Coming off an impressive win, the Bucs were looking to do more of the same heading into Sunday’s game against the Saints. After beating the Panthers 48-14 last week, Tampa Bay looked to settle more business with an NFC South rival to clinch the division and make the playoffs.

Coming in as a heavy favorite at home, the team avoided an upset with a 27-19 win to secure their spot in the postseason with a 10-7 regular season record. They did so thanks to some impressive and much-needed performances in the second half. Here is what was most impressive about the win.

OLB Yaya Diaby

For all of the disappointing play by the Bucs’ defense, Yaya Diaby was a bright spot. From the first snap where he nearly sacked Spencer Rattler, Diaby got after it and was a backfield nuisance. In the first half alone, the second-year outside linebacker recorded three tackles for loss, tying his career high.

Diaby made his career-high fourth tackle for loss in the third quarter by recording the team’s first sack of the day. It was arguably his best game of the season, and while much of the defense did not show up, he did.

WR Jalen McMillan

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jalen McMillan got redemption in the biggest way in the fourth quarter.

After he was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty that got the crowd chanting “Refs you suck!” following his 34-yard catch on fourth-and-eight, McMillan made up for that call by hauling in a 32-yard touchdown to put the Bucs on top.

Seeing him find the end zone has become commonplace, with this being his fifth straight game with a touchdown reception. What he has done to close out his rookie year has put him in some elite company.

He finished the game with five catches for 74 receiving yards and his eighth touchdown.

RB Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving had an impressive game on the ground and came alive in the second half. Irving finished the game with 19 carries for 89 rushing yards and an 11-yard touchdown that came with less than two minutes in the game. Although he found the end zone, some Bucs fans did not want him to as it came at a time when wide receiver Mike Evans needed just five receiving yards to get to 1,000.

Thankfully, fans got the best of both worlds as Irving’s score secured the game and M1k3 hit his record milestone with less than a minute left in the game.

Mike Evans

Speaking of Evans, he came up with some massive catches and conversions on his way to an 89-yard day that took him over 1,000 yards for the 11th straight year. His 1,004-yard season tied him with Jerry Rice for the longest streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons in NFL history. But before that last catch that helped him tie the record, he brought in passes to convert 3rd & 9, 3rd & 10 and 3rd & 9 at key points in the game.

K Chase McLaughlin

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Chase McLaughlin pulled his weight and then some in this one. McLaughlin has been the definition of reliable this season, and he connected on a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter. That kick made him 8-for-10 on field goal attempts from 50 yards and beyond.

There is no question that he has established himself as one of the best kickers in the NFL, and an argument could be made that he is the most underrated. He connected on both of his field goal attempts and all of his extra point tries on Sunday.

QB Baker Mayfield As De Facto RB2

Running back Rachaad White did not get a single carry on Sunday.

Sean Tucker got two.

Baker Mayfield, though, had nine carries for 68 rushing yards. That included a dynamic 28-yard scramble up the middle of the field in the fourth quarter that set a new career-high for him on the ground. Although he may not have had the most efficient game through the air, he was the team’s second-best running back on the afternoon.

TE Payne Durham

It took nearly 35 minutes for the Bucs to fire the cannons, and it was thanks to the sure hands of tight end Payne Durham that they did so and cut into the Saints’ lead. Durham hauled in his second touchdown in as many games with this 10-yard grab.

After launching the ball into the stands last week, he smartly faked doing so and held onto the ball. In a game that lacked offense to this point, this moment got the crowd cheering after they booed the team heading into halftime.

Offensive Line

The strength of the Saints defense is their defensive line, led by Bryan Bresee, Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Cameron Jordan. Although the Bucs’ offensive line was called for a handful of penalties, they kept Baker Mayfield upright for most of the game, allowing just one sack. They gave him a clean pocket and plenty of time to make throws.