Monday, 4 a.m.
The running game was awful. The passing attack was miserable. There were times when the offense looked as if it stayed up too late the night before.
So what was so great about the Bucs' 23-3 win over New Orleans?
Why, Anthony Nelson was.
Thanks for asking.
Nelson, starting in place of injured Hasaan Reddick, took the game as a personal highlight film. He had four tackles, two sacks, forced a fumble and had an interception he returned for a touchdown.
On a day the Bucs' offense sputtered, Nelson saved the bacon. He scored the first touchdown of the game, batting a pass by Spencer Rattler into the air with his left hand, caught the ball, shook off Rattler's feeble attempt at a tackle and walked in with a three-yard touchdown.
What else was a keeper? Well, kicker Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goalws more than 50 yards. Safety Antonio Winfield Jr. recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass. He seemed to return both for touchdowns, although referees ruled a while had been blown both times. On the fumble return, no one seemed to hear it. The defense was good, holding the Saints without a touchdown, forcing four turnovers and getting five sacks.
What wasn't so good. Well, the running game. The Bucs wanted to try to even their run-pass ratio. The problem is, the Bucs can't run the ball. They ran 39 times and gained just 88 yards.
They were particularly challenged at the Saints' goal line. In the second quarter, they ran the ball four straight times from the Saints one and failed to score.
Baker Mayfield hit 15 of 24 passes for just 154 yards.
The Bucs moved to 6-2 on a day when every other team in the NFC South lost.
The Saints couldn't move it either. They ran for just 48 yards (Alvin Kamara was held to 21 yards) and threw for 227.
The Bucs' offense may have slowed because of injuries. Receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, offensive linemen Luke Goedeke and Cody Mauch and running back Bucky Irvin all missed the game. Playing with half a team is never desirable.
The Bucs have their bye week next week. They play New England at home on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.