Game story
In Week 13 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-04, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 10–3 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -6.36 total EPA.
On the individual side, J. Galloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.51 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-21.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (1:30) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 0. 20-R.Barber to TB 26 for 26 yards (61-M.Holland).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q2 | Q4 | — | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Galloway · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +7.51 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.50 EPA/play
- 2 Z. Hilton · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.33 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
- 3 A. Stecker · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.70 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
- 4 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
- 5 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.45 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
- 6 M. Pittman · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.61 EPA/play
- 7 I. Hilliard · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.55 EPA/play
- 8 C. Simms · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +2.17 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Galloway — TB · Receiving
J. Galloway posted the highest total EPA (+7.51) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Tampa Bay Buccaneers's efficiency. Across 5 counted snaps, they averaged +1.50 EPA per play.
The signature play (-4.73 EPA) came from New Orleans Saints: (3:20) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 16. 20-R.Barber pushed ob at NO 42 for 42 yards (83-D.Stallworth).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — J. Galloway (C. Simms pass)
Field goals
- New Orleans Saints — J. Carney
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — T. France
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The second quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 30 (Q2 34:51) — (4:51) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, Run 24; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 34:44) — 4-T.France extra point is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the TB 8 (Q2 30:49) — (:49) 3-J.Carney 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..
The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 3–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 10 (Q4 9:41) — (9:41) 4-T.France 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 0. 20-R.Barber to TB 26 for 26 yards (61-M.Holland).
- New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:20) — (3:20) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 16. 20-R.Barber pushed ob at NO 42 for 42 yards (83-D.Stallworth).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 34:51) — (4:51) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, Run 24
- New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:25) — (3:25) 2-A.Brooks pass to 27-A.Stecker pushed ob at TB 25 for 41 yards (25-B.Kelly). Pass 0, Run 41
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 45:49) — (:49) 4-T.France 43 yard field goal is BLOCKED (93-D.Howard), Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell, recovered by TB at NO 34.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:20) — (3:20) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 16. 20-R.Barber pushed ob at NO 42 for 42 yards (83-D.Stallworth).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 34:51) — (4:51) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, Run 24
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 45:49) — (:49) 4-T.France 43 yard field goal is BLOCKED (93-D.Howard), Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell, recovered by TB at NO 34.
- New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 0. 20-R.Barber to TB 26 for 26 yards (61-M.Holland).
Quarterback report card
A.Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 39 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -0.16 EPA/play · -6.36 total EPA
- C.Simms (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 22 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · +0.10 EPA/play · +2.17 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | New Orleans Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.025 | -0.140 |
| Offensive success rate | 40.9% | 37.7% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.099 | -0.163 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.036 | -0.222 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.140 | +0.025 |
| Defensive success rate | 62.3% | 59.1% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Tampa Bay Buccaneers generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.14), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- New Orleans Saints: 9 drives, -10.77 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10 drives, -1.68 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- J. Galloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q2 34:51 · NO 30 · Score 6-0
(4:51) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, Run 24 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q2 34:44 · NO 2 · Score 7-0
4-T.France extra point is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell. - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:49 · TB 8 · Score 7-3
(:49) 3-J.Carney 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 9:41 · NO 10 · Score 10-3
(9:41) 4-T.France 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 10-3 in Week 13, 2005 on 2005-12-04.
What was the final score of Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints?
The final score was Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10, New Orleans Saints 3 (TB 10-3 NO) in Week 13, 2005 on 2005-12-04.
What was the score by quarter in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints?
Q2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7, New Orleans Saints 3; Q4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3, New Orleans Saints 0; Final: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10, New Orleans Saints 3.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — J. Galloway (C. Simms pass) (Q2 34:51) New Orleans Saints field goal — J. Carney (Q2 30:49, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — T. France (Q4 9:41, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints?
A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints), 46.2% completion, -0.16 EPA per dropback, -6.36 total passing EPA. C. Simms (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), 54.5% completion, +0.10 EPA per dropback, +2.17 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints?
J. Galloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) led the game in total EPA with +7.51 on receiving plays. across 5 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-4.73 EPA): (3:20) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at TB 16. 20-R.Barber pushed ob at NO 42 for 42 yards (83-D.Stallworth).. The biggest win-probability swing was -21.1%.
Was Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints a close game?
Yes — the margin was 7 points. Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 10-3 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entered 7-4 Now 8-4 W
New Orleans Saints
Entered 3-8 Now 3-9 L
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