The New Orleans Saints returned home to the Caesars Superdome looking to break their three-game losing streak as they faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Bucs scored on their first possession of the contest, going 74 yards on eight plays as Baker Mayfield connected with Chris Godwin on a four-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. On the ensuing Saints possession, Spencer Rattler completed a five-yard pass to Chris Olave, who fumbled while on the receiving end of a head-to-head hit, and the ball was scooped and returned for a touchdown by Antoine Winfield Jr to make it 14-0. Olave would not return due to a concussion.
Chase McLaughlin added a field goal late in the first quarter as Tampa Bay started out with a 17-0 advantage over the Saints.
With 13:43 remaining in the second quarter, the Black and Gold got on the board with a 42-yard field goal from Blake Grupe. 39 seconds later, the Saints forced a punt that was returned 54 yards by Rashid Shaheed for a touchdown to cut the lead to 17-10. On the next Buccaneers drive, Paulson Adebo came up with a critical interception, which led to another Grupe field goal.
The Saints defense wasn’t done forcing turnovers as Jonathan Abram picked off a deflection and returned it to the 10. Then, Spencer Rattler found fellow rookie Bub Means for the score as both rookies notched their first career touchdowns to give the Saints the 20-17 lead.
Tampa then went 76 yards on the following drive and regained the lead with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Sean Tucker to make it 24-20. The Saints then went 70 yards themselves including a 41-yard pass from Rattler to Foster Moreau to set up a 4-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara to make it 27-24 at the halftime break.
Late in the third quarter, the Bucs got in the endzone with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Chris Godwin to put Tampa ahead 31-27 after three quarters.
Rattler made his first critical error of the game, throwing an interception to Zyon McCollum to put Tampa in good field position. After a 31-yard run from Irving, the Bucs were inside the five-yard line looking to make it a two-score game. On 3rd and goal from the 8, Mayfield found Cade Otton for the touchdown, but a missed two-point try only had the Saints down 37-27 with 12:34 to go.
New Orleans quickly gave the ball back to Tampa, who methodically moved the ball inside the 10-yard line before a one-yard touchdown run from Irving to make it a 44-27 lead with 5:33 remaining.
On the final Bucs possession, Tucker added another touchdown to make it 51-27, which ended up being the final score.
BIG NUMBER: 594
The New Orleans Saints defense gave up 594 yards of offense, the second most allowed in franchise history.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chris Godwin
Tampa’s #2 receiver was crucial for the Bucs as Godwin caught 11 passes for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns, forcing the Saints their fourth straight loss of the season.
UP NEXT: Short rest for the Black and Gold as the Saints will welcome Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m.
