2024 Week 6: Buccaneers 51, Saints 27
The Buccaneers (4-2) started hot and were up 17-0 and it looked like this game may be heading towards a blow. Baker then made some bad throws and Rattler started to complete some nice passes of his own. The INTs and a Rashid Shaheed punt-return TD put the Saints up 27-24 at halftime. New Orleans wouldn’t score again and Tampa just ran the ball 100 times on their way to their own 27-point half and a commanding victory.
The Saints (2-4) are in trouble and might become sellers very soon. If New Orleans drops their next two games to fall to (2-6) I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a fire sale. Carr and Matthieu could both be moved.
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QB Report:
- I don’t think Spencer Rattler (22/40 for 243 yards, 1 TD/2 INTs, 4 rushes for 27 yards) looked all that bad for a rookie debut. His first half was much better than his second half, which isn’t a radical thought. 0 points in the second half makes it a pretty easy decision there. What changed between the first and second half? Tampa stopped playing prevent and started going after Rattler. I don’t get why teams always try to sit back and let rookie QBs beat them with their arms. Pressure makes every QB uncomfortable and that effect is multiplied for (most) rookies. The Bucs had 5 sacks and 2 INTs in the second half.
- Baker Mayfield (24/36 for 325 yards, 4TDs/3 INTs) has been doing his best Jameis Winston impression this season and it will probably be what kills this team. He was the sole reason for Tampa blowing their 17-point first-quarter lead. Baker made a ton of questionable throws in the second quarter that led to New Orleans scoring 20 of their 27 points in the second quarter.
RB Report:
- The Tampa Bay backfield is extremely complicated now. Rachaad White (DNP) will probably be the ceremonious starter for a few games but Bucky Irving (14-81-1, 2 catches for 24 yards) will be the lead back over Sean Tucker (14-136-1, 3 catches for 56 yards, 1 TD), with White being the 3rd down back that primarily blocks. If I were Todd Bowles I’d make Tucker the primary back, he more than earned it after this performance, but the NFL always seems to ‘catch on’ last. If you play fantasy football, my recommendation is to stay as far away from this backfield as you can. Good luck predicting which of Tucker-Irving-White will have the good game.
WR/TE Report:
- Chris Olave (1-5-0/1) left early with a concussion and will likely miss their TNF game against Denver. On top of that Rashid Shaheed (1-11-0/7) was hurt and may miss Thursday’s game as well. Rattler doesn’t do great things for the passing game, and against the Denver defense I don’t know how you can project the air attack to be successful, but without those two the onus is on Alvin Kamara (13-40-1, 5 catches for 24 yards) to keep this team alive.
- A player that emerged after Olave's injury was Bub Means (5-45-1/8). He and Rattler have the best connection as they worked together in the second-team offense. Means could have a lot of garbage time targets but Denver’s defense is likely too tough for Means to have an impact.
D/ST Report:
- Both of these defenses have been awful lately. The Saints looked legit to start the year but they were worked by KC and TB that last two games. New Orleans doesn’t have the toughest schedule in terms of opposing offenses coming up, but this team could be defeated morally by then. 32% of the Saints roster is on the injury report.
- The Bucs defense hasn’t been great this year, but they’ve been especially bad the last two weeks. They let Kirk throw for 500 two weeks ago, and then Rattler picked them apart for an entire half. TB faces Baltimore, Atlanta, KC, and San Fran the next 4 games. This could get ugly.
