Travaris Cadet #39 of the New Orleans Saints reacts to a touchdown during the third quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 5, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Khiry Robinson scored on an 18-run touchdown run 5:28 into the overtime period to lift the New Orleans Saints a 37-31 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in an NFC South match-up at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La.The win was the 10th-consecutive home victory for the Saints, who haven't lost at home since suffering a 44-38 setback to the Carolina Panthers in the last regular season game of 2012.

The win for the Saints also extended their win streak over the Buccaneers to six games.

New Orleans got on the scoreboard first, on their first possession of the game, when Shayne Graham capped off a 6-play, 48-yard drive, with a 30-yard field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead at the the 9:46 mark of the first quarter.

The Saints extended their lead to 6-0 at the :21 mark of the initial period on their next possession, when Graham booted through his second field goal, this one from 30 yards away, to complete a 12-play, 77-yard drive, that took 5:24 off of the clock.

New Orleans scored the first touchdown of the game on their first possession of the second quarter, when Drew Brees connected with Pierre Thomas on a 15-yard touchdown pass, ending a 6-play, 60-yard drive, giving them 13-unanaswered points to begin the game, and extend their lead to 13-0 at the 10:23 mark of the second frame.

Tampa Bay put points on the scoreboard for the first time at the 1:54 mark of the second quarter, when Patrick Murray nailed a long 55-yard field goal, polishing off an 8-play, 19-yard drive, to trim the New Orleans lead to 13-3.

The Buccaneers, after an interception of an errant Brees pass, scored their first touchdown of the game, when Mike Glennon threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy, capping off a 4-play, 40-yard drive, to cut the Saints' lead to 13-10 with only :20 remaining in the half.

That score held up, as the two teams entered their respective locker rooms at halftime.

New Orleans outgained Tampa Bay, in terms of total yards in the first half, 248-134, including a 213-120 advantage in the passing department, and a 34-14 edge in the rushing department.

Brees led the Saints in the first half, completing 16-of-25 passes for 213 yards, to go along with one touchdown and one interception, while Glennon finished the first half completing 10-of-19 passes for 120 yards, to go along with one touchdown and one interception for the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay grabbed their first lead of the game by taking the second half kickoff and driving 80 yards on 7 plays, before Bobby Rainey scored on a 9-yard touchdown run, giving the visitors a 17-13 advantage at the 11:59 mark of the third quarter.

The Buccaneers made it 24-unanswered points just a couple of plays later, when Danny Lansanah intercepted a Brees pass and return it 33 yards for a touchdown, to give Tampa Bay a 24-13 lead at the 11:120 mark of the third period.

New Orleans scored their first points of the second half at the 4:57 mark of the third quarter, when Brees threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this one to Travaris Cadet from 5 yards away, to complete a 12-play, 63-yard drive, and cut the Tampa Bay lead to 24-20, and advantage they would hold through the end of the third period.

Tampa Bay answered with a score of their own on their next possession when lennon threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this one to Robert Herron from 9 yards away, concluding a 10-play, 81-yard drive, to extend their lead to 31-20 at the 13:28 mark of the final quarter.

The Saints answered right back on their next possession, when Thomas scored for the second time on the afternoon, this time on 27 yard touchdown run, capping off a 10-play, 28 yard drive, to trim the Tampa Bay lead to 31-26.

After an unsuccessful two-point conversion by New Orleans, the Buccaneers held that 31-26 advantage with 9:28 remaining.

The Saints may have been unsuccessful in their try for two points, but they picked up two points less than 3:00 later, when Junior Gallette sacked Glennon in the end zone, recording a safety, at the 6:44 mark of the fourth quarter, to make the score 31-28, Tampa Bay.

New Orleans took the free kick and advanced down to the Tampa Bay 27-yard line, before Graham made good on a 44-yard field goal, his third of the game, ending an 8-play, 34-yard drive, to tie the game, 31-31, with 2:30 left in regulation.

The Saints defense held, giving the offense an opportunity for a game-winning drive, but the Buccaneers' defense intercepted Brees for the third time on the afternoon, forcing overtime.

New Orleans won the coin toss, giving them the first possession of the overtime period, and took advantage of it, going 80 yards in 12 plays, before Robinson ended it with his 18-yard run, giving the Saints the six-point win.

The Saints outgained the Buccaneers, in terms of total yards, 511-314, including a 371-248 advantage in passing yards, as well a 140-66 edge in rushing yards.

For New Orleans, Brees completed 35-of-57 passes for 371 yards, along with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while Robinson picked up 89 rushing yards, along with a touchdown, on 21 carries, and Thomas, who had both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, accumulated 77 receiving yards on 8 catches.

In a losing cause for Tampa Bay, Glennon completed 19-of-32 passes for 249 yards, along with two touchdowns and one interception, while Doug Martin had 45 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Vincent Jackson compiled 8 catches for 144 yards.

With the victory, the Saints improved to 2-3 on the season, while the Buccaneers slipped to 1-4.

The Saints are idle next week before traveling to Detroit, to take on the Lions, on October 19.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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