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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n TOP PERFORMERS \ud83c\udfc8<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 14 for 30 for 122 yards – 1 TD & 1 INT
\nRushing: RB Rachaad White: 11 rushes for 53 yards
\nReceiving: WR Chris Godwin: 5 catches for 55 yards
\nDefense: NT Vita Vea: 5 total tackles, 1.0 sack<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Tyler Shough: 13 for 20 for 144 yards – 1 INT
\nRushing: QB Tyler Shough: 7 rushes for 55 yards – 2 TDs
\nReceiving: TE Juwan Johnson: 4 catches for 38 yards
\nDefense: DE Carl Granderson: 5 total tackles<\/p>\n