The Bucs were faced with the moment of clinching the division at home — and responded by playing one of their worst games of the year.
The Buccaneers road to the playoffs and the division title hit a speed bump in their last home game of the regular season, falling to the New Orleans Saints 23-15. Tampa Bay was simply dominated by the Saints, committing four turnovers, the most of any game this season.
There was no phase of the game in which the Bucs were successful. The offense was undone by its own mistakes, the defense could not stop the Saints offense until too late into the game and special teams frequently gave New Orleans short fields. Every time something appeared to go right, misfortune snatched it away from Tampa Bay.
The first half went about as poorly as possible for Tampa Bay. The Saints opened the game by orchestrating a 14-play touchdown drive. The Bucs responded by going three-and-out on their first offensive series. Baker Mayfield responded on their second drive by throwing an interception to Alontae Taylor at New Orleans’ two-yard line.
The Saints scored again late in the second quarter off a 22-yard touchdown catch by Taysom Hill. Another quick Bucs three-and-out and poor Jake Camarda punt later, the Saints closed out the half with a field goal, putting them up 17-0.
The second half did not start much better for the Bucs offense, going three-and-out once again. However, the Bucs defense tightened up and forced a three-and-out of their own. Tampa Bay’s offense appeared to get going on the next drive, getting into New Orleans territory before Rachaad White fumbled at the 25-yard line. The Saints recovered and were rewarded with a field goal.
After trading punts, the Bucs were on the move again but Mayfield threw his second interception of the game to Johnathan Abram. The Bucs quarterback had not thrown more than one interception in any game this season.
The Bucs ended the shutout on their next drive, that included a 35-yard completion to Mike Evans and a fourth-and-six conversion by Chris Godwin. Following the fourth down conversion, Mayfield fired a 22-yard dart to Trey Palmer in the endzone:
The Saints all but sealed the game with a four-minute field goal drive, burning too much clock to allow a Bucs comeback. The Bucs nearly had a window back into the game when Baker Mayfield found Trey Palmer for a 62 -yard completion. However, as was emblematic of the Bucs’ day, Palmer fumbled the ball which the Saints recovered.
The Bucs had one last gasp when Baker Mayfield connected with Chris Godwin for a 47-yard touchdown. Tampa Bay’s two-point conversion attempt appeared to succeed on a Godwin reception, but it was later found Godwin stepped out of bounds before the catch, nullifying the conversion. Mayfield threw a third interception on the second attempt, taking the final score to 23-13.
Baker Mayfield finished the day going 22-for-33 with 309 pass yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Derek Carr went 24-for-32 for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Rachaad White had just 42 yards on the ground, and Trey Palmer led the team with 82 receiving yards. Tampa Bay’s defense recorded just one sack and no quarterback hits and allowed 108 rush yards.
Despite the loss, the Bucs are still in control of their playoff destiny. A win over Carolina next week wins them the NFC South and a trip to the playoffs. However, another performance like this could end Tampa Bay’s season in heartbreak and possibly the delivery of pink slips to the coaching staff.
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