First of all: YEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!

Second of all: WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ok, I got that out of my system. Excuse me for that. Totally ready to talk football now. 

YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAW!!!!

Whoops. That one just slipped out. 

I know Bucs fans are few and far between on this site, but I have to say that this game was the most fun I have had in ages. Because this has not been a fun season for the Bucs. Even last week’s win against the Seahawks was one of the least satisfying I have ever experienced. 

But beating the 13-1 Saints? With most of the starters playing? (Yes, I know there were a bunch of injuries, but still.) This was fun. 

How the heck did the 2-12 Bucs win this game? Let’s break it down.

Special Teams. I’m considering buying a Bucs jersey with special teams coach Rich Bisaccia’s name on the back. Seriously, could this unit be any better? Peanut Smith is a kick-return star until he’s placed on IR. Then Sammie Stroughter is a kick-return star until he’s placed on IR. Then Micheal Spurlock (yes, it’s spelled M-i-c-h-e-a-l) is picked up mid-week, and the dude scores a touchdown on a punt return that ties the score and ultimately sends the game into overtime. 

(Note: The answer to the Bucs vs. Saints Preview question: “Winning on Waivers?” is yes, the Bucs did win on waivers thanks to the Spurlock pick-up. So glad I asked.)

Running the Ball. I think we’ve definitively proven that: a) rookie QBs can only be successful if there is a strong running game, and b) if one running back is hot, do not pull him out of the game every other series. It only took 14 games and another interception in the endzone to teach Greg Olson the lesson, but in overtime, Josh Freeman did not pass the ball once and Caddy consistently got the nod over Ward. Finally.

Second-Half Defense. In the first half of the game, the defense could do nothing right. Brees and his men marched down the field and scored with ease on 3 of their first 4 drives. It looked like a blowout in the making. But instead of closing up shop and sleeping through the second half of the game, the Bucs defense played like men on fire. The result of the Saints’ 2nd half drives: 3 punts, a fumble by Marques Colston, and a missed field goal. 

Luck. Let’s be honest, the Bucs should have won this game by two scores during regulation, but the team shot itself in the foot more times than I can count. The offense had a string of beautiful series that they doomed with sloppy red zone play (like Freeman’s interception in the end zone),  horrible coaching choices (pass the ball on 4th and a short 1? AGAIN?!), and penalties galore (another false start penalty for league-leader Jeremy Trueblood… plus two more from his teammates). But  despite all that, Saints’ kicker Garret Hartley’s missed a 37-yard field goal with 9 seconds left, and that kept the Bucs in the game.