TAMPA, Fla. — Relentless all day long, Tampa Bay’s defense finally shut down Drew Brees when it mattered most.
Jermaine Phillips and Phillip Buchanon intercepted the NFL’s leading passer in the closing minutes and Matt Bryant kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining Sunday to help the Buccaneers stay atop the NFC South with a 23-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Brees, on pace to break Dan Marino’s single-season yardage record, threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns, but also was picked off three times — once in the end zone.
The victory was the fourth straight for Tampa Bay (9-3). The Bucs are 6-1 since Jeff Garcia regained the starting quarterback job, which he lost after a poor performance in a season-opening loss against the Saints (6-6).
Garcia was limited to 119 yards passing, but threw 38 yards to Antonio Bryant for a third-quarter touchdown that put the Bucs up 20-10. Carnell “Cadillac” Williams also scored on an 8-yard run, his first TD since a career-threatening knee injury 14 months ago.
Brees wiped out a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit by throwing a 20-yard TD pass to Pierre Thomas and taking advantage of a short punt to tie the game on Garrett Hartley’s second field goal with 5:34 to go.
