Jacquies Smith leads Bucs with 3 sacks vs. SaintsGreg Auman, Times Staff WriterSunday, September 20, 2015 
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints is hit by Jacquies Smith of the Bucs during the first quarter. [Getty Images]NEW ORLEANS — Only twice in Bucs history has a player had more sacks than DE Jacquies Smith's three in Sunday's 26-19 win against the Saints, but he said the credit should be shared with the secondary covering well and making QB Drew Brees hold on to the ball longer."Rush and coverage working great together," said Smith, who also forced two Brees fumbles on the sacks, though the Saints recovered both. "The back end did a great job of making Brees have to come to his second and third options, and that's when the rush has to be there."Smith had a sack in last week's opening loss to the Titans, giving him four sacks in two games. He has made a good start toward a 10-sack season — the Bucs haven't had one since 2005 — and in his past 11 games, he has totaled 10.5 sacks."I had a great day, but I feel like it's bigger for our team, to go out and get a division road win," said Smith, whom coach Lovie Smith called "a legitimate outside pass-rusher" after the game.The only players in Bucs history to get four sacks in a game were Marcus Jones once in 2000 and Simeon Rice once in 2003.MCCOY OKAY: DT Gerald McCoy, who had a sack early against Brees, left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right arm or shoulder. He said after the game that he would be fine.TAKEAWAYS: With S Major Wright out with a hip injury, Chris Conte made his first start and came up with two huge takeaways. He intercepted a deep Brees pass and in the fourth quarter punched the ball loose from RB Mark Ingram for a fumble the Bucs recovered."Whenever you take the ball away, it gives you a chance to win," said Conte, who nearly had a third takeaway, racing after a fumble that Brees recovered for a 21-yard loss after a sack.FIRST FOUR: Rookie K Kyle Brindza went into the day without a field-goal attempt, but he finished the day 4-for-5, including a 55-yarder in the first quarter that matched the Bucs' longest since 2012."It was a good feeling to be able to help out the offense and get the win," Brindza said.The Saints punted from the Bucs' 35-yard line on their opening drive, unsure if their kicker would make a field goal. The Bucs trusted Brindza for a 55-yard attempt when he'd never made anything longer than an extra point in a regular-season game. He had field goals of 55 and 57 yards in the final preseason game to win the job."It puts a lot of confidence in you because they have confidence in you," said Brindza, whose four field goals were the most by any Bucs kicker in a game since Connor Barth in 2011.THIS AND THAT: Rookie LB Kwon Alexander and LB Lavonte David tied for the team lead with eight tackles each. … Two of the Bucs' five third-down conversions came on running plays by rookie QB Jameis Winston, including a 9-yard scramble in the fourth quarter. … Intent on establishing the run early, the Bucs opened the game with three tight ends, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Luke Stocker and Brandon Myers all in on the first play. … With Conte's interception, the Bucs have 23 all time against Brees, the most Brees has against any opponent. He has thrown 22 against the Falcons. … Brees need two more touchdown passes to have 400 for his career.
