In a t-shirt and hat game, the Bucs couldn’t come through in a tough 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. A horrible first half for Tampa in all three phases bled into the second half in a losing effort for the team. Brady was sacked four times and the offense just couldn’t get anything going. To make matters worse, injuries piled up on both sides of the ball. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette, Lavonte David and Pat O’Connor were all injured in the contest and did not return.

Brady finished the game 26-48 with 213 yards and 0 touchdowns an interception and a fumble. Drops were a huge issue for receivers all game. Godwin finished with a team high 49 yards. Fournette led all receivers with seven receptions. Ronald Jones gave the running game some life, totaling 63 yards on the ground. The Bucs ran for 118 yards, but it wasn’t enough.

The Bucs defense played well this game. The unit held the Saints offense to just nine points on three field goals. They forced eight punts throughout the game and came up with stop after stop. The offense just couldn’t give them any reprieve. While they got to Taysom Hill for two sacks and totaled nine tackles-for-loss, a lack of splash plays and turnovers didn’t help the Bucs cause.

Murphy’s Law Of A First Half For Bucs

Raymond James Stadium was rocking early as the defense took the field and forced a punt to start the game. After a near interception on Brady’s first throw, the offense couldn’t convert and turned in a punt of their own. A deep pass down the field set the Saints up in field goal range, where they took the lead after a Bucs third down stop.  The offense, still unable to get much working, punted on their second straight drive.

Taysom Hill made quick work getting New Orleans into field goal range, extending their lead to six points after a successful kick from 35 yards out. A trade of punts over the next two possessions brought Tampa’s offense back onto the field. Brady brought them into Saints territory, but couldn’t convert on third down and were forced attempt a field goal. Succop sent it wide left and New Orleans took over on downs.  The Bucs defense forced another punt, but they couldn’t do anything on offense and went into the half down 6-0.

Offensive Woes Continue

Starting the second half with the ball, the Bucs drive stalled and they subsequently punted after just five plays. Another stop by the Tampa defense put the offense back on the field, but with no answers on offense and injuries piling up, the team punted yet again. After a Saints punt, the Bucs turned it over on downs giving the ball right back. New Orleans unable to get going offensively, punted the ball right back.

The Bucs finally got some offense rhythm going, but the drive came to an abrupt halt when Brady fumbled the ball in Saints territory. Punts were traded once again as the fourth quarter began. A bad punt gave New Orleans solid field position and Hill led their offense into field goal range, where they knocked in the kick for a 9-0 lead. Another trade of punts for both teams led to a Tampa offensive possession that ended in an interception. The Bucs defense came away with yet another stop, but the clock ran out on the Bucs and they fell 9-0 to the Saints.