Usama Young or he could have broken it.

1st down. 
Steven Jackson again through middle for 8.
Play action pass and a big gain.  Great hit by Usama Young - CRACK!!

1st down at Saints 35.
Steven Jackson again over right tackle.  He is running at will against us.
2nd and 2.  Some other Rams back up runs through the middle for 3.

1st down at 29.
Toss out left and Will Smith tackles for 0.

Mark Bulger is sacked and looses the ball which Jackson manages to recover for a loss of 3.  He had loads of time but still got sacked.

3rd and 15.  That's the 16th forced fumble in Will Smiths career; he also has an Oscar I believe.
Mark Bulger to Avery deep and... TD.  He beat Randall Gay for 29 yard TD reception.

9.23 left in 2nd. 8 plays 75 yards.

Saints 7 Rams 7,

Courtney Roby takes the kick off out to the 27 where the Saints will have a 1st down.

End around to Robert Meachem (great block by David Thomas) who takes it a season long 41 yards for a Saint to the Rams 36. 

1st down New Orleans. 
Thomas scampers for 3.
Brees to Henderson to the Rams 15, a gain of 13.

1st down. 
Brees is hit as he throws incomplete.  1st time Brees has been pressured so far.
Brees throws it away on the next play bringing up 3rd and 10.
Brees to Bush over the middle and... TOUCHDOWN!!  Bush caught it at the 12 then used his speed to get to the end zone and dive to the put ball over the plain of the goal line.  Great catch and run.  6 plays 72 yards in a cool 2.32.

The 'Reggie Bush Vertical Leap' as patented by Bush Inc.

Saints 14 Rams 7

1st down Rams 27.
Steve Spagnola is talking to the LB beaten by Bush.  He's demanding that he be a bit more like Usain Bolt in future please.

Rams pass for 7 yards.  2nd and 3. 
Encroachment by Remi Ayodele.  1st down Rams at own 38.

Jackson 8th rush over left tackle of the day picks up 5.  (69 yards rushing and 21 receiving already today).

Mark Bulger is pressured and sacked by Remi Ayodele and Charles Grant.  3rd and 7.
Bulger completes to Gibson.  Usama Young makes the tackle again after Gay slipped which left him open.

1st down Rams.
Jackson is tackled by just about every Saints player although Charles Grant gets the official credit.  2nd and 8.  Bulger throws a pass for another 1st down - 10 yard pick up.

1st down. 
Jackson tackled by everyone again although Bobby McCray is credited. 
2nd and 8.  Saints burn a second timeout.
Steven Jackson again but Demario Pressley wraps him up in the backfield for a loss of 1.  Ball at Saints 28.  Steven Jackson again for 13 up the middle.  We just cannot stop this guy.

2 minute warning.  1st down at 15.
Jackson AGAIN for 2.

The Saints call another timeout.

Jackson stopped 3 yards short of 1st down marker but then carries WILL SMITH ON HIS BACK DOWN TO THE SAINTS 4. 

1st down.  Jackson up the middle for 1.
Jackson ploughs in for... A TOUCHDWON OVER LEFT TACKLE.  Mike Karney, the ex Saint FB, led the way - TRAITOR.  Although we did cut him the day before his wedding so I guess we owe him that.  Cut throat business or what?

Saints 14 Rams 14.
 
Courtney Roby returns the kick off out to the 24. 

50 seconds left in half, 0 timeouts New Orleans.

1st play and Brees is going down for a sack but flips it to Bush for 0 pick up.  Great effort to avoid the sack and keep the play alive.

Brees to Shockey for 9.  Brees stops clock but that makes it 4th and 1 so the Saints will punt with 6 seconds left.

End of first half with the scores level:

New Orleans 14 Steven Jackson 14