Saints Never Trail, Beat the Bucs 30-10 in Sixth Straight Win

The New Orleans Saints (6-2) were playing their second divisional game of the 2017 NFL season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6) this afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Trying to run their winning streak up to six games, the Saints started the game slow offensively, despite leading 16-3 at halftime. Of the Saints 16 points in the first half, six came from a Justin Hardee blocked punt returned for a touchdown, and Alvin Kamara fumbled deep in Tampa’s territory. The defense on the other hand picked up where it left off, harassing Jameis Winston and limiting the Bucs to only three points.

In the second half, the Saints scored on their first two possessions, helped by a defensive forced fumble by Vonn Bell to increase their lead to 27 points. With a big lead, the Saints did what they’ve been doing lately: playing sloppy. Willie Snead muffed a punt, providing the second giveaway of the day for New Orleans. On the last drive however, the Saints held the ball to close out the game and win their sixth game in a row. This team is for real y’all, even if the schedule isn’t getting any easier from here on with a visit to Buffalo next Sunday. But 24-hour rule right? Enjoy this one!

Here’s a quarter by quarter recap of the game:

1st Quarter

• Saints win the toss and elect to receive
• Saints get into Buccaneers territory
• Saints stall on 3rd and 4 near Tampa’s 23-yard line
• Wil Lutz makes a 40-yard field goal
• NO: 3 - TB: 0
• Bucs take over at their 25-yard line
• Saints for a three-and-out
• Justin Hardee blocks the punt and runs it into the end zone
• Lutz’s extra point is blocked too. Talk about a crazy sequence!
• NO: 9 - TB: 0
• Bucs start from their 25-yard line
• A pass interference by Ken Crawley puts Tampa at midfield
• Bucs stall near the Saints 42-yard line and punt
• Saints take over near their 10-yard line
• Brees overthrows Ted Ginn Jr. on a bomb with Ginn wide open
• Saints punt and Bucs have it near midfield
• Bucs face a second and long near the Saints 45-yard line as the quarter ends

2nd Quarter

• On 3rd and 12, Cam Jordan sacks Jameis Winston, Bucs punt
• Saints again take over near their 10-yard line
• Brees finds Coby Fleener on a third down into Bucs territory
• Alvin Kamara fumbles the ball near the Bucs 30-yard line
• Bucs recover and the Saints running backs fumble-litis continues
• Bucs get into Saints territory
• Bucs stall on 4th and 4 and convert a 50-yard field goal
• NO: 9 - TB: 3
• Saints are letting the Bucs hang around by playing terrible offense, yet again
• Saints try a crazy kickoff return, as Ginn short-hops a pass to Tommylee Lewis
• The return fail has the Saints starting inside their 10-yard line
• Saints move the ball near their 30-yard line at the 2-minute warning
• Brees finds Kamara on 3rd and 4 to keep the drive going
• Brees finds Coby Fleener for a big time conversion on 2nd and 17
• Alvin Kamara redeems himself by scoring on a 33-yard screen pass
• NO: 16 - TB: 3
• Bucs take over at their 25-yard line
• Alex Okafor and Cameron Jordan sack Winston on 3rd and 1
• Bucs punt with 30 seconds left
• Saints call it a half, leading by 13 over the Buccaneers

3rd Quarter

• Bucs start at their 25-yard line, with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback!
• Saints force a three-and-out, Bucs punt
• Ginn Jr. muffs the punt but recovers. It’s contagious, I’m telling you!
• Mark Ingram runs for 33 yards into Bucs territory
• Saints get into the red zone in a blink
• Alvin Kamara runs into the end zone for a touchdown. This one was a beauty!
• NO: 23 - TB: 3
• Bucs start from their 25-yard line
• Vonn Bell forces a fumble by O.J. Howard and Chris Banjo recovers
• Saints take over at the Bucs’ 37-yard line
• On the very next play, Brees finds Ted Ginn Jr. for a bomb touchdown
• Don’t look now, but Brees is redefining Ted Ginn’s career this season!
• NO: 30 - TB: 3
• Bucs go three-and-out and have to punt
• Mike Evans takes a cheap shot on Marshon Lattimore, but isn’t ejected
• Saints take over at their 32-yard line
• Saints stall near Tampa’s 26-yard line and Lutz misses a 43-yard field goal
• Bucs take over near their 33-yard line and drive into Saints territory
• Bucs are into the Saints red zone as the quarter ends

4th Quarter

• Bucs attempt a 54-yard field goal on 4th and 20 and Patrick Murray misses wide left
• Saints take over at their 44-yard line
• Saints go three-and-out has they have gotten into conservative mode
• Morstead pins the Bucs near their 8-yard line
• Tampa Bay drives the ball to midfield
• Hau’oli Kikaha shows up as he sacks Fitzpatrick, Bucs stall and punt
• Willie Snead muffs the punt and the Bucs recover near the Saints 20-yard line
• Saints again, are playing sloppy football with a big lead.
• Bucs get into the end zone with a touchdown to Luke Stocker
• NO: 30 - TB: 10
• Saints take the ball near their 20-yard line and drive near midfield
• Saints find a way to hold on to the ball and kneel on it
• Saints win! Saints win!
• Final score: NO: 30 - TB: 10