The Bucs had to travel to New Orleans earlier than anticipated due to Hurricane Milton’s impact on the Tampa Bay area. Coming to town to face the Saints with a lot to play for, there is a lot to unpack after an action-packed game the Bucs emerged victorious from, 51-27. While the offense was unstoppable and had a historic level of output, here is what was most disappointing from this week’s divisional tilt.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

On one hand, things could not have started better for Todd Bowles and his defense, with rookie defensive back Tykee Smith knocking the ball out of wide receiver Chris Olave’s hands and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. recovering it and running 58 yards for the touchdown.

However, head coach Todd Bowles let the Saints’ offense back in the game, which was reminiscent of allowing rookie quarterback Bo Nix to settle in back in Week 3. This time, it was rookie Spencer Rattler making his first NFL start, and Bowles not dialing up the heat early.

The defense sold out to stop the run, which worked at first, but as the game went on, it was more of the deep soft zone coverage that allowed Rattler to settle in and start making throws down the middle of the field.

Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photo by: USA Today

Even with Olave leaving the game with a concussion, the defense did not scheme up blitzes to get the offense out of rhythm in the first half, despite playing with more than enough of a lead. It was a questionable defensive game plan that was quickly exposed once offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak started adjusting to it.

Then, Bowles’ game management came under fire at the end of the first half after he refused to call a timeout after Bucky Irving’s run, burning about 20 seconds off the clock when the Bucs had all three timeouts. If Bowles used the team’s timeouts sooner, they had a chance to continue moving the ball downfield and at least tie the game going into halftime.

Although things started to turn around in the second half, a lot of it could have been avoided if Todd Bowles avoided some costly early mistakes.

Offensive Penalties

So much for being the least-penalized team in the NFL.

Coming into the game only being called for 33 yards per game on penalties, the Bucs were undisciplined and were called for 11 penalties that cost them 77 yards. The flags started flying early, with left tackle Tristan Wirfs being called for a false start on the game’s second offensive play and the undisciplined football continued from there.

Early in the second quarter, one offensive drive was completely stalled as the offense first had too many men on the field, Cade Otton was called for a false start and Ben Bredeson was called for unnecessary roughness. On the next drive, Sterling Shepard was called for unsportsmanlike conduct that wiped out an 8-yard Bucky Irving run.

The offense in particular was to blame for the officiating crew’s flag throwing, as eight of the 11 penalties were called on that side of the football.

Both the Bucs and Saints are known to be chippy when playing each other, and it was clear that it factored into a lot of back-and-forth calls from both sides. It negatively impacted Tampa Bay in this one when it was on its way to controlling the game after coming out of the gates with a 17-0 lead.

Bucs’ Punt Coverage

The punt coverage let Jake Camarda down as he was making his return as the team’s primary punter. Camarda booted a ball on the right sideline for 47 yards, but Rashid Shaheed showed off his speed and embarrassed the coverage unit on his 54-yard punt return for a touchdown.

It was a blend of missed tackles and failing to be in position, and not so much on the punter out-kicking his gunners. The gunners did not get off their blocks, with Tavierre Thomas getting manhandled on the side Shahdeed ran it toward. The punter and long-snapper were the only ones in range of bringing him down. That is unacceptable.

LG Ben Bredeson

Not only was Ben Bredeson called for an unnecessary roughness penalty, but he was also charged with an offensive holding call in the second quarter. Bredeson came into the season as the presumed weak link on the offensive line, and he did not hold up well in this one.

WR Jalen McMillan

Jalen McMillan came into this season with a lot of hype as the No. 3 wide receiver with the potential to make big plays and eventually stake a big part in the Bucs’ offense. That has not happened so far this season.

McMillan again was nowhere to be found making plays on offense, his first game back in two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury. Not only did he not make a catch, but he was at fault for Baker Mayfield’s second interception, with the ball bouncing off of him and into Johnathan Abram’s hands.

At this point, veteran Sterling Shepard brings more to the offense, and they should continue playing the third-round pick behind Shepard until he proves worthy of getting more run.