2024-10-14 07:35:02
On the Saints’ first offensive possession, the defense recorded a takeaway, halting the home team’s momentum. Tykee Smith forced the ball out of Chris Olave’s hands, blanketing the Saints’ receiver. Antoine Winfield Jr., who returned from a foot injury in Week Six, recovered the football and returned it 58 yards for a Tampa Bay touchdown, providing the Bucs’ with an early 14-0 lead inside the Superdome.
On the next drive after Mike Evans drew a pass interference flag on Paulson Adebo, Carl Granderson was flagged for unnecessary roughness two plays later. A flea flicker picked up 15 yards for Sean Tucker on the trick play, but Mayfield’s pass to Evans on third down went incomplete. Chase McLaughlin drilled a 26-yard field goal, giving the Bucs a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
On the following drive, following a pickup of 16 for Spencer Rattler on a scramble and a 13-yard gain for Foster Moreau, Calijah Kancey dropped Alvin Kamara for a loss of one. After Kamara was stopped short on third down by Yaya Diaby, the Saints were forced to kick a field goal at the beginning of the second frame, making it a 17-3 game.
The Bucs next drive began with back-to-back penalties, including too many men on the field and a false start. After a couple incompletions to Evans and Godwin, an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Bucs stalled the drive on third down. Rashid Shaheed then fielded Jake Camarda’s 47-yard punt, and he returned it 64 yards for a Saints’ touchdown.
Tampa Bay’s next drive was cut short as Paulson Adebo intercepted Mayfield at the Tampa Bay 30-yard line. He returned it 17 yards but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Alontae Taylor brought the Saints back 15 yards. New Orleans was not able to cash in with points after Vita Vea sacked Rattler on third down, which set up a Grupe 29-yard field goal.
A turnover promptly ended the Bucs next drive. Mayfield’s pass intended for Jalen McMillan was intercepted by Johnathan Abram at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. He returned it 30 yards to the 10, and the Saints cashed in with a score. Rattler connected with Bub Means on a 10-yard score, giving the Saints a 20-17 lead. The Buccaneers immediately responded with a touchdown of their own. A 39-yard gain by Ryan Miller put the Bucs in positive field position and Tucker took a screen 36-yards to the house, capping off a six-play, 76-yard scoring drive. He maneuvered around traffic and found the end zone.
The Saints fired back on a seven-play, 70-yard scoring drive. From second-and-seven, Rattler found Moreau sitting in a zone over the middle of the field and the Saints’ tight end picked up 41 yards on the catch-and-run, setting the home team up at the seven-yard-line. Alvin Kamara finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown. New Orleans took a three-point lead in the offensive shootout before the two-minute warning.
The Bucs’ next drive was stalled by an interception. Bryan Bresee batted down Mayfield’s pass intended for Cade Otton and Cam Jordan intercepted the ball at the New Orleans 40-yard line, putting Rattler and co. right back on the field. The Saints were not able to take advantage with points, after an effective pressure package by the Bucs on third down. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lavonte David came flying in, forcing an errant throw by the rookie.
Coming out the half, rookie Tykee Smith forced another fumble that Zyon McCollum recovered. After review, the play was ruled an incomplete pass, setting up an ensuing punt. The Saints’ defense forced a quick three-and-out and the Bucs followed suit with a Camarda punt. The Bucs’ defense brought the pressure on the subsequent drive for N.O. Rattler was taken down by K.J. Britt and Chris Braswell on first down for a loss of nine yards and the next play, Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey got into the mix, splitting a sack for a loss of three, which resulted in third-and-22 and an eventual punt.
The Bucs’ offense followed suit with a touchdown. Godwin took a screen 55 yards, culminating in a score. He made the first defender miss and cutback inside for an open shot at the end zone. The RAC-artist utilized his physical prowess in the open field, giving Tampa Bay a five-point lead.
On the Saints’ next drive, a 30-yard gain by Johnson was brought back due to an illegal shift and ensuing replay of second down. An incompletion on third down set up a Matthew Hayball punt. The Bucs’ following drive ended after a second-down sack by Willie Gay on Mayfield and a third-down scramble by Mayfield came up short of the sticks. The Bucs’ defense came up with a takeaway on the ensuing drive, this one by McCollum at the Tampa Bay 42-yard line. He intercepted Rattler’s pass intended for Shaheed, making a sensational leaping grab. Bucky Irving continued the stellar trend for Tampa Bay with a 31-yard run. He quickly bounced to the outside with a lateral cut and threw a lethal stiff arm into the mix. Otton capped off the five-play, 58-yard drive with a touchdown. Under duress, Mayfield threw a low dart to No.88 right on the numbers as he fell to the ground, extending the visiting team’s lead, 37-27.
The Bucs’ defense then forced a Saints’ three-and-out, including a sack by Lavonte David on first down. The Tampa Bay offense put an exclamation mark on the game with a 10-play, 71-yard scoring drive, capped off by an Irving one-yard touchdown run. A few plays before, the rookie running back brought the Bucs to the New Orleans eight-yard line off an 18-yard screen. The Saints’ defense had no answers for the Bucs’ perimeter assault.
The defense quickly answered, with Smith intercepting Rattler at the Tampa Bay 36-yard line. The very next play, Tucker passed through the B-gap for a 36-yard gain post-cut. He ended the six-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown, to give the Bucs’ a convincing 51-27 win.
