The Bucs got their win and that’s all that really matters. Smooth sailing, however, it was not. Victory felt like it should have been wrapped up sometime in the third quarter.

For starters, Tampa Bay was at home and jumped out to a 13-0 lead. The defense was owning New Orleans and quarterback Drew Brees so much so that the Saints didn’t get a first down until the second quarter – and it came courtesy of Bucs linebacker Lavonte David inadvertently grabbing a facemask. That 13-0 lead, however, could’ve/should’ve been even greater.

Here’s PewterReport.com’s Most Disappointing list from Sunday’s 16-11 Bucs win over the New Orleans Saints.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The Bucs’ offensive line seems to have regressed after being the team’s most surprising strength a season ago.

Describing Sunday’s performance as erratic is probably putting it lightly. Running lanes weren’t opening up, quarterback Jameis Winston was flushed from the pocket, hit or sacked too often, and the penalties kept on coming.

Tampa Bay gave Doug Martin 23 chances to tote the rock and the biggest gain he could break went for eight yards. Martin averaged just 2.9 yards per carry while totaling 66 yards. The Bucs averaged 3.0 yards per attempts as a team, picking up 104 on 35 attempts. Even Martin’s highlight – a 1-yard touchdown run – came after he was hit in the backfield. And speaking of contact behind the line of scrimmage, the Saints accomplished that again later in the second quarter for a safety that became the first two of 11 unanswered points.

Backup Gosder Cherilus struggled in place of Demar Dotson at right tackle and was partially responsible for both of New Orleans’ two sacks. Cherilus and right guard Ali Marpet got worked by a DT Nick Fairley/DE Cameron Jordon stunt in the third quarter. Charilus was then late to pick up Jordan when the Saints brought five in the fourth quarter, though Martin also failed to pick up blitzing safety Vonn Bell.

As for the penalties, we’re looking at you, Donovan Smith. The offensive line was responsible for three of Tampa Bay’s seven infractions and the second-year left tackle record all of them. Two were false starts on the team’s second drive of the game and the other was a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty in the third quarter.

RB DOUG MARTIN
The performance of any running back not named Barry Sanders is usually related closely to that of his offensive line. That being said, the ball carrier still deserves blame or credit depending on that day’s result.

Martin is just not playing at the level this offense needs or expects. He has failed to crack the 90-yard mark in seven starts and is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. Martin’s never averaged fewer than 3.6 yards per attempt in his five-year career, and that came during his injury-shortened, six-game sophomore campaign in 2013.

Head coach Dirk Koetter, offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Bucs offense linemen have all said in recent weeks that the team needs to do a better job moving the ball on the ground. All aforementioned coaches and players also praised Martin’s ability as a pass blocker. That’s been a positive this season, but it was Martin whiffed on Bell this week.

WR JOSH HUFF
Huff got the shot he’s been waiting for and he probably wants a redo.

Elevated from the practice squad to the active roster after receivers Cecil Shorts III and Adam Humphries were lost to injury last week, Huff didn’t do much with his opportunities. Not only that, a first-half blunder cost Tampa Bay dearly.

Handed kick return responsibilities because of his speed and past track record with the Philadelphia Eagles, Huff’s most-memorable moment of Sunday’s game was having a bouncing kickoff bounce off his face and out of bounds at the half-yard line. One snap later, Doug Martin was getting stuffed behind the goal line for a safety that began New Orleans’ comeback bid that got much too close for comfort.

It’s understandable for players in Huff’s position to want to try and make something amazing happen any time they get their hands on the ball. Over-eagerness or trying a little too hard can result in bone-headed low-lights, though, too.

Other than that kickoff blunder, Huff played 21 offensive snaps and caught one of two passes thrown his way for 17 yards. He also went five yards on an end-around.

SCORING OFFENSE
The Saints are among the league’s bottom feeders in terms of overall defense. Every one of their opponents scored 20 or more points this season, other than the New York Giants in Week 2.

Add the Bucs in Week 14 to that short list.

But it didn’t have to be that way. Tampa Bay moved the ball fairly well in the first half while building its 13-0 lead. Only one drive managed to cross the goal line, however, and that was aided by a 13-yard pass interference penalty on a second-and-5 play inside the red zone.

Even with how well the defense is playing of late, the Bucs are playing with fire settling for field goal attempts as opposed to scoring touchdowns.

Tampa Bay’s first scoring drive stalled out at the Saints 23 despite starting with a fresh set of downs at the 23. The Bucs ran out of gas at the 21 in the second quarter after failing to convert a third-and-1. Kicker Roberto Aguayo was needed for his third field goal early in the fourth after the offense couldn’t turn a first down at the Saints 13 into six points.