Despite a strong defensive effort, New Orleans was unable to take down a wounded Tampa Bay squad on Sunday afternoon. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 23-3 inside the Caesars Superdome.
With the loss to their fellow NFC South foe, Kellen Moore’s team has now dropped three straight games for the second time this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Saints’ opening drive ended in disaster as Spencer Rattler fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Lavonte David. The Bucs were unable to do anything with the turnover as they were forced to punt.
New Orleans’ defense kept Tampa Bay out of the end zone on all four of Tampa Bay’s first-half possessions. The Saints forced a punt, a turnover on downs, another punt, and a fumble.
The issue was that the Saints’ offense couldn’t do anything.
New Orleans’ first-half possessions resulted in a lost fumble, a punt, an interception from Rattler, which was returned for a four-yard touchdown by Anthony Nelson, a punt, a lost fumble, and a 48-yard field goal by Blake Grupe.
The Saints mustered a mere 128 yards in the first half.
The Bucs opened up the second half with a 10-play, 73-yard drive capped by a Sean Tucker one-yard touchdown run. After a punt by the Saints, the Bucs added a 55-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin.
New Orleans backup quarterback Tyler Shough then came off the bench to lead the offense. His first drive in the NFL ended with a pass thrown to Chris Olave, who was unable to control the ball, and had Antoine Winfield rip it out of his hands for an interception.
Tampa Bay would add two more field goals in the fourth quarter to extend its lead, as the Bucs easily picked up the victory.
BIG NUMBER: 4
The New Orleans Saints offense committed four turnovers in Sunday’s defeat inside the Dome. Spencer Rattler had a lost fumble and an interception. Backup quarterback Tyler Shough had an interception, and Rashid Shaheed lost a fumble as well. It is also the fourth straight season that Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans in the Superdome, the first time that has happened in franchise history.
PLAYER OF THE GAME (BUCS): ANTHONY NELSON
The Bucs defensive lineman was a force on Sunday as he recorded four tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, and an interception he returned for a touchdown.
PLAYER OF THE GAME (SAINTS): CHASE YOUNG
The Saints’ defense played well on Sunday, but Chase Young had his best game of the season. The pass rusher had one and a half sacks and recovered a fumble.
UP NEXT: New Orleans (1-6, 0-1) returns to action next Sunday when the team travels to take on the Los Angeles Rams. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m.
