Bucs win big after blowing lead

by Gary Shelton on October 14, 2024

in general

Monday, 4 a.m.

You can call it a rout if you want to. Certainly, the final score was lopsided enough.

The Bucs scored 51 points, their second-highest total ever.

They rushed for 277 yards. They threw for 317 yards. They won the second half 27-0. They won at the sight of their fiercest rivals.




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Yet, all of that, and it didn’t feel quite like a rout until the end. For a long time, it seemed as if the Bucs were just holding job against a crippled opponent.

The Bucs blew a 17-0 lead, giving up 27 points to the Saints and newbie quarterback Spencer Rattler in the second period. Rattler hit 11 of his first 14 passes and took over the game.

Fortunately for Tampa Bay, the Saints’ main problem wasn’t at quarterback. It was defensively. The Saints couldn’t stop quarterback Baker Mayfield (325 yards passing and two touchdowns. They couldn’t stop receiver Chris Godwin (11 catches for 125 yards. And they especially couldn’t stop the Bucs’ running game, where Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving combined for  217 yards rushing.

The Bucs were without regular running back Rachaad White. But Tucker rushed for 135 yards and Irving rushed for 81 yards, both on 14 carries.

Mayfield threw three first half interceptions, but he threw for four touchdowns.

The Bucs have scored 30 points or more in four of their five victories.

Ratter completed 22 of 40 passes for 243 yards. But the Saints had just 25 yards rushing int hte seceod half. For the game, the Bucs had five sacks.

The Bucs are home against Baltimore on Monday night at Raymond James Stadium.

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