For a few moments, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked as if they’d bow out of their important season finale early. They trailed 7-3, and the New Orleans Saints were in prime position to add to their lead.
Buccaneers Vs. Saints: Bucs Take 10-7 Lead With Plenty Of Saints Help
Then Julius Jones fumbled near the goal line, Tampa Bay recovered, and Josh Freeman promptly drove them 96 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.
Freeman is having an excellent outing; through three Buccaneers drives, he’s completed 11 of 13 passes for 124 yards and the touchdown, which went the way of Dezmon Briscoe. On Tampa’s second scoring drive, Freeman hit Maurice Stovall for a 38-yard gain to get the Bucs down to New Orleans’ 27-yard line, then found Briscoe from two yards out to give Tampa the lead.
Tampa Bay needs a win, plus losses from the Giants and the Packers, to sneak into the NFC playoff picture as a six seed. They’re still in the hunt, but might not have been had Jones’ fumble not seriously changed the game’s momentum.











