In another important divisional battle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took down the New Orleans Saints, 41-27, improving our record to 4-2 on the season. This was a high-energy matchup with the Saints pushing hard to defend their home turf, but we were able to control the game on the ground, led by Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White, and our defense came up with some critical stops when it mattered most.
This win solidifies our standing in the NFC South, and while there are areas we still need to improve on, particularly on the defensive side, we showed grit and determination from start to finish.
Offense: Fournette, White Dominate Ground Game, Mayfield Delivers Steady Play
Once again, Baker Mayfield did a great job managing the offense, though this week we leaned heavily on our running backs to wear down the Saints’ defense. Mayfield completed 15 of 24 passes for 291 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception, finishing with a 104.6 passer rating. It wasn’t his most prolific day, but when we needed him to step up in critical moments, he delivered.
The real stars of the day were Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White, who combined for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.
Fournette was particularly explosive, making the most of his limited touches with 3 rushes for a whopping 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 80-yard run was a backbreaker for the Saints’ defense, showcasing his speed and power in open space. We’ve been waiting for this kind of performance from him, and he delivered when it mattered.
Rachaad White put together another complete performance, rushing 10 times for 79 yards and adding 7 receptions for 142 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. His ability to contribute both on the ground and through the air has been a game-changer for our offense, and his 33-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was a thing of beauty. With his vision and burst, he’s becoming one of the most versatile weapons we have.
We also saw contributions from our other skill players, including Cade Otton, who pulled in 2 catches for 42 yards. While Mike Evans was quieter this week with just 3 catches for 38 yards, he still managed to get into the end zone for a key score, continuing to show why he’s one of our most reliable red-zone targets.
Run Game: Ground Control on Full Display
One of the key takeaways from this game was our ability to establish the run early and often. The combined rushing effort between Fournette and White was the driving force behind our offensive success. Bucky Irving also chipped in with 5 carries for 29 yards, further deepening our backfield options.
What stood out most was our commitment to the run, which allowed us to control the pace of the game. As the Saints focused on trying to slow down Mayfield and our passing attack, it opened up lanes for our backs to exploit, and they did so in spectacular fashion.
Going forward, this kind of balanced attack will be crucial, especially as we face tougher defenses that can challenge us both on the ground and through the air. If we can continue this level of execution in our run game, it will take pressure off Mayfield and give us the flexibility to adjust based on our opponent’s game plan.
Defense: Bend, But Don’t Break
While we allowed Derek Carr to throw for 418 yards and 3 touchdowns, our defense came up with key plays in critical moments to prevent the game from slipping away. It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, but we managed to contain their ground game, holding the Saints to just 20 rushing yards, which forced Carr to try and win the game through the air.
Our veteran linebacker, Lavonte David, led the defense once again, tallying 5 tackles and recovering a fumble. His leadership in the middle of the field helped us limit explosive plays on the ground, and he was all over the place in coverage and run support.
Calijah Kancey also had a standout performance, recording 1 sack and forcing a fumble in the first half that shifted momentum in our favor. Kancey continues to show that he’s a rising star on this defense, capable of making game-changing plays. His ability to collapse the pocket made it difficult for Carr to get comfortable.
In the secondary, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Patrick Peterson were solid, with each recovering a fumble and forcing another. Jamel Dean contributed 2 tackles in coverage, though we’ll need him to play tighter in the coming weeks to avoid giving up big passing plays like we did in this game. J. Whitehead came up with the lone interception for our defense, a timely pick that halted a Saints drive deep in our territory.
Though we gave up 438 total yards, our red-zone defense stood tall, limiting New Orleans to just 1 touchdown on 2 red-zone trips. This bend-but-don’t-break mentality has been a theme this season, but we know that we’ll need to tighten up, especially as we head toward tougher competition.
Special Teams: McLaughlin Misses FG, but Stays Perfect on XPs
Chase McLaughlin had a relatively quiet day on special teams, hitting all 6 of his extra points but missing his only field goal attempt. While it didn’t impact the outcome, we’ll need him to be more consistent as field position battles become more critical in tighter games. Jake Camarda was solid in the punting game, averaging 49 yards on his 4 punts, with a long of 49 yards. His ability to flip field position helped us control momentum during the game.
Key Takeaways as a Coach:
- The Running Game Is Our Foundation – Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White were both exceptional. When we can establish the run this effectively, it makes everything easier for our offense. We’re going to keep pounding the rock and leaning on these guys as we move forward.
- Mayfield’s Steadiness Continues – Even when he’s not throwing for 350+ yards, Baker Mayfield knows how to manage the game and make the right plays. He’s spreading the ball around and keeping defenses on their heels. His decision-making has been top-notch, and that’s a big reason we’re winning these games.
- Defensive Consistency Needed – We gave up too many yards through the air, and while we made some key plays, there are still too many breakdowns in coverage. We need to clean up our tackling and get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks to prevent big games like Derek Carr’s 418-yard performance.
- Special Teams Reliability – McLaughlin’s miss was a rare blemish, but overall, our special teams unit has been reliable. Camarda’s punting remains a strength, and as long as McLaughlin continues to convert his XPs, we’re in good shape.
Moving Forward:
This win puts us at 4-2 in a tight NFC South race, and we’re well-positioned to keep building on this momentum. Our offense continues to be a strength, but we need to address some of the defensive issues that popped up in this game. The passing defense, in particular, will need to improve if we want to make a deep playoff run.
As we prepare for Week 7, we’ll focus on tightening up our secondary and continuing to emphasize our ground game. The Saints gave us a tough challenge, but we responded well, and I’m proud of the way the team executed when the pressure was on. We’re in a good spot, but we can’t afford to be complacent.
This win keeps us in the hunt, and I look forward to seeing what this team is capable of as we head deeper into the season.
