New Orleans taken to limit by Tampa
NEWORLEANS— Pierre Thomas kept his body compact and his thick legs churning, bursting through thin seams in the Tampa Bay defense, slipping away from some tacklers and surging throug hothers.
Eight seasons after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Thomas still comes up with the big gains on screen passes and on the ground that have been the hallmarks of his career.
On Sunday, Thomas had 112 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, the Saints overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime, and Thomas’ under study, Khiry Robinson, cappeda 37-31 victory with a tackle-breaking 18yard touchdownrun.
Few were more thankful for Thomas’ performance than quarterback Drew Brees, whose three interceptions put the Saints (2-3) in danger of falling into last place in the NFC South.
Brees called Thomas “everything you’d want in a teammate in regards to not only his production on game day but throughout theweek.”
“He cando it all,” Brees added. “He’s one of the best allpurpose backs inthe league, no question, andhe’s been that for a long time.”
With a shoulder injury forcing tight end Jimmy Graham from the game in the second quarter, Brees still passed for 371 yards. He also misfired 22 times, finishing 35 of 57.
Thomas became one of Brees’ top targets, catching eight passes for 77 yards, including a 15- yard touchdown on a screen pass. He rushed for 35 yards, highlighted by his 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Robinson rushed 21 times for 89 yards. Thomas, Robinson and fellow running back Travaris Cadet combined for 228 yards from scrimmage and four TDs.
“We dug deep and did what we have todo to win,” Thomas said. “Wenever gave up hope. We kept fighting, fighting and fighting. It shows how much heart we have.”
The Buccaneers (1-4) hurt themselves with 15 penalties for 113 yards, none more damaging than the flag on cornerback Jonathan Banks in overtime for illegal hands to the face as Brees threw incomplete on third down.
Tampa Bay quarter back Mike Glenn on was 19-for-32 for 249 yards and two touchdowns.