Monday, 4 a.m.

It really wasn't that big an ask. All the Bucs had to do was beat one of the worst teams in the NFL, while at home, while armed with weapons.

About that...

What weapons.

The Bucs played their worst games of the year, against one of the worst opponents, and lost a 24-20 game to the New Orleans Saints.

Weapons? You mean like Baker Mayfield, one of the early leaders in the MVP discussion. Mayfield had a horrid game Sunday, completeting only 14 of 30 passes for 122 yrds.

You mean like Emeka Egbuka, who was running away with the rookie of the year going early. Egbuka caught just two passes for 15 yards. He had a chance to tie the game but dropped a pass on a slightly high throw.

"I can't help but feel like I let (his teammates) down today, I'm on this team for one reason and it's catch the ball and I didn't.,''

You mean like Bucky Irving, who needed a 32-yard run late to get to 55. He had little impact except for that run.

You mean lilke Chris Godwin, who bobbled a ball out of bounds to negate a first down reception late in the game.

In other words, there was no one to lead this team away from mediocrity. The Bucs have now lost four of five games and find themselves tied with Carolina for the NFC South lead.

"It sucks," Mayfield said. "It felt like we just gave it away or we didn't make the plays to win, Conditions aren't an excuse, because they had to play in it too."

Rookie Tyler Shough ran for two touchdowns for the Saints..

"We couldn't get a fourth-down play," said Bucs' coach Todd Bowles