The New Orleans Saints suffered a crushing 51-27 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, marking their fourth consecutive loss after a promising 2-0 start to the season. Despite forcing three turnovers, the Saints’ defense crumbled in the second half, allowing Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield to throw for 325 yards and four touchdowns.
Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, making his first NFL start in place of the injured Derek Carr, showed flashes of potential but struggled with two interceptions, one of which set up a pivotal Bucs touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay capitalized on the Saints’ miscues, with Mayfield connecting with Chris Godwin for two touchdowns, including a 55-yarder that featured multiple missed tackles by the Saints’ defense. Running backs Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving combined for a dominant rushing performance, amassing 277 yards on the ground and scoring three times.
The Buccaneers used the game as a morale boost after their community was affected by Hurricane Milton, practicing in New Orleans all week and eventually delivering a stunning performance in the Superdome.
The Saints’ offense, already weakened by injuries to key players like Derek Carr and Chris Olave, was further hampered by turnovers and missed opportunities. While Alvin Kamara found the end zone for the seventh time this season, and Rashid Shaheed electrified with a 54-yard punt return touchdown, the Saints couldn’t maintain their momentum.
With Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos coming to town next, the Saints are desperate for answers to stop their slide.
