The bucs vs saints , MNF recap
The bucs were coming into this one off a poor loss in Cleveland where a Nick Chubb touchdown won the game for Cleveland in OT. The bucs players , fans and coaches knew one thing , this game was a need not a want and although the bucs did manage to win let’s look back at how that transpired.
The opening drive for the bucs consisted of great runs from rookie Rachaad white and veteran bruiser Leonard Fournette which allowed better passing opportunities down field in which Brady capitalised to Chris Godwin , Russell gage and both running backs. The drive seemed to be going very well when all of a sudden the bucs hit yet another redzone slump getting stopped well short on third down and ending up with yet another opening drive without a touchdown.
However the bucs defense came to play on their opening drive with Lavonte David and Vita Vea making big plays which led to a punt for the saints but the bucs couldn’t capitalise when getting the ball back and it led to rookie Jake Camarda getting his first punt of the night.
After a few empty drives and poor offense from both sides the saints got into the endzone first with a nice drive which ended in a 30 yard touchdown reception for taysom hill after poor coverage by Keanu Neal
Another few empty possessions but the saints scored the next points of the game after forcing a rare Tom Brady interception , only his third of the season, Demario Davis the one with the pick. After Dalton and Landry failed to connect on 3rd&2 for a touchdown the bucs defense caught a break and the saints took the 3 with :20 left in the half
The saints came out after half time and failed to get anything with LVD getting another few big plays for Tampa forcing a punt
Bucs looked to be piling a nice drive but a bad hold by tackle Josh Wells who filled in for Tristan Wirfs negated a nice run by Rachaad White , who funnily enough fumbled on a dump off on 3rd&17 and the saints started from their own 32
After a lot of good passing plays the saints stalled out in the redzone and ended up taking another field goal score at 13-3
Bucs piled another very nice drive together however it stalled out at the saints 40 after a 3 yard gain on 3rd&10
The fans seen Tom Brady signal the sideline that he wanted to go for it with just under 9 minutes remaining but ,to the dissatisfaction of Ray Jay Todd Bowles sent out the punt unit and was ready to “trust his defence”
After good defense the bucs brought up a 3rd&5 but Carton Davis was flagged for DPI and the saints were given an automatic first down in field goal range
Ultimately the saints ended up with yet another field goal and the bucs were on their last legs with 8 minutes remaining needing 2 touchdowns but luckily for the bucs they had the king of comebacks under centre
The first drive to try and save the game was a disaster from the first play with Brady going down well behind the line of scrimmage and ultimately the bucs ended up punting again
This was a put away drive now for NO but they failed to capitalise after an incompletion on 3rd&1 and the bucs got it back deep in their own territory down 13 with a now or never approach the bucs locked in for some really nice plays after a scare from a Donovan Smith holding call the bucs got a 44 yard pass interference call and got it in to the endzone for 6 with Cade Otton , 3 minutes remaining bucs down 6
The saints took over with a nice 3 yard run by kamara and the bucs used a timeout , on 2nd down however Carl Nassib got to dalton and dropped him and set up 3rd&18 for the saints , this was it for the bucs get the stop or the game is over , Dalton throws over the middle to Hill who had it but Keanu Neal knocked it out just before it was ruled a catch , saints punted giving Tom Brady one more chance
Julio Jones Scotty Miller Leonard Fournette Cade Otton and Chris Godwin all got big targets in this drive
The bucs got to the 5 with 17 seconds left , Brady threw over the middle on a nice play to Godwin for a touchdown but another Donovan Smith holding call meant the bucs were moving back
Brady locked in here at the 15 and hit Godwin to get to the 6 yard line with 8 seconds left , 3rd&goal from the 6 Brady fires to White the rookie for a touchdown which tied it at 16 before Succop trotted out to win the game with the extra point
How the picture looks going forward for Tampa
The bucs improve to 6-6 whilst the saints fall to 4-9 the falcons still sit with 5 wins but now 8 losses which is a huge dent to their playoff hopes and the panthers sit at 4-8
This game done a huge service to the bucs who travel to Santa Clara next week to face the niners in another huge game where both of the niners qbs are injured and mr irrelevant brock Purdy will start
This game will be huge if the bucs can manage to win as it would leave them just 2 games behind the 3 seed with the hth and 5 games left to play this would mean the bucs could still have hope of avoiding Dallas or Philadelphia in the wildcard round
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