It’s time for PewterReport.com’s 2-Point Conversion post-game column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game. Tampa Bay quickly fell behind as New Orleans raced out to a 20-0 lead and never looked back in a 34-17 win that dropped the Bucs to a dismal 3-7 record this year. Quarterback Jameis Winston threw four interceptions, while Tampa Bay’s defense failed to produce a takeaway or pressure quarterback Drew Brees, who threw three touchdowns as the Saints swept the Bucs.
2 BIG STATEMENTS
STATEMENT 1: Bucs Were Outclassed By Saints
Before I rip the refs for an absolutely horrifically officiated game, let me first state the obvious. The outcome of Sunday’s game shows just how far away the Bucs are from the NFC South-leading Saints. New Orleans, coming off an embarrassing loss to Atlanta last week, looked like a division-winning varsity team, while Tampa Bay, which snapped a four-game losing streak to Arizona last week, looked like a clearly over-matched J.V. squad.
New Orleans came into Raymond James Stadium and bullied Tampa Bay from the start. The Bucs showed a little fight defensively at outset, holding the Saints to two field goals with red zone defense. But it was New Orleans’ defense that was dominant from the get-go, forcing a three-and-out on Tampa Bay’s first series and picking off Jameis Winston in the red zone on the second series. That turnover set up a Drew Brees-to-Michael Thomas touchdown on the next play to give the Saints a 13-0 lead, and they wouldn’t look back.
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