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Saints look to complete season sweep of Bucs

Oct 31, 2006 - 8:37 PM New Orleans (5-2) at Tampa Bay (2-5) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - The highlight of Reggie Bush's season came the first time the New Orleans Saints played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite a left ankle sprain, Bush expects to play Sunday when the Saints visit the Buccaneers in an NFC South battle.

In the first meeting between the teams on Ocotber 8, Bush made the game-changing play that proved to be the difference in a 24-21 victory. The 2005 Heisman Trophy winner raced to his right, made one Buccaneer defender miss and sprinted up the sideline for a 65-yard TD.

Bush finished with 11 catches for 63 yards, added 23 yards on nine carries and had 75 yards on three punt returns.

However, Bush suffered a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter of last week's 35-22 loss to Baltimore. He finished with a season-low 21 total yards.

"Everything is fine with Reggie," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He'll be ready to go."

Against the Ravens, Drew Brees threw for a season-high 383 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. His favorite target was rookie Marques Colston, who had six receptions for 163 yards and two scores.

Buccaneers rookie Bruce Gradkowski's first career start came against the Saints. He played well, completing 20-of-31 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.

Gradkowski has failed to lead the Bucs to an offensive touchdown in their last two games, a 23-21 win over Philadelphia and a 17-3 loss to the New York Giants. He has completed 33-of-74 passes for 243 yards without an interception in those two games.