The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued their impressive season with a resounding 51-27 victory over their divisional rivals, the New Orleans Saints. This decisive win improved the Bucs’ record to 4-2 and showcased their offensive firepower.
Led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Liam Coen, the Bucs’ offense orchestrated a masterful performance. They accomplished the rare feat of surpassing 300 passing yards and 275 rushing yards in a road game, demonstrating their versatility and efficiency. Mayfield, despite throwing three interceptions, showcased his resilience and ability to lead the offense through adversity.
The running game also played a crucial role in the Bucs’ success. Sean Tucker and Rachaad White combined for 217 rushing yards and a touchdown, showcasing their complementary skills and providing a solid foundation for the offense. Tucker, in particular, had a breakout game with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown, highlighting his potential as a key contributor.
“Honestly, for guys like that to be able to step in and play like that, that’s more than just a next-man-up mentality that was a huge jump he [Tucker] just took,” Mayfield said. “Really happy for him, but he’s got a lot of competition in that room, and we got guys that can tote the rock, and when the offensive line’s blocking like that, hats off to those guys, but especially late in the game when they know we’re running the ball, they’re loading the box, there’s going to be some guys that are unblocked for them to make people miss and make those explosive plays was huge.”
Defensively, the Bucs faced challenges at times, allowing the Saints to score 27 points. However, rookie safety Tykee Smith made a significant impact, limiting Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler to a passer rating of 3.5. Smith’s exceptional performance demonstrated his developing skills and potential as a cornerstone of the Bucs’ defense.
“Right now, it’s just resiliency,” coach Todd Bowles said Monday,
“Us coming back and forming toughness in the second half and learning off our mistakes,” Bowles continued. “If we can eliminate the penalties and eliminate shooting ourselves in the foot — which we are cutting down more and more — I think we have a chance to be a very good team.”
This victory was a significant step forward for the Buccaneers, who have now won three of their last four games. With their offense firing on all cylinders and their defense showing signs of improvement, the Bucs are a formidable team to watch in the NFC South.
Tampa Bay hosts the Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Octave 21st at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
