Saints vs. Buccaneers Game Recap

What went down in the 2024 season finale?

On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints played their division rival, the Buccaneers, in Tampa Bay in the season finale. Unable to end their season on a high note, New Orleans lost, and in disappointing fashion.

FIRST QUARTER

New Orleans would receive the ball to start out the game and looked better than most probably thought they would. Quarterback Spencer Rattler played well, completing 4/5 of his passes for 29 yards, and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire had 16 yards on two rushes. However, they would be unable to convert a 3rd & 3 after a pass to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling went for a loss of one. Thankfully, kicker Blake Grupe would make the ensuing 35-yard field goal attempt.

Tampa Bay’s offense would nearly be stopped on their opening drive, thanks to a strong performance of the New Orleans defense. Unfortunately, the Saints special teams would be flagged with running into the kicker, which pushed the Buccaneers into field goal range. So from 52 yards out, kicker Chase McLaughlin would send it through.

Rattler led the Saints on their next drive, completing 3/5 of his passes for 31 yards and scrambling for 11. Unfortunately, the team would continue their practice of shooting themselves in the foot, with two penalties that sapped any momentum gained (false start, ineligible man downfield). At the end of the first quarter, running backs Edwards-Helaire and Jordan Mims would be handed the ball, making it third and short at the start of the second.

SECOND QUARTER

The first play of the second quarter would be an incomplete pass, intended for Valdes-Scantling. Grupe, this time from 39 yards out, would send it through the uprights.

New Orleans’ defense would then hold the Buccaneers to a quick three-and-out. On the field for just over a minute, Tampa Bay would punt after quarterback Baker Mayfield threw an incomplete pass intended for WR Mike Evans.

The Saints offense would then turn it up a notch. On the first play of their next drive, Rattler would complete a deep pass to TE Juwan Johnson for 26 yards.

A few plays later, there would be a Dallin Holker sighting. The team’s “eighth round” draft pick would make the second and third receptions of his career, for a gain of five and six yards, respectively. However, the two catches by the rookie out of Colorado St. would not be enough for a first down and would lead the team to a 4th & 1. Thankfully, a 14-yard pass from Rattler to Edwards-Helaire would earn the Saints a fresh set of downs. New Orleans would have to make another attempt a few plays later, which would also be picked up, but on a six-yard run by Jamaal Williams.

With the goal line in sight, New Orleans would reach 1st & Goal after a pass to Moreau and a run by Williams. On 2nd & Goal, the team would add six points to the scoreboard on a pass from Rattler to Dante Pettis. Grupe would make the PAT.

Tampa Bay’s next offensive drive would essentially be their last of the first half. Brought to a 2nd & 17 after a great tackle by safety Will Harris, the Buccaneers would get a new fresh set of downs and continue marching down the field. Then later, the New Orleans defense had them at a 3rd & 10, but that would also be converted on an 11-yard reception by Evans. Fortunately, after a six-yard rush, Mayfield would throw back-to-back incomplete passes, forcing a 25-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Chase McLaughlin would send it in.

The Saints would then have just under a minute left in the half to extend their lead, and Rattler would play his best drive yet. Completing 7/9 of his passes for 49 yards, he would lead New Orleans to field goal range. So, from 39 yards out, and with seven seconds left on the clock, Grupe sent it through the uprights.

Baker Mayfield would then kneel the ball to close out the first half.

THIRD QUARTER

To start out the second half, the Saints defense almost held the Buccaneers to a three-and-out until a 10-yard scramble by Mayfield gave Tampa Bay a fresh set of downs. Later that drive, they would convert another third down on an 11-yard reception from WR Sterling Shepard. But, due to Tyrann Mathieu being flagged for unnecessary roughness, it would push the Bucs offense 15 yards further down the field and into the red zone. Just a few plays later, Mayfield would find TE Payne Durham for the score.

Unfortunately, the Saints would barely move forward and went three-and-out. Two deep passes to Valdes-Scantling fell incomplete, and a run by Edwards-Helaire only gained one yard.

Thankfully, the Saints defense was quickly able to get the ball back in the offense’s hands. Following two short runs by running back Bucky Irving, safety Jordan Howden would intercept a pass that was intended for Evans.

Edwards-Helaire would open up the drive with a seven-yard run. Unfortunately, that would be the most yards gained on the drive. Following a negative yardage run by Williams and an incomplete pass by Rattler, Grupe would send it through the uprights from 49 yards out. Luckily, the defense of the Saints was still up to par and forced another Tampa Bay three-and-out on their next appearance.

It seems, though, that another Spencer Rattler performance was a tale of two halves, because the offense didn’t show up on this drive either. Going three-and-out and seven yards backwards, New Orleans would send out their punter, Matthew Hayball.

That would be the last full drive of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

New Orleans’ defense wouldn’t be able to hold the Tampa Bay offense back for long and would quickly eat up the final minutes of the third quarter. In just four plays, they went 40 yards down the field, with 34 of those coming from Baker Mayfield. Once the fourth quarter officially started, Mayfield and the Bucs offense continued their pace, marching 42 more yards down the field for a touchdown. The score would come on a 32-yard passing touchdown by Jalen McMillian.

The Saints next drive was underwhelming. While they did gain a fresh set of downs, thanks to a 20-yard pass from Rattler to Valdes-Scantling. But, after being sacked two plays later, the offense was unable to reach the line to gain on what was a 3rd & 18. However, a delay of game penalty pushed the offense back five yards, making it an even bigger 3rd & 23. Hayball’s ensuing punt would go for 51 yards, with an 11-yard return.

Tampa Bay’s offense continued their strong performance, advancing 94 yards down the field for another touchdown in just 12 plays. A key moment of the drive was on a 3rd & 14 play that saw Mayfield scramble for 28 yards and the first down. And, a couple of chunk runs and passes later, Bucky Irving would enter the end zone on an 11-yard run.

Spencer Rattler started out the next drive well, completing his first three passes for 33 yards. However, coming out of the timeout, he would throw four straight incompletions, leading to a turnover on downs.

From there, the Buccaneers could’ve kneeled it once to end the game. However, Mike Evans was five yards away from his 11th straight 1,000-yard season. In a play that everyone knew was going to happen, the Bucs called a short pass to Evans so he could reach the mark. So, on the game’s last play, Mike Evans would catch the ball for a nine-yard gain.