Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 New Orleans Saints 24 Sunday 31 December 2017 at Raymond James Stadium FOX COMMENTARY CREW Thom Brennaman and Chris Spielman
GAME SCORING TB 9:42-1Q Barber 1 run (Murray kick) NO 9:29-1Q Kamara 106 kick return (Lutz kick) NO 2:36-1Q Kamara 7 run (Lutz kick) TB 5:50-2Q Winston 1 run (kick failed) NO 2:44-3Q Lutz FG48 TB 14:04-4Q Johnson 7 fumble return (Murray kick) NO 7:07-4Q Line 3 pass from Brees (Lutz kick) TB 4:31-4Q Murray FG42 TB 0:09-4Q Godwin 39 pass from Winston (Evans pass from Winston)
After a series of narrow losses, the 2017 Buccaneers closed out their season with a dramatic late win as Jameis Winston led a 93-yard drive inside the final two minutes to win the game on a 39-yard scoring pass to rookie Chris Godwin. Winston shook off throwing three interceptions to connect on clutch passes throughout the final drive. The win knocked the Bucs down three spaces in the 2018 draft but the celebrations were worth it.
GAME REPORTS Rick Stroud thinks this win felt like the start of something for the Bucs Tom Jones - Bucs don’t need a massive overhaul to fix problems of 2017 Martin Fennelly - Koetter’s crew didn’t quit after the season was lost Greg Auman’s notes column looks at the unlikely leading rusher How Roy Cummings saw the game for Florida Football Insiders Scott Smith’s official game report The NFL Gamebook and play-by-play
STARTERS OFFENSE DEFENSE LT 76 Smith LDE 95 Russell LG 64 Pamphile DT 93 McCoy C 68 Hawley DT 98 McDonald RG 62 Smith SLB 51 Beckwith RT 77 Benenoch MLB 58 Alexander TE 82 Auclair WLB 54 David WR 10 Humphries DB 36 McClain WR 85 WIlson LCB 29 Smith WR 13 Evans RCB 24 Grimes QB 3 Winston SS 23 Conte RB 25 Barber FS 43 Ward PLAYED 7 Murray, 9 Anger, 12 Godwin, 16 Martino, 22 Martin, 26 Robinson, 32 Rodgers, 34 Sims, 35 Elliott, 37 Tandy, 39 Johnson, 45 Cross, 49 Bullough, 52 Harris, 65 Sanborn, 66 Wester, 67 Liedtke, 71 Ward, 84 Brate, 90 Baker, 94 Clarke, 96 Siliga DID NOT PLAY 14 Fitzpatrick INACTIVES 4 Griffin, 11 Jackson, 27 Rivers, 59 Bond, 72 Gettis, 79 O’Connor, 91 Ayers
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING BUCS: Barber 17-71, Winston 5-32, Sims 1-6, Wilson 2-4, Martin 3-(-3). SAINTS: Kamara 9-44, Ingram 13-35, Line 1-5, Lutz 1-4, Brees 1-2, Ginn 1-2. PASSING BUCS: Winston 51-28-363-3-1. SAINTS: Brees 30-22-245-0-1. RECEIVING BUCS: Godwin 7-111, Humphries 7-102, Evans 5-55, Brate 3-37, Rodgers 2-20, Barber 2-18, Cross 1-11, Martino 1-9. SAINTS: Thomas 6-94, Kamara 6-84, Ingram 4-19, Ginn 3-33, Hill 1-8, Griffin 1-4, Line 1-3. INTERCEPTIONS BUCS: none. SAINTS: Williams 2-0, Robertson 1-0. KICK RETURNS BUCS: Sims 1-19, Rodgers 1-17. SAINTS: Kamara 4-155, Griffin 1-12. PUNT RETURNS BUCS: Humphries 0-0. SAINTS: Lewis 1-(-7). SACKS BUCS: Russell 1-7, McDonald 1-7. SAINTS: Bell 1-11, Jordan 1-7.