December 2, 2002
 

SAINTS TIGHTEN NFC SOUTH RACE WITH WIN OVER BUCS

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 at home Sunday night to further tighten the race for the NFC South title.  At 9-3, the Buccaneers still lead the division, but they are closely followed by the 8-3-1 Atlanta Falcons and the 8-4 Saints.

New Orleans RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER put the Saints ahead 6-2 on a 6-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, but a 44-yard pass from Tampa Bay QB BRAD JOHNSON to FB MIKE ALSTOTT put the Buccaneers ahead 9-6 at the half.

Saints QB AARON BROOKS opened the second half with touchdown passes of 3 yards, to WR JAKE REED, and 14 yards, to WR JOE HORN, to put New Orleans back into the lead for good.

A 48-yard JOHN CARNEY fourth-quarter field goal provided the Saints with their final margin of victory and brought them to within one game of the NFC South lead.