The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, 24-20, after converting just two of seven fourth-down attempts on offense and allowing two long touchdown runs by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough on defense. That tied for the most fourth-down attempts the Buccaneers have ever recorded in a single game, matching a total from a 35-7 loss at San Francisco on December 11, 2022. The Buccaneers' five unsuccessful fourth-down tries was their most ever in a game.
While the Tampa Bay defense allowed Shough to score on runs of 34 and 13 yards, the latter providing the game-winning points in the fourth quarter, they held him to 144 yards passing and sacked him three times. Nose tackle Vita Vea, defensive lineman Greg Gaines and outside linebacker Chris Braswell each took Shough down once, with Vea improving his season total to 4.5 sacks. Vea also moved up another spot on the Buccaneers' all-time sack list, passing Chidi Ahanotu for eighth place.
Most Sacks, Buccaneers History
| Player | Seasons | Sacks |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Roy Selmon | 1976-84 | 78.5 |
| Warren Sapp | 1995-2003 | 77.0 |
| Simeon Rice | 2001-06 | 69.5 |
| Gerald McCoy | 2010-18 | 54.5 |
| Shaquil Barrett | 2019-23 | 45.0 |
| Lavonte David | 2012-25 | 41.5 |
| David Logan | 1979-86 | 39.0 |
| Vita Vea | 2018-25 | 35.0 |
| Chidi Ahanotu | 1993-2000; '04 | 34.5 |
| Brad Culpepper | 1994-99 | 33.0 |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | 2019-21 | 33.0 |
Cornerback Zyon McCollum also picked Shough off in the second quarter to set up a field goal drive, marking McCollum's first interception of the season and the third of his career. Tampa Bay's defense now has 12 interceptions on the season, which is tied for the sixth-most in the NFL. The Buccaneers held the Saints to 260 yards of total offense, 121 net passing yards and 16 first downs, all the second-lowest totals they have surrendered to any opponent this season.
McCollum is the ninth Buccaneer to intercept at least one pass this season, joining Lavonte David, Jamel Dean, SirVocea Dennis, Anthony Nelson, Jacob Parrish, Tykee Smith, Kindle Vildor and Antoine Winfield Jr. That is tied for the second most players on an NFL team this season to record at least one interception, just one behind the league-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.
Most Players with An Interception, NFL Teams, 2025
1. Pittsburgh: 10
2t. Tampa Bay: 9
2t. Jacksonville: 9
4t. Detroit: 8
4t. Seattle: 8
On offense, the Buccaneers produced 301 total yards, including 179 on the ground, their second-highest rushing total of the season. The Bucs have now surpassed 100 rushing yards in nine of their 13 outings this season. The latest one was a group effort, as running backs Bucky Irving (15 carries for 55 yards), Rachaad White (11-53) and Sean Tucker (7-29) all got into the act along with quarterback Baker Mayfield (6-42). That marked just the fourth time in franchise history in which four different players topped 25 rushing yards in the same game. With the combination of White (474), Irving (353) and Tucker (306), the Bucs are one of only four teams in the NFL in 2025 with three ballcarriers who have produced 300-plus rushing yards.
Of Mayfield's six scrambles, three came on third down and two were successful conversions. On the season, Mayfield has run the ball on third down 23 times and produced 208 yards and 17 first downs. He leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards on third down and is second among all passers with at least 10 third down runs in successful conversion rate.
Most Rushing Yards on Third-Down Carries, NFL Quarterbacks, 2025
1. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: 208
2. Josh Allen, Bills: 202
3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens: 155
4. Justin Herbert, Chargers: 143
5. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: 137
Highest Third-Down Conversion Rate on Runs, NFL Quarterbacks, 2025
(minimum 10 attempts)
| Quarterback | Team | Att. | Conv. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | Chargers | 18 | 15 | 83.3% |
| Baker Mayfield | Buccaneers | 23 | 17 | 73.9% |
| Josh Allen | Bills | 30 | 20 | 66.7% |
| Jaxson Dart | Giants | 21 | 14 | 66.7% |
| Lamar Jackson | Ravens | 20 | 13 | 65.0% |
Mayfield threw his 20th touchdown pass of the season in the loss, hitting Irving on a swing pass that the back took 24 yards to the house, marking his third scoring catch of 2025. Mayfield joins Tom Brady and Jameis Winston as the only quarterbacks in franchise history to have three seasons with 20-plus touchdown passes. Mayfield has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in the last 20 home games he has started, the longest such streak in franchise history.
The 24 passes on which Mayfield has targeted Irving in 2025 have produced 23 receptions for 239 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, for a passer rating of 147.7. That is the third-highest passer rating generated among all NFL players with at least 20 targets this season. It is the highest among all running backs regardless of target volume.
Highest Passer Rating when Targeted, NFL, 2025 (minimum 20 targets)
| Player | Team | Pos. | Targets | Rtg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton Kincaid | Bills | TE | 41 | 155.9 |
| Tucker Kraft | Packers | TE | 44 | 148.6 |
| Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | RB | 24 | 147.7 |
| Kayshon Boutte | Patriots | WR | 38 | 146.4 |
| George Kittle | 49ers | TE | 45 | 140.4 |
The Buccaneers' other touchdown of the game was scored by Tucker on a one-yard run in the third quarter. It was his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, a team high in 2025, and his sixth score overall. Of the nine touchdowns Tucker has scored in his three-year NFL career, four have come against the New Orleans Saints.
