NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anthony Nelson delivered a standout performance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, notching an interception returned for a touchdown, a forced fumble, and two sacks in their commanding 23-3 victory over the struggling New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Sean Tucker also contributed with a decisive 1-yard touchdown run on a crucial fourth down.
Antoine Winfield Jr. bolstered the Buccaneers’ (6-2) defensive dominance with a fumble recovery and an interception, as they capitalized on four turnovers and played a role in sidelining Saints’ second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Saints’ rookie head coach Kellen Moore opted to bring in first-year quarterback Tyler Shough late in the third quarter. However, the change failed to ignite any significant improvement for New Orleans (1-7), who now shares the league’s worst record with the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans.
In the lead-up to the game, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield stirred the pot by expressing his dislike for the Saints and accusing them of not playing “clean.” Despite a somewhat rocky performance from the Buccaneers’ offense, Mayfield managed to guide his team to a comfortable victory.
The Saints’ defense held firm in the second quarter, stopping four consecutive goal-to-go attempts from the 1-yard line to maintain a scoreless tie. However, the respite was short-lived as Nelson soon turned the tide with his defensive touchdown.
Spencer Rattler, attempting a pass to tight end Foster Moreau, was thwarted by Nelson, who was starting in place of the injured Haason Reddick. Nelson expertly tipped the ball to himself for his first career interception before bulldozing past Rattler and into the end zone, putting the Buccaneers ahead 7-0.
The Bucs appeared to have taken a 14-0 lead on a second defensive touchdown when Winfield recovered receiver Rashid Shaheed’s fumble on the New Orleans 47 and returned it to the end zone. But an inadvertent whistle wiped out Winfield’s return, and a few plays later, Saints defensive end Chase Young forced and recovered a fumble by Mayfield.
The Saints converted that turnover into Blake Grupe’s 48-yard field goal that made it 7-3 at halftime.
Tucker’s TD came after the Saints had stopped Mayfield and Co. three more times from the 1 in the third quarter.
Chase McLaughlin kicked three second-half field goals from 52 or more yards to help the Bucs pull away from there.
Rattler, who fell to 1-13 in career NFL starts, competed 15 of 21 passes for 136 yards. He also lost the fumble forced by Nelson.
Shough completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards. The second-round draft choice also was intercepted when his accurate pass to Chris Olave was ripped away by Winfield.
Injuries
Buccaneers: CB Jacob Parrish was treated on the field in the fourth quarter, but walked off on his own.
Saints: CB Alontae Taylor briefly received attention in a blue injury tent kin the fourth quarter, but remained in uniform on the sideline. … DT Bryan Bresee also received apparent concussion tests on the sideline in the final minutes, when Shaheed also hobbled off with an apparent leg injury.
Up next
Buccaneers: Have a Week 9 bye before hosting New England on Nov. 9.
Saints: Visit the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
