Yesterday's was a game where both the weather forecast and the statistical forecast called for an offensive assault that would rely on the infantry more than the air force.

Jim Henderson

Unfortunately for the Saints, that's a game they either can't or choose not to play.

Rain.  Wind.  Slippery track.  Bucs boasting the second-ranked pass defense in the league but the 12^th-ranked rushing defense.  A deficit for the Saints never larger than 10 points in the game.  Never larger than three points for the final twelve minutes of it.

All those factors figured to tilt the balance of the Saints' attack toward the run.  But that's not a commitment the Saints ever make for long, if at all.

In the first half the Saints ran the ball 8 times for 4 yards, the Bucs 17 for 90.  On their very first series, fourth and one at the Tampa Bay 30, the Saints thought Devery Henderson running an end around was their best play.  It lost three yards.  We have seen the folly of attempting to run Devery against the Bucs before.

And they have too.

At the end of the game the Saints had run the football 18 times for 44 yards.  The Bucs 34 times for 149.

Jeff Garcia had only two more pass completions than his own rushing attempts.  But his 7 scrambles netted him 42 yards, just two less than the Saints rushed for as a team.

In passing the football 47 times the Saints suffered three interceptions.  In running it 34 times the Bucs never lost a fumble by a running back.  Never suffered an interception while throwing it only half as much as the Saints.

For the 18th time in 18 games Sean Payton's team failed to win while trailing after three quarters.  On the surface that's a shocking statistic, given the Saints aerial firepower.

But a statistic the Bucs had relied on in their last three wins -- all come-from-behind efforts -- is fourth quarter time of possession, for which they led the NFL heading into yesterday's game. That reflects a balanced team that takes care of the football.  A winning team's formula.

Tampa Bay is a team with no flash, little dash, and a lot of mash.  That formula has them leading the division at 9-3.

The Saints are a team with lots of flash, lots of dash, and no mash.  And they are in the division basement.

That disparity between pass and run has provided the most telling statistic for those who decry the Saints lack of balance.

The Saints are perfectly balanced in one category because of it - wins and losses.  6-6, good enough not to be bad, not good enough to be any better than that.