Tampa Bay (3-4) looks to get back to the .500 mark traveling to the Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints (1-6) on Sunday. The Saints have lost five games in the fourth quarter, including dropping a 21-16 decision to the expansion Cleveland Browns on a Hail Mary pass on the final play.
"They are a better team than their record indicates," Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy said. "They have a real physical runner in Ricky Williams and have seemed to make a real effort of getting him the ball. They play very well on defense -- what they've had is just break downs at the end of games, but were going to have to be at our best to go in there and win on Sunday."
BUCS DEFENSE READY TO STOP SAINTS' WILLIAMS During last Sunday's loss at Detroit, the Bucs surrendered their first rushing touchdown in 28 quarters and allowed a rusher to crack the 100-yard barrier for the first time in 12 games. The Bucs' defense -- ranked second in the NFC -- will try to handcuff rookie RB Ricky Williams, who gained 179 yards on 40 carries last week against the Browns.
"There's no doubt he's a workhorse," Dungy said referring to Williams. "That's part of their offensive plan to give him the ball, and he was able to respond with a big game last week."
Williams, though, has a penchant for fumbling the football. The Saints' rookie had two costly fumbles against the Browns last week.
"You always want to force turnovers and that's something we've talked about and will work on in practice this week," Dungy noted.
BUCCANEERS INJURY REPORT For the second consecutive week, Buccaneer WRs Bert Emanuel and Karl Williams will not play against New Orleans. Emanuel (right hamstring strain) has missed three of the last four games, while Williams (right foot sprain) has not played in the last two games. WR Jacquez Green will make his second consecutive start in place of Emanuel. Green led the Bucs with a career-high seven receptions for 96 yards against the Lions last week.
T Jason Odom (low back strain), who has missed the last four games, is listed as questionable and did not practice. DE Marcus Jones (left elbow sprain), C Tony Mayberry (low back strain), S Eric Vance (right foot sprain) and QB Eric Zeier (right rib contusion) are listed as probable on the team's injury report.
