Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fall to New Orleans Saints in Overtime

Oct 5, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver

(10) scores a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It was a game of runs Sunday.

The New Orleans Saints surged in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 31-31 before putting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers away in overtime on a Khiry Robinson 18-yard touchdown run to win 37-31.

The Saints (2-3) scored the final 11 points of the game — on a Pierre Thomas 27-yard run, a safety and a field goal — all in the fourth quarter before putting up six on the opening drive of the extra frame.

New Orleans had surged to a 13-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the second quarter on the back of two Shayne Graham field goals and a Brees touchdown pass to Thomas.

However, the Bucs (1-4) responded with 24 straight points.

They got on the board thanks to a 55-yard Patrick Murray field goal with 1:54 left in the half. Then, after Johnthan Banks intercepted an errant Brees throw, Mike Glennon hooked up with Louis Murphy for a 20-yard score with 27 seconds left.

The Bucs then took the lead on the opening drive of the second half as Bobby Rainey ran in from nine yards out, which had been set up on the previous play by a 23-yard pass to Vincent Jackson.

Tampa Bay extended the lead to 24-13 two plays later as Danny Lansanah picked off Brees and ran it back 33 yards for a pick six, his second of the season.

The Saints responded in typical fashion as they completed a 63-yard drive with a 5-yard pass from Brees to Travaris Cadet.

Not to be outdone, Tampa Bay extended their lead to 31-20 by driving 81 yards that concluded with Robert Herron hauling in a 9-yard reception for his first NFL touchdown with 13:28 left in the game.

Oct 5, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback

(21) breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver

(12) in the first quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

However, New Orleans would rattle off 11 straight points to tie the game before emerging victorious in overtime.

The Saints were driving at the end of regulation but were halted when Alterraun Verner picked off Brees. The Bucs however felt they were robbed of a fumble on the previous play as a pass to Marques Colston was ruled incomplete although it appeared he did catch and fumble. However, the booth did not ask for review. Tampa Bay couldn’t challenge as it was inside the two-minute warning.

The Saints torched the Bucs for 511 yards, 371 of which came from Brees’ arm. Robinson added 89 yards on 21 carries while Thomas was their top receiver with 77 receiving yards.

While the Saints offense was dynamite, as usual, the Bucs’ demise lies within themselves as they committed 15 penalties for 113 yards, stalling and extending drives on both sides of the ball.

Lavonte David had a game high 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss, while Lansanah had 10. The Bucs had five tackles for loss but couldn’t sack Brees as he threw the ball away each time a Bucs defender got close.

Glennon was 19-of-32 for 249 yards while Doug Martin added just 45 yards on the ground as the Bucs struggled to establish the running game.

Jackson had a game high 144 receiving yards on eight catches while Murphy added 35 on three catches.

The Bucs return home next Sunday after a three-game road trip to face the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium.