The Buccaneers clinched the NFC South for the fourth-consecutive year with a 27-19 victory over the Saints. The Bucs overcame a slow start to finish strong against their division foe, punching their ticket to the playoffs. In the process, Mike Evans eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving marker for the 11th consecutive season. Baker Mayfield completed 21 of 32 attempts for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while scrambling for 68 yards.
The Saints capped off their opening offensive possession with a Blake Grupe 35-yard field goal following a tackle for loss by Tykee Smith and K.J. Britt. On the Bucs' first drive, contact on Jake Browning on the punt and ensuing roughing the kicker penalty set up Chase McLaughlin's 52-yard field goal, which tied the game at three.
Early in the second frame, the Saints' offense stalled and Grupe kicked a 39-yard field goal, extending the visiting team's lead by three. On their following possession, the Saints took over seven minutes off the clock on a 14-play, 79-yard drive that culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Rattler to Dante Pettis in the back corner of the end zone. The Bucs answered with a 25-yard field goal by McLaughlin, making it a 13-6 score. Bucky Irving picked up 25 yards off a lateral jump-cut and Mike Evans moved the chains 11 yards but an incompletion to Irving on a third-down checkdown forced the Bucs to settle for three just before halftime. The Saints marched down in field goal range before the intermission and Grupe drilled a 39-yarder.
The Bucs found the end zone early in the third. Payne Durham was left wide open in the back of the end zone and Mayfield hit the second-year tight end on a six-yard touchdown pass, capping off a 10-play, 72-yard drive. An 11-yard gain by Sterling Shepard off an in-breaker and an ensuing unnecessary roughness penalty helped set up the score.
Midway through the third quarter, Mayfield's pass was tipped and intercepted by Jordan Howden at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. He returned it three yards, setting New Orleans up at the 37. On Rattler's third-down pass intended for Cedrick Wilson Jr., Zyon McCollum crowded the catch window and forced an incompletion on the pass breakup. Grupe then kicked a 49-yard field goal to give the Saints a 19-13 advantage.
The Bucs' defense then forced a quick three-and-out with Yaya Diaby sacking Rattler from second-and-19, which set up third-and-long. With just over 10 minutes to play in the fourth, the Bucs took a one-point lead. After a 33-yard gain earlier on the 82-yard drive, Jalen McMillan finished it off with a score. Mayfield lobbed a 32-yard bomb towards the end zone to No.15. McMillan gained outside leverage versus the Saints' defender and managed to get both feet in bounds to give Tampa Bay a 20-19 lead. At the 1:51 mark, the Bucs scored again, this time on the ground. Irving plunged it in from 11 yards out, extending Tampa Bay's lead, 27-19.
Josh Hayes led the Bucs with ten tackles and both Yaya Diaby and Vita Vea sacked Rattler. Vea's sack brought his season total to seven – a career-high for the menacing nose tackle.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
Buccaneers:
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 21/32 for 221 yards - 2 TD & 1 INT
- Rushing: RB Bucky Irving: 19 rushes for 89 yards - 1 TD
- Receiving: WR Mike Evans: 9 catches for 89 yards
- Defense: NT Vita Vea: 3 total tackles - 1 sack
Saints
- Passing: QB Spencer Rattler: 26/42 for 240 yards - 1 TD
- Rushing: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 8 rushes for 26 yards
- Receiving: TE Juwan Johnson: 6 catches for 80 yards
- Defense: SS Will Harris: 8 total tackles
