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Lewis and Whitehead help Saints down champs; NFLEL veterans get Philadelphia back on track

November 3, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release

WIDE receiver MICHAEL LEWIS (Rhein 2001) and defensive end WILLIE WHITEHEAD (Frankfurt 1999) played major roles in NFL Week 9 action as the New Orleans Saints recorded a 17-14 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Lewis caught 3 passes for 69 yards and scored on a 38-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Aaron Brooks. Whitehead was dominant on the defensive side of the ball, recording 5 tackles, 3 quarterback sacks and a forced fumble.

Defensive back STEVE GLEASON (Rhein 2001) also added to a tremendous defensive effort from the Saints by recording 2 tackles and recovering a fumble.

Buccaneers quarterback BRAD JOHNSON (London 1995) continued his good form this season, completing 27 of 46 attempts for 321 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back AARON STECKER (Scotland 2000) rushed once for 5 yards and returned 2 kickoffs for 34 yards.

In Atlanta, NFLEL veterans DAVID AKERS (Berlin 1999) and NATE WAYNE (Barcelona 1999) powered the Philadelphia Eagles to a 23-16 defeat of the hometown Falcons. The victory helped the Eagles reach the halfway point in a testing season with a promising 5-3 record.

Kicker Akers landed field goals of 21, 25 and 40 yards, as well as two conversions for a total of 11 points. Wayne led all Philadelphia defenders with 8 tackles and a sack. Wide receiver BRIAN FINNERAN (Barcelona 1999) caught 4 passes for 49 yards for the struggling Falcons.

A pair of defenders - defensive end MARQUES DOUGLAS (Rhein 2000) and defensive tackle KELLY GREGG (Rhein 2001) helped the Baltimore Ravens stay on top of the NFC North Division with a 24-17 defeat of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Douglas recorded 4 tackles and Gregg chipped in with 6 stops. Jaguars running back DAVID ALLEN (Berlin 2003) caught 3 passes for 20 yards, returned 5 kickoffs for 94 yards and 2 punt returns for 5 yards. Safety DEKE COOPER (Rhein 2001-02) made 5 tackles for Jacksonville.

Two NFLEL veteran quarterbacks to come out on the losing end of results on Sunday were JAKE DELHOMME (Amsterdam 1998/Frankfurt 1999) and JON KITNA (Barcelona 1997).

Delhomme completed 13 of 23 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown as his Carolina Panthers fell to a 14-10 defeat at the hands of the Texans in Houston.

Kitna hit on 21 of 38 attempts for 218 yards and a score but it was not enough to stop the Bengals falling to a surprise defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals. Wide receiver BRYAN GILMORE (Barcelona 2001) caught 2 passes for 40 yards for the Cards.

Other Week 9 Results

Indianapolis Colts 23 Miami Dolphins 17; Oakland Raiders 13 Detroit Lions 23; San Diego Chargers 7 Chicago Bears 20; New York Giants 31 New York Jets 28 (OT); Pittsburgh Steelers 16 Seattle Seahawks 23; St. Louis Rams 10 San Francisco 49ers 30; Washington Redskins 14 Dallas Cowboys 21; Green Bay Packers 30 Minnesota Vikings 27.

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National Football League Europa Stories from November 3, 2003

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