Dilfer Finds the Secret --Face Saint Defense

NEW ORLEANS — A week ago, Trent Dilfer was watching from the sideline, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers couldn’t score and their season was on the skids.

Turns out, all Dilfer needed was a week off and a game against the New Orleans Saints.

Dilfer, who was benched in favor of Eric Zeier, returned Sunday to throw three touchdown passes as the Tampa Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints, 31-16.

“We’ve been not making the plays, but today we made some, and look what happens,” Dilfer said. “We got that big play early and more than anything else, I think guys were just happy to see us get it in the end zone.”

Dilfer, back in the starting spot because of Zeier’s injured ribs, made the most of it, hooking up with Jacquez Green on a 62-yard touchdown pass play for the Buccaneers’ first touchdown in eight quarters.

It was the third consecutive game in which an opponent has thrown a long touchdown pass against New Orleans. Last week, the Cleveland Browns beat the Saints with a 56-yard pass on the final play. The week before, the New York Giants had a 53-yarder to close the first half.

“We have no answer,” Saint cornerback Ashley Ambrose said. “We just can’t find a way to win. I don’t what the reason is, but we can’t get it done.”

Dilfer passed to John Davis for a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Martin Gramatica kicked a 35-yard field goal to put the Buccaneers (4-4) up 17-6 at the half.

Dilfer, who completed 15 of 20 passes for 227 yards, also had a 10-yard touchdown pass to Darnell McDonald in the third quarter.

Mike Alstott, who rushed for 117 yards in 25 carries, closed the scoring with a 25-yard touchdown run with 15 seconds remaining in the game.