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Sunday December 23, 2001 - New Orleans Saints vs. BuccaneersFan BUCS helmet Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints Sunday December 23, 2001 - BuccaneersFan BUCS classic helmet

Sunday December 23, 2001 - Home Game

WON - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 New Orleans Saints 21

After hitting their low point the previous week, the Buccaneers rebounded during Christmas week with a record-setting performance against the visiting Saints. Aaron Stecker took back the opening kickoff a then-franchise record 86 yards, but failed to make the endzone, continuing the Buccaneers' then-streak of never having a kickoff returned for a touchdown. Though he was tackled, the long return was not for naught, as two plays later, Brad Johnson connected with Karl Williams for a 14-yard touchdown, and a lead the Buccaneers never surrendered.

During the first half, Williams, Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn each scored touchdowns, while Martin Gramatica added three field goals. The Buccaneers took a 30–0 lead into halftime. The scoring continued into the second half, and the Saints finally got onto the board. With 2 minutes remaining in the game, Ronde Barber intercepted Aaron Brooks pass, and returned it 36 yards for a "icing-on-the-cake" touchdown. Adding a little insult to injury, back-up quarterback Shaun King attempted a two-point conversion, and with its success, the Buccaneers tied the franchise record for most points in a game at 48.

The win improved Tampa Bay's record to 8–6, and put them in control of a wild card spot. One win in the final two games (coupled with an Atlanta Falcons loss) would send the Buccaneers to the playoffs.

GAMEDAY BRIEF

  • WEATHER: Partly Cloudy - 74°F. - Humidity 64% - Wind S.E. 9 mph Wind Chill 70°F.
  • OFFICALS
    • REFEREE: Bernie Kukar
    • UMPIRE: Bill Schuster
    • HEAD LINESMAN: Dale Hamer
    • LINE JUDGE: Tom Barnes
    • SIDE JUDGE: Tom Hill
    • BACK JUDGE: Bobby Skelton
    • FIELD JUDGE: Steve Freeman
    • REPLAY OFFICAL: Dean Blandino
    • VIDEO OPERATOR: Richard Leavell
    SCORING
    • BUCCANEERS: 13:54-1Q Williams 14 pass from Johnson (Gramatica kick)
    • BUCCANEERS: 10:10-1Q Alstott 1 run (Gramatica kick)
    • BUCCANEERS: 3:38-1Q Gramatica FG20
    • BUCCANEERS: 7:05-2Q Gramatica FG24
    • BUCCANEERS: 1:07-2Q Dunn 17 pass from Johnson (Gramatica kick)
    • BUCCANEERS: 0:14-2Q Gramatica FG32
    • SAINTS: Horn 11 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)
    • BUCCANEERS: 2:08-3Q Gramatica FG27
    • SAINTS: 14:54-4Q E.Williams 16 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)
    • BUCCANEERS: 9:03-4Q Moore 4 pass from Johnson (Gramatica kick)
    • SAINTS: 5:16-4Q Horn 10 pass from Brooks (Carney kick)
    • BUCCANEERS: 2:00-4Q Barber 36 interception return (King run)
    STARTERS OFFENSE
    • WR: #81 J. Green
    • LT: #67 K. Walker
    • LG: #64 R. McDaniel
    • C: #62 J. Christy
    • RG: #60 C. Coleman
    • RT: #71 J. Wunsch
    • TE: #83 D. Moore
    • WR: #19 K. Johnson
    • QB: #14 B. Johnson
    • RB: #28 W. Dunn
    • FB: #40 M. Alstott
    STARTERS DEFENSE
    • LE: #78 M. Jones
    • NT: #92 A. McFarland
    • DT: #99 W. Sapp
    • RE: #97 S. Rice
    • SLB: #53 S. Quarles
    • MLB: #59 J. Duncan
    • WLB: #55 D. Brooks
    • LCB: #25 B. Kelly
    • RCB: #20 R. Barber
    • SS: #47 J. Lynch
    • FS: #34 D. Jackson
    SUBSTITUTIONS
    • 3 Royals, 7 Gramatica, 10 King, 21 Abraham, 22 Stecker, 26 Smith, 27 Abdullah, 38 Howell, 43 Cook, 46 Gibson, 50 Gooch, 51 Singleton, 52 Webster, 68 Grice, 69 Pierson, 76 Curry, 80 Yoder, 84 McDermott, 85 Anthony, 86 Williams, 94 White, 96 Wyms, 98 Cannida
    DID NOT PLAY

    • none
    INACTIVE
    • 1 Hamilton, 33 Vance, 65 Hochstein, 75 Washington, 87 Murphy, 88 Wynn, 89 Roberg, 91 Darby

    INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

    RUSHING
    • BUCCANEERS: Alstott 24-101, Dunn 10-32, Anthony 1-9, B.Johnson 1-9, Abdullah 3-6.
    • SAINTS: R.Williams 10-26, Brooks 3-15.
    PASSING
    • BUCCANEERS: B.Johnson 31-16-207-0-3.
    • SAINTS: Brooks 38-21-248-4-3.
    RECIEVING
    • BUCCANEERS: Dunn 5-46, Moore 3-55, K.Johnson 2-41, Cook 2-23, Williams 2-21, Green 1-14, Alstott 1-7.
    • SAINTS: Jackson 6-86, Horn 4-55, R.Williams 4-15, Wilson 3-62, E.Williams 3-26, McAllister 1-4.
    INTERCEPTIONS
    • BUCCANEERS: Barber 3-58, Jackson 1-29.
    • SAINTS: none
    KICK RETURNS
    • BUCCANEERS: Stecker 2-107.
    • SAINTS: Lewis 6-132, McAllister 2-35, Whitehead 1-12.
    PUNT RETURNS
    • BUCCANEERS: Williams 1-2.
    • SAINTS: McGarity 2-10.
    SACKS
    • BUCCANEERS: Rice 2-7, McFarland 0.5-5.5, Sapp 0.5-5.5.
    • SAINTS: none

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