The 3-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the 2-3 New Orleans Saints Sunday at Ceasars Superdome in Louisiana. The Bucs have been dealing with injuries since training camp during the offseason, and that has also been the issue during the season. Many of their defensive players have been nagged with injuries, stopping the Buccaneers from performing on a higher level than being performed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey made his season debut against the Saints after being sidelined with a calf injury he suffered during practice during training camp. Antione Winfield Jr., the Buccaneers’ safety, has suffered a foot injury in week one against the Washington Commanders. Both would make it to the field in Sunday’s match against the Saints. Would it make a difference to the Buccaneer’s defense?
Bucs Defense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense had its backs against the wall after Baker Mayfield committed three turnovers in the second quarter. After the end of the first half, the only good thing for the defense was Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr.‘s fumble recovery for a touchdown. The New Orleans Saints would total 27 points on the Buccaneers by halftime. Bucs 24- Saints 27 going into the second half.
In the second half, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers felt enough was enough. The Bucs defense stopped the Saints on all six offensive drives in the second half, with two of the drives ending in interceptions, one by Buccaneers defensive back Zyon McCollum and the other by Bucs defensive back Tykee Smith. Smith also had a fumble force in the first quarter. Head coach of the Buccaneers, Todd Bowles, was pleased with how the team came together for the second half had this to say according to the team website,
Buccaneers Pressure
Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is one of the league’s heaviest blitzing defense play-callers. In the past two games, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has totaled 1o sacks and 12 for the season. On Sunday, the Bucs defense pressured the Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, forcing the young quarterback into mistakes and sacks. The Bucs would end the day with five total sacks; Calijah Kancey would have one, and Bucs linebacker Lavonte David and Buccaneers defensive lineman Vita Vea would all get one.
The Buccaneers’ defense got ten quarterback hits and five tackles for loss. Saints running back Alvin Kamara did not have a very successful day, with only 40 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Saints only had 81 yards in rushing after the game. The New Orleans Saints were 4-13 in third-down conversations.
Final Thoughts on Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the New Orleans Saints scoreless in the second half. The Buccaneers’ defense is slowly becoming more lethal to NFL teams. The Buccaneers will face a real test on Monday Night against the Baltimore Ravens. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Ravens running back Derrick Henry have been having good games for the past couple of weeks. Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the defensive pressure to make Jackson turnover the ball and stop Henry from running up yards?
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