Fitzpatrick Caught a Long Throw for the Saints Again

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bucs Ambush Saints with Offensive Explosion

The Buccaneers tied a single-game franchise scoring tape with a 48-40 opening-day win in New Orleans, with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing a career-high 417 yards and iv TDs.

Sep 09, 2022 at 05:24 PM

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RB Shaun Wilson, No. 38

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. eleven

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. 11

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. 11

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. 11 and WR Chris Godwin, No. 12

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LB Lavonte David, No. 54

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DE William Gholston, No. 92

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RB Peyton Hairdresser, No. 25

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RB Peyton Barber, No. 25

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RB Peyton Barber, No. 25

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WR Chris Godwin, No. 12

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WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. xiv

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14 and TE O.J. Howard, No. 80

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14

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TE O.J. Howard, No. 80

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TE O.J. Howard, No. 80

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Yard Chandler Catanzaro, No. 7 and P Bryan Anger, No. nine

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93, LB Lavonte David, No. 54 and LB Kwon Alexander, No. 58

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DE Vinny Back-scratch, No. 97

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TE O.J. Howard, No. fourscore

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TE O.J. Howard, No. 80

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. fourteen

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CB Ryan Smith, No. 29

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LB Kwon Alexander, No. 58 and S Justin Evans, No. 21

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S Justin Evans, No. 21

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Due south Justin Evans, No. 21

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DE Carl Nassib, No. 94

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WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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WR Mike Evans, No. xiii

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14 and WR Chris Godwin, No. 12

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K Chandler Catanzaro, No. 7, P Bryan Acrimony, No. 9 and TE Antony Auclair, No. 82

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93 and DT Beau Allen, No. 91

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93 and DT Beau Allen, No. 91

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LB Kwon Alexander, No. 58

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LB Kwon Alexander, No. 58

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DE Carl Nassib, No. 94

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93 and LB Lavonte David, No. 54

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CB Carlton Davis, No. 33

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CB Ryan Smith, No. 29

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WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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WR Mike Evans, No. xiii

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WR Mike Evans, No. thirteen, TE Cameron Brate, No. 84 and RB Jacquizz Rodgers, No. 32

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LB Kwon Alexander, No. 58

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RB Peyton Hairdresser, No. 25

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. xi and WR Mike Evans, No. 13

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93

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DE Jason Pierre-Paul, No. xc

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. xi

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WR DeSean Jackson, No. 11

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One thousand Chandler Catanzaro, No. 7

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93

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DT Gerald McCoy, No. 93

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 14

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QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. fourteen

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Autobus Dirk Koetter ran a tougher preparation camp in 2022 in the hopes it would produce a fast start to the flavor. Mission accomplished! The season began Sun with one of the most impressive opening-day wins in franchise history.

The Buccaneers tied a team unmarried-game scoring record with a 48-forty win over the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sun. It marked the third time in three years with Koetter at the helm that the Bucs have won their season opener and the team's second consecutive win over New Orleans subsequently the 2022 flavour ended with a 31-24 victory at Raymond James Stadium.

The Buccaneers definitely started fast. The visitors scored touchdowns on their offset ii possessions, scored on four straight drives and matched a squad record with 31 first-half points. That was the most Tampa Bay had always scored in the start half of a road game. It was a run built on a wild spree of big plays on criminal offense…plus i crucial one on defense.

And it was all directed by QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who put together one of the finest performances of his 14-year career, including a career-high 417 passing yards and four full touchdowns. Even with those prolific aerial numbers, the Buccaneers withal needed Fitzpatrick to brand ane more critical play with his feet to seal the victory.

Fitzpatrick, at the helm with Jameis Winston serving a iii-game suspension, ran his record as a Buccaneer starter to 3-1 backside a prolific passing afternoon. Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 28 passes, did non the turn the ball over and finished with a almost-perfect passer rating of 156.ii. He began the onslaught immediately with a 58-one thousand touchdown bomb to DeSean Jackson on only his 2nd throw. Fitzpatrick also threw a second-quarter 9-m scoring pass to Chris Godwin and ran one in himself from three yards out. In the second one-half, he found Mike Evans on a 50-yard touchdown and Jackson again on a 36-chiliad score.

Fitzpatrick was well-prepared for the opener not only because military camp was tougher but because the squad did a good job of dividing the reps to get both him and Winston ready. Fitzpatrick had plenty of chances to make it synch with the team'southward top pass-catchers.

"It started with training camp and the fashion that we worked, the weapons that we have," he said. "I thought they did a great chore, and we're on the same page in terms of throwing some of those deep balls and things. They did a nice job with the style that they're running them and the way that we're throwing them, and then it all worked out today."

It was the kickoff deep ball to Jackson that kept the Buccaneers in the game subsequently Drew Brees and the Saints had driven right down the field for a touchdown to open up the contest.

"Information technology does a lot [for your confidence], especially when they come out and ram information technology right downwards there on us," said Caput Coach Dirk Koetter. "To come out and answer and get that start one was big. That first drive was huge."

The Buccaneers had a slim 7-point pb at the half but were able to extend it to 24 points at one point in the second half as Fitzpatrick and the law-breaking stayed aggressive. That proved critical because Brees led a furious rally that included two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions to make it a ane-score game with iii minutes to go. However, the Buccaneers were able to run out the clock cheers to Fitzpatrick's 12-yard scramble on third-and-11 just before the two-infinitesimal alert. Three kneel-downs finished it off.

"He played astounding, then I promise people had him on their fantasy teams, considering he went crazy today," said Evans with a laugh. "And he ran and made plays with his legs and his arm. Awesome game from him, one of the most consummate games I've seen from a quarterback."

Fitzpatrick's top two targets were Evans (7-147-i) and Jackson (v-146-two) just he also kept Godwin, Howard and Adam Humphries involved throughout the afternoon. In improver, RB Peyton Hairdresser provided a ability-running counterpart with 19 totes for 69 yards. With Fitzpatrick scrambling effectively throughout the game and picking up 36 yards with his feet, the Bucs managed 112 yards on the basis. That gave them 529 total yards, the second-highest single-game full in franchise history.

I think information technology's the guys that nosotros have lined up outside. We've got some special players and they're tough to guard. Nosotros're going to requite people problems with their matchups. It'south not merely 1 guy. It'south half dozen guys that we love throwing to."

Added Koetter: "Fitz did an crawly job of only giving some guys chances to brand plays. He gave those guys a take chances to make plays and they did."

The aforementioned large play on defense came courtesy of CB Vernon Hargreaves and S Justin Evans. Hargreaves forced a fumble past RB Mike Gillislee on a second-quarter sweep to the left and Evans quickly constitute the loose brawl and ran it dorsum 31 yards for a touchdown. LB Kwon Alexander likewise forced a fumble by WR Michael Thomas in the third quarter, with CB Ryan Smith recovering. The Bucs allowed 475 yards of offense just created the game's just two takeaways and had a strong stretch in the third quarter that allowed the offense to build its big lead.

In his first regular-season game with the Buccaneers, K Chandler Catanzaro hitting on field goal tries of 33 and 36 yards and added six extra points for a full of 12 points. However, he missed a 44-yard endeavour with five minutes left to keep the Saints within ii scores. Catanzaro blasted seven of his nine kickoffs into the end zone for six touchbacks, besides.

The Saints got the ball first and needed only two plays to get the ball to Kamara out in space. Kamara caught a crossing road and turned up the correct sideline for 35 yards to the Bucs' 32. A 14-g take hold of by Thomas got the ball within the Bucs' crimson zone and Kamara finished the drive with a five-m touchdown run on 3rd-and-two.

The Buccaneers burned only two minutes in tying the game. After a fine outset return by rookie RB Shaun Wilson out to the 32, the Bucs got one quick commencement downwards on a Fitzpatrick third-and-1 run, then went deep. Subsequently a play-activeness fake, Fitzpatrick found Jackson wide open no a deep postal service and hit him right at the Saints' xx. Jackson took it the rest of the fashion in, merely getting over the line equally he was tackled.

The Saints countered with an 11-play field goal bulldoze ending in Wil Lutz'due south 36-yarder. Eleven was the key number on the march, as Brees completed passes of that length to Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn and Benjamin Watson in the infinite of four plays. Kamara then broke off a ten-yard run to the Bucs' 24, but Tampa Bay'due south defense held there to forcefulness the field goal.

The Buccaneers took their first lead of the game on the ensuing drive. Barber started information technology off with runs of 23 and 12 runs. Godwin then made an amazing diving catch up the right numbers for 16 yards, after which Fitzpatrick on the correct sideline for 21 more to the three-yard line. Fitzpatrick took it in himself on first-and-goal, faking a draw-play handoff to Barber earlier taking information technology himself around right stop, arresting a hard hit to the head in the process.

The Saints took the pb back on the game's fifth straight scoring drive. The Saints picked up a Bucs blitz to requite Brees time to find Thomas for a gain of 35 yards into Bucs territory, and Brees finished it on the get-go play of the 2d quarter with a precise 28-yard touchdown laissez passer to Ginn.

The Buccaneers tied it back upwards at the 11-minute marking of the second quarter, with Catanzaro hitting on a 33-yard field goal to consummate a 60-k march. Fitzpatrick started information technology with a 12-chiliad strike over the middle to Godwin, who had to recover his own bollix at the end of the play. Fitzpatrick then converted a third-and-iv with a downfield strike over the top of the coverage to Howard for a gain of 35. The drive stalled there but Catanzaro striking on his first field goal every bit a Buccaneer.

The Saints' fourth drive was the get-go one of the game for either squad that did not end in points. In fact, it was a three-and-out, with Curry flight around the correct end to drop Brees for a loss of seven on third-and-four. The Buccaneers put DeSean Jackson deep for the punt just he was corralled quickly after Thomas Morstead'southward 56-chiliad kicking.

The Bucs' streak stayed live, however, as Fitzpatrick directed a 10-play, 78-yard touchdown bulldoze ending in an incredible nine-grand touchdown catch by Godwin. Fitzpatrick got well-nigh of the drive's yards on a three-play stretch in which he striking Evans for gains of 12 and 15 sandwiched around a leaping 19-m catch by Howard. A defensive belongings call gave the Bucs a first down at the 13 and, on tertiary-and-six Fitzpatrick threw a hard laissez passer to the pylon to Godwin, who was well-covered by Ken Crawley. Godwin walled off the defender and fabricated a spinning grab, somehow keeping his anxiety inbounds but over the line.

The Bucs scored again on the next play from scrimmage, as Hargreaves got to Gillislee on a sweep left and poked the ball loose. A hustling Evans got to information technology quickly, picked it off the turf and ran untouched 31 yards to the cease zone.

The Saints came back with a 75-chiliad touchdown drive that used up near of the remaining time in the showtime one-half. Brees hitting Kamara for completions of 18 and 23 yards and completed the march on 3rd-and-one with a 6-g touchdown pass to a wide-open Thomas in the eye of the end zone.

The Bucs got the ball to showtime the second half and Fitzpatrick once again drove the Bucs down the field for a score. This one was helped by a pair of roughing-the-passer calls against the Saints merely the large gain was a 31-1000 strike over the center to Evans. Unfortunately, the Bucs couldn't plough outset-and-goal at the 3 into a touchdown and they had to settle for Catanzaro's 36-yard field goal and a 10-point lead. The kicking gained a lilliputian actress difficulty when Ryan Jensen drew a personal-foul call after a failed third down.

The Bucs' defense got a three-and-out to starting time the one-half. Gerald McCoy and Kwon Alexander had back-to-dorsum stops for one-grand losses on Kamara, and Lavonte David arrived in time on a third-downwards pass to Austin Carr to end him a m short of the sticks.

The Bucs followed with their starting time three-and-out of the game, though Fitzpatrick well-nigh hit Godwin deep downwards the sideline on third-and-one. A great open up-field tackle by Ryan Smith and a punishment on the Saints on Bryan Acrimony's first punt of the game pushed the Saints back to their own 14. Tampa Bay's defense followed with another quick cease, this ane keyed by S Justin Evans laser-guided tackle on Michael Thomas on a tertiary-and-viii grab.

Adam Humphries got the Bucs close to midfield with a 16-1000 punt return and a 20-k scamper on a screen pass. Three plays after, on 3rd-and-six from midfield, Evans ran deep, got behind the defense and hauled in a perfect strike from Fitzpatrick for a touchdown. Catanzaro booted the extra point to give the Bucs a 17-bespeak pb with three minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Brees did overcome an early holding call on the adjacent drive to get his squad into Buccaneers territory, but the drive ended on the game's second turnover. This time, Alexander defenseless Thomas from behind and punched the ball out with Ryan Smith recovering at the Bucs' 35.

The Bucs got to midfield merely faced a 3rd-and-10. Fitzpatrick's sideline pass to Jackson was incomplete, only Crawley was hit with a pass-interference phone call and that created a new ready of downs at the New Orleans 36. On the very next play, Fitzpatrick went deep to Jackson once more, hitting him with a 36-yard touchdown pass to give the Bucs a 48-24 atomic number 82 with 12 minutes to play.

The Saints came back with a 10-play, 75-thou touchdown bulldoze, ending in Kamara'southward second touchdown run, a one-yarder. Brees converted a fourth-and-four with a six-chiliad pass to Watson at the Bucs' 7, and then somehow escaped a sack from Jason Pierre-Paul and threw another half dozen-yarder to Thomas just short of the goal line. Brees then hurried the offense upward to the line and handed off to Kamara for an easy score. Kamara likewise fabricated a sharp cut on a run to convert the ensuing two-betoken conversion.

With nine minutes left in the game, the Buccaneers took over at their own 25 and went to work on the clock, with Barber posting two runs for seven yards upwards the middle. The Bucs stayed aggressive on third down, however, with Fitz going up summit to Jackson for some other 35 yards and a first down at the Saints' 33. Two more Barber runs made it tertiary-and-iv at the 27, simply he was stopped short of the sticks on third downwards. That led to Catanzaro'southward missed attempt and Brees followed with some other touchdown drive, this one ending in a seven-yard touchdown pass to Kamara. Brees also hit Ginn for the 2-bespeak conversion to make it an viii-indicate game.

The final bulldoze began with Hairdresser taking a four-yard loss, merely Fitzpatrick scrambled to his left and and so darted upfield to get past the sticks and secure the win.

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Source: https://www.buccaneers.com/news/ryan-fitzpatrick-bucs-ambush-saints-with-offensive-explosion

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