Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2006 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-10-08, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling away with a 24–21 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Gradkowski (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with -0.21 total EPA, and +7.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Galloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.53 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-32.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed the game: (4:33) 9-J.Bidwell punts 45 yards to NO 35, Center-48-A.Economos. 25-R.Bush for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on TB-27-T.Cox, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced between downs.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Galloway · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +10.53 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.63 EPA/play
2. 2 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.93 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.60 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Conwell · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.07 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.44 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Pittman · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.17 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Pittman · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Rushing · +1.84 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Smith · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

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 (B. Gradkowski pass) (Q1 55:55)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q2 31:52)
• New Orleans Saints — E. Conwell (D. Brees pass) (Q3 20:59)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Alstott (Q3 17:55)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — A. Smith (B. Gradkowski pass) (Q4 10:08)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (Q4 4:33)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 46:15)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 18 (Q1 55:55) — (10:55) 7-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 84-J.Galloway for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 55:49) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the TB 3 (Q1 46:15) — (1:15) 3-J.Carney 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 24 (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) 26-D.McAllister up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q2 31:44) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 9 (Q3 20:59) — (5:59) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 85-E.Conwell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-S.Rice].; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q3 20:52) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q3 17:55) — (2:55) 40-M.Alstott left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 17:50) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q4 10:08) — (10:08) 7-B.Gradkowski pass short middle to 81-A.Smith for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 7 (Q4 10:03) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 80 (Q4 4:33); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q4 4:17) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 4:33) — (4:33) 9-J.Bidwell punts 45 yards to NO 35, Center-48-A.Economos. 25-R.Bush for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on TB-27-T.Cox, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA -32.2% · EPA -5.99]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 11:44) — (11:44) 24-C.Williams up the middle pushed ob at NO 6 for 34 yards (41-R.Harper). PENALTY on NO-41-R.Harper, Personal Foul, 3 yards, enforced at NO 6. [WPA +14.5% · EPA +3.41]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 2:34) — (2:34) 7-B.Gradkowski pass short left to 24-C.Williams to NO 47 for -1 yards (66-B.Young) [66-B.Young]. [WPA -13.5% · EPA -1.64]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 22:36) — (7:36) 7-B.Gradkowski sacked at TB 27 for -5 yards (94-C.Grant). FUMBLES (94-C.Grant), touched at TB 27, RECOVERED by NO-77-R.Leisle at TB 25. 77-R.Leisle to TB 25 for no gain (69-A.Davis). [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.11]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 47:53) — (2:53) 26-D.McAllister right guard to TB 3 for 57 yards (55-D.Brooks, 25-B.Kelly). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.28]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 4:33) — (4:33) 9-J.Bidwell punts 45 yards to NO 35, Center-48-A.Economos. 25-R.Bush for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on TB-27-T.Cox, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA -32.2% · EPA -5.99]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 22:36) — (7:36) 7-B.Gradkowski sacked at TB 27 for -5 yards (94-C.Grant). FUMBLES (94-C.Grant), touched at TB 27, RECOVERED by NO-77-R.Leisle at TB 25. 77-R.Leisle to TB 25 for no gain (69-A.Davis). [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.11]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 47:53) — (2:53) 26-D.McAllister right guard to TB 3 for 57 yards (55-D.Brooks, 25-B.Kelly). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.28]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 19:18) — (4:18) 7-B.Gradkowski pass deep right to 84-J.Galloway to NO 2 for 52 yards (29-J.Bullocks). [WPA +11.2% · EPA +3.93]

Quarterback report card

B.Gradkowski led all passers in efficiency for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Gradkowski (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +7.3% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.21 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 34 dropbacks · 61.8% completion · -1.3% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.80 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Tampa Bay Buccaneers -0.06, New Orleans Saints -0.05) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -4.03 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13 drives, -5.52 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New Orleans Saints 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.
• B. Gradkowski (TB) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 55:55 · NO 18 · Score 6-0
   (10:55) 7-B.Gradkowski pass deep left to 84-J.Galloway for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 55:49 · NO 2 · Score 7-0
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 46:15 · TB 3 · Score 7-3
   (1:15) 3-J.Carney 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:52 · TB 24 · Score 7-9
   (1:52) 26-D.McAllister up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:44 · TB 2 · Score 7-10
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 20:59 · TB 9 · Score 7-16
   (5:59) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 85-E.Conwell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-S.Rice].
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:52 · TB 2 · Score 7-17
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 17:55 · NO 1 · Score 13-17
   (2:55) 40-M.Alstott left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 17:50 · NO 2 · Score 14-17
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 10:08 · NO 3 · Score 20-17
    (10:08) 7-B.Gradkowski pass short middle to 81-A.Smith for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 10:03 · NO 7 · Score 21-17
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
12. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 4:33 · NO 80 · Score 21-23
    (4:33) 9-J.Bidwell punts 45 yards to NO 35, Center-48-A.Economos. 25-R.Bush for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on TB-27-T.Cox, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enf
13. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 4:17 · TB 2 · Score 21-24
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.