Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 10-8-19

Sports
Saints Defense, Bridgewater Too Much For The Bucs
Earl Thomas Shows
A week after dropping 55 points on the Los Angeles Rams, the Tampa Bay Bucs (2-3) weren’t able to replicate their recent offensive output.
Jameis Winston threw for just 204 yards, and Mike Evans was negated by Saints cornerback Marshon Latti- more. Evans didn’t have a catch, and the Bucs offense lacked rhythm all day.
Teddy Bridgewater has a few more weeks to be the Saints’ starting quarterback.
And he’s finally looking like something other than an interim.
The Saints (4-1) took a 31- 24 win over the Buccaneers, and Bridgewater went from being a passenger to a guy driving the car for a change.
He was 25-of-33 for 314 yards and four touchdowns, and found a consistent con- nection with wide receiver Michael Thomas through- out the day.
Previously, Bridgewater
Mason Rudolph After Hit
JAMEIS WINSON AND TEDDY BRIDGEWATER
Earl Thomas delivered a hit on Sunday that left Pitts- burgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph uncon- scious for several moments, and the All-Pro defensive back seems genuinely shaken up by what happened.
Following the Baltimore Ravens’ overtime win over Pittsburgh, Thomas said he did not intentionally try to hit Rudolph high even though he made helmet-to-helmet con- tact. He added that he is “wor- ried” about Rudolph and
Rudolph (center) appeared to be knocked unconscious after being hit by Ravens free safety Earl Thomas (#29).
praying for him and his family.
was competent but not out- standing in relief of Drew Brees, taking safe passes and relying on their defense (believe it or not) to carry him through. But against the Bucs, he was taking shots downfield, and was an active participant in the offense.
Thomas had 11 catches for 182 yards and two touch- downs, in his latest outburst against the division rivals.
That was as much about an improved Saints defense as their own mistakes, as
Winston didn’t turn it over, but didn’t do much else of note either.
Bucs CB Carlton Davis Ejected After Illegal Hit On Saints TE Jared Cook
New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook (87) takes a hit from Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis (33).
Tampa Bay defensive back Carlton Davis was ejected from Sundays Bucs-Saints game after he launched him- self helmet-first towards Saints tight end Jared Cook, and ultimately connected with the New Orleans player’s head.
Davis was initially just flagged for unnecessary roughness, but was disquali- fied following a review from the officials.
Slotting in for Davis will be rookie Sean Murphy- Bunting, who will be moving from nickel corner to the out- side.
Steelers Make Questionable Decision To Defer After Winning Coin Toss In Overtime
Mike Tomlin trusted his defense against Lamar Jackson.
Genuine Concern For
That Knocked QB Out
The Pittsburgh Steelers do not fear Lamar Jackson. The team felt so confident it could stymie Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens offense Sunday that the Steelers ac- tually deferred after winning the coin toss in overtime.
That put a lot of pressure on the Steelers’ defense. If Jackson and the Ravens scored a touchdown on the opening drive in overtime, they would win the game.
While many questioned the Steelers’ decision, it paid off ... initially. The team forced the Ravens to punt
after three plays in overtime. That meant the Steelers just needed to score to win.
That didn’t happen. On the team’s second play in over- time, JuJu Smith-Schus- ter lost a fumble. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey recovered the fumble, setting the Ravens up in excellent field-goal po- sition.
After three running plays, the Ravens lined up for the winning kick. Justin Tucker delivered, making it from 46 yards out.
The Ravens won 26-23.
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