Bucs Nation
Tampa Bay’s kick coverage unit might manage to give a flag football team good starting field position if we ever saw the matchup. For the umpteenth week in a row the Buccaneers allowed a hefty kick return right across midfield. With the field position of dreams, Tyler Shough engineered a fantastic opening drive picking apart the middle of the field, adding in a read option, and finished by handing the ball off for the first rushing touchdown of Devin Neal’s career. 7-0, Saints.
Can the Buccaneers respond? They can. Unfortunately, for Kameron Johnson he does not get to run back his kicks against Tampa Bay’s special teams unit. After setting up Tampa Bay just shy of the 35-yardline, Johnson got to look on— Watching Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, and Chris Godwin give Tampa Bay fans a reminder of what it feels like to he alive.
Mayfield started off 5/5, tossing the ball for 60 yards. 21 and 26 yards receiving for Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving respectfully, got Tampa Bay seven points of their own when the latter caught a short screen pass and took it the distance. 7-7, All even.
Quarter number two started out tied. Following a failed fourth down attempt by Josh Grizzard’s offense, the Saints pushed into field goal range. The missed kick by New Orleans, would not be capitalized on as the Bucs’ offense would follow up with Riley Dixon. New Orleans’ next drive was Zyon McCollum’s. A miscommunication on a deep ball from Shough gave Tampa’s corner one of the easiest interception opportunities of his career. Cashing in on the chance, McCollum set his offense up with fantastic starting field position. Chase McLaughlin booted the ball through the uprights and gave Tampa their first lead of the day. 10-7, Bucs.
The score still sat at a three point differential when the first half hit its two-minute warning. A long final two minutes would conclude with a Baker Mayfield heave into the end zone that would fall harmlessly to the ground. 10-7 at the half of a rain-filled slog in Tampa Bay.
With the ball first and the first turnover of the second half, Tampa Bay’s momentum went from a downpour to misting. While the weather suffered no such decrescendo, Tyler Shough took Baker Mayfield’s interception and turned it into a score— A read option carry and a long touchdown run for Shough gave the lead back to New Orleans. 14-10, Saints.
The Bucs’ offense has played a good bit of games without their superstars this season. Bucky Irving, one of the superstars to miss time this year, has seen his backups featured quite often. Throughout that process, new stars have shined, most notably Sean Tucker— Tampa’s third string runner, who flashed an ability to take over games if called upon. With Irving stalled in the Raymond James Stadium mud (11 carries for 18 yards, 1.6 yards per rush), Josh Grizzard made a rare, highly positive...
