The Tampa Bay Buccaneers outscored the New Orleans Saints 27-0 the first time they played.
On Sunday, much more was at stake and the Bucs outscored the Saints 21-3 after the break en route to a 27-19 win that gave them the NFC South title.
The Bucs fell behind 16-6 in the first half and were sluggish at best on offense.
Baker Mayfield fired up his team with an inspirting scramble in the third quarter. Trailing 19-13 in the fourth, Jalen McMillan made up for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty earlier on the drive by catching a 32-yard TD pass from Mayfield.
The PAT made it 20-19 in favor of Tampa Bay.
The Bucs got an 11-yard rushing score from Bucky Irving with 1:51 left to seal the victory.
Bucky Irving scores!
NFC South in their sights.
📺: #NOvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/nBRgpPWSxS— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
The win made the Bucs NFL South champs for the fourthbucs straight year. It also rendered moot whatever happened between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers/