Buccaneers Take NFC South Division Lead with 26-9 Win Over Saints

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Saints in New Orleans 26-9 Week 4 to take the top spot in the NFC South.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into New Orleans 2-1 with a chance to take sole possession of the NFC South. They did just that in a dominant 26-9 victory against the Saints. The defense came up with clutch stops and the offense pushed the ball down the field with balance through the run and passing game.

Baker Mayfield finished 25 of 32 for 256 yards and three touchdowns. He was a magic man in the backfield evading the pass rush and scrambling for 34 yards, including several first downs. Godwin led all receivers with eight grabs on 11 targets for 114 yards. While wideouts Devon Thompkins, Trey Palmer and tight end Cade Otton all scored touchdowns. 

While on the defensive side, Antoine Winfield Jr. was all over the field with tackles a sack, a forced fumble, and a recovery as well as a huge pass deflection in the end zone. Vita Vea had two sacks and a fumble and safety Dee Delaney had an interception.

READ MORE: Buccaneers Star Wide Receiver Mike Evans Suffers Injury Facing Saints

Though the Buccaneers didn't get out the the victory unscathed. Mike Evans suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out for the second half While starting safety Ryan Neal missed nearly the entire game after a concussion took him out early. 

Game Recap

After winning the coin toss the Bucs deferred to the second half testing Derek Carr and the Saints offense first. New Orleans was able to move the ball down the field with several chunk yardage plays and a roughing the passer penalty on defensive lineman Mike Greene. However, the defense came up with a big third down stop outside the red zone forcing the Saints to settle for a field goal. 

The Buccaneers offense started their first drive of the game airing it out to Mike Evans on an 18-yard gain. On a pivotal third down, Baker Mayfield evaded the rush and scrambled for a first down to keep the drive going. However, a questionable intentional grounding call helped stall out Tampa Bay's first possession of the game. 

The Bucs and Saints traded punts on their next possessions, before Tampa Bay's offense found it's groove. Big plays by Rachaad White, Evans and Mayfield to sustain the drive, in addition to a defensive pass interference call on Marshon Lattimore, resulted in the teams first points of the game. The Buccaneers found the endzone with a catch from tight end Cade Otton on a beautiful scramble and throw from Mayfield to put them up 7-3. 

A quick three-and-out by the Saints, aided with a Antoine Winfield sack on third down, gave the Bucs the ball back with just over two minutes to play in the half. Rachaad White finally found some room to run notching two first downs. While Mayfield's pocket presence was on full display, evading the rush to find Devon Thompkins for a 26-yard catch and run into Saints territory. 

However, an interception by Mayfield targeting Chris Godwin halted the drive. The Saints were given the ball at the one-yard line and on the very next play the Bucs defense took the ball right back on a forced fumble and recovery by Winfield. Two plays later Tampa Bay extended their lead to 14-3 on a touchdown catch by rookie Trey Palmer right before the half.

VIDEO: Buccaneers' QB Baker Mayfield Suffers Nasty Late Hit From Saints

Receiving the ball after the half the Buccaneers' offense couldn't get anything going and had to punt. Saints returner Rashid Shaheed returned Jake Camarda's 63-yard punt 29-yards to set New Orleans up near mid-field. Though Winfield Jr. came up with another huge play with a pass deflection on a deep shot to the endzone to force a punt.  

The Bucs, down Mike Evans who was ruled out with a hamstring injury, stuck to the ground on their next possession. After picking up a first down and churning out the clock Tampa Bay was stuffed on a third-and-1 attempt, giving the ball back to the Saints mid-way through the third quarter. 

New Orleans found a rhythm utilizing short quick passes to move the ball into Tampa Bay territory. However a third down stop in the red zone by the Bucs defense led to only three points on the Saints field goal. Up 14-6 late in the third the Buccaneers offense had the opportunity to extend their lead. 

A 32-yard catch and run by Chris Godwin and scrambles by Mayfield set the Bucs up in field goal range after a third down stop by New Orleans. Kicker Chase McLaughlin nailed a 51-yarder through the uprights to extend their lead over the Saints to 17-6 with less than a quarter of football to go. 

The Saints, helped by a 20-yard reception by Michael Thomas, moved the ball across mid-field but the Bucs defense would come up strong yet again. After a failed third down conversion attempt New Orleans settled for their third field goal of the game. Bringing it within one score, Grupe's 44-yard attempt was good, cutting the score to 17-9 Bucs. 

With a chance to put the game away the Bucs' offense marched down the field on the back of a 42-yard catch and run that put them in the red zone. Three plays later Mayfield hit Thompkins for the score. A failed two-point conversion attempt left the score 23-9. 

With about four minutes remaining in the game, the Saints took control of the ball. A strip sack on fourth down by Vita Vea and a Logan Hall recovery gave the Bucs the ball in prime field position. Tampa Bay added to their lead four plays later with a 28-yard field goal to put them up 26-9.

With one last-ditch effort to move the ball down the field, Saints quarterback Jameis Winston came into the game in relief for Derek Carr. Though much to the surprise of not many WInston subsequently threw an interception to Dee Delaney on his very first throw. The Bucs ran the ball out from there to move to 3-1 on the season with a 26-9 victory as they head into their bye week. 

You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage, news and analysis throughout the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook