The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the New Orleans Saints, 24-20. Too many miscues sealed the Bucs fate at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay converted just three-of-13 third down attempts and totaled 301 total yards.
The Saints scored on their opening six-play, 45-yard drive. Gains of 16 and 12 yards over the middle of the field by Devaughn Vele and Juwan Johnson set up the Devin Neal three-yard rushing touchdown up the middle. Following a 54-yard return by Mason Tipton, the Saints started the possession at the Tampa Bay 45-yard line. On the ensuing drive, the Bucs answered with a score of their own. Chris Godwin Jr. caught the ball and picked up YAC for a 21-yard gain. Baker Mayfield connected with Bucky Irving on a swing pass and he maneuvered his way to the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown, evening the score at seven.
On the subsequent drive, despite an 11-yard gain by Godwin on a tunnel screen and a nine-yard pickup for Egbuka on an out route, the Bucs had to turnover on downs after Irving was tackled for a loss of seven on fourth-and-one by Carl Granderson. On the following drive for the Saints, following a three-yard sack on Tyler Shough by Greg Gaines on second down and Chris Olave coming up short of the sticks on third down, Charlie Smyth's 48-yard attempt was wide left.
Early in the second frame, Zyon McCollum intercepted Shough with great ball-tracking and returned it 20 yards to the New Orleans 40-yard line. The Bucs were unable to cash in with seven and settled for three on a Chase McLaughlin 41-yard field goal to make it a 10-7 game. Chris Braswell Jr. ended the Saints' following drive with a 13-yard sack on Shough, forcing a punt. On the Saints' ensuing possession, the club's fourth-and-one attempt was halted by a three-yard tackle for loss by Haason Reddick on Devin Neal.
On the first possession out of halftime, Baker Mayfield was intercepted by Alontae Taylor at the New Orleans 43 and it was returned 10 yards to the Tampa Bay 47-yard line. The Saints capitalized and Shough kept the football and ran it in for a 34-yard touchdown, making it a 14-10 game. On the next offensive drive, Tampa Bay traveled 65 yards on seven plays and Sean Tucker capped it off with a one-yard touchdown rush. The Saints answered with an 11-play, 53-yard drive that culminated in a Smyth 30-yard field goal. New Orleans took a lead with just over eight minutes to go in the fourth. Shough capped off a 53-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown rush, giving the Saints a 24-17 lead. The Bucs' subsequent drive ended in a Chase McLaughlin 37-yard field goal, with the Bucs trailing 24-20. On Tampa Bay's final drive, the failed fourth-down attempt sealed the loss.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
Buccaneers:
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 14 for 30 for 122 yards - 1 TD & 1 INT
- Rushing: RB Rachaad White: 11 rushes for 53 yards
- Receiving: WR Chris Godwin: 5 catches for 55 yards
- Defense: NT Vita Vea: 5 total tackles, 1.0 sack
Saints:
- Passing: QB Tyler Shough: 13 for 20 for 144 yards - 1 INT
- Rushing: QB Tyler Shough: 7 rushes for 55 yards - 2 TDs
- Receiving: TE Juwan Johnson: 4 catches for 38 yards
- Defense: DE Carl Granderson: 5 total tackles
