Saints Shock Bucs Behind Tyler Shough’s Gritty Performance, NFC South Race Tightens
TAMPA - Don’t let the record fool you - the New Orleans Saints aren’t going quietly. And rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is making sure of it.
In a rain-soaked slugfest at Raymond James Stadium, the Saints pulled off a gritty 24-20 upset over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, shaking up the NFC South and delivering a statement that this team, despite its 3-10 record, still has plenty of fight.
Shough, starting just his fifth NFL game, didn’t light up the stat sheet - 144 passing yards, 55 on the ground, and a pick - but he made the plays that mattered. The rookie now has road wins over both Tampa Bay and Carolina, the top two teams in the division standings. And in this one, he showed a knack for the moment that belied his experience.
“We can beat anybody,” Shough said postgame. “When we’re stalling out, we’re beating ourselves. But when we clean it up and make the big plays, we can flip the script.”
Flip it, they did.
Shough’s Signature Moment
With the game tied at 17 midway through the fourth quarter, the Saints needed a spark - and Shough delivered. On a crucial third down deep in Bucs territory, he escaped pressure from Logan Hall and Vita Vea, spun out of the pocket, and took off. Thirteen yards later, he was in the end zone, putting New Orleans up 24-17 and sending the Saints’ sideline into a frenzy.
It wasn’t just a touchdown - it was a tone-setter. A rookie quarterback, on the road, in the rain, against a division leader, making the kind of play that wins games.
Bucs’ Missed Opportunities
Tampa Bay, now 7-6, had their chances. Several of them.
After Shough’s go-ahead score, the Bucs moved into scoring range but couldn’t finish. A dropped touchdown by Emeka Egbuka forced them to settle for a 37-yard field goal, trimming the deficit to 24-20 with under five minutes to go.
Then came the final drive. With no timeouts and 1:48 on the clock, Baker Mayfield had a shot to engineer one of his signature late-game drives.
But the magic wasn’t there this time. After two incompletions and a short scramble, Mayfield hit Cade Otton for just three yards on fourth-and-4.
Turnover on downs. Ballgame.
“It doesn’t matter whether the team was 12-0 or 0-12, it’s the NFL,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “You have to show up and make plays, or the other team is gonna beat you.”
Tampa Bay has now dropped four of its last five and finds itself in a first-place tie with Carolina. And with two matchups against the Panthers still on the schedule, the division is suddenly wide open.
A Sloppy, Stormy Battle
This wasn’t a clean game by any stretch. The rain didn’t help, but both teams left points on the field.
Tampa Bay went 0-for-3 on fourth down before finally converting one late in the first half - and even that drive ended without points. The Saints, for their part, had a promising red-zone trip stall out after a penalty for illegal man downfield wiped out a clutch fourth-down conversion.
The Bucs’ offense looked out of rhythm all afternoon. Mayfield finished 14-of-30 for just 122 yards and an interception. Rachaad White and Sean Tucker provided some punch on the ground, with Tucker scoring from the 1-yard line to briefly give Tampa Bay a 17-14 lead in the third quarter, but the passing game never found its footing.
Chris Godwin Jr. summed up the frustration: “It feels disjointed. I can’t put my finger on exactly why. But we’ve got to get it together - and fast - if we want to make a run.”
Saints Strike Early, Then Grind It Out
New Orleans came out swinging. Mason Tipton’s 54-yard kickoff return set the tone, and Devin Neal punched it in from three yards out to give the Saints a rare first-quarter touchdown - just their second of the season.
Shough’s first touchdown came on a 34-yard keeper to open the second half, giving New Orleans a 14-10 lead and flashing the dual-threat ability that made him such an intriguing prospect.
Later, after Tampa Bay regained the lead, the Saints answered with a 30-yard field goal to tie it up at 17. And then came Shough’s game-winner - the kind of play that builds confidence and earns trust in a locker room.
Fourth-Down Gambles Come Up Empty
Both teams were aggressive on fourth down - and both paid the price.
The Bucs were stuffed twice in Saints territory, including a deep pitch to Bucky Irving that lost seven yards. The Saints tried their own fourth-and-1 gamble near midfield, only to see Neal dropped for a three-yard loss by Haason Reddick.
It wasn’t until Mayfield’s fourth-down scramble late in the half that either team converted. But even that drive fizzled before it could produce points.
Rookies and Replacements
Tampa Bay had to shuffle its offensive line, with undrafted rookie Benjamin Chukwama making his first NFL start at left tackle in place of All-Pro Tristan Wirfs. It was a tough spot against a Saints front that brought steady pressure.
The Bucs also dealt with a string of injuries: left guard Ben Bredeson exited with a knee issue, defensive back Tykee Smith left with a stinger, and Reddick was sidelined with an ankle injury. They were already without several key players, including Mike Evans and Wirfs.
New Orleans was missing Alvin Kamara, Taliese Fuaga, and Justin Reid, but still found a way to control the tempo and play cleaner football when it counted.
What’s Next
The Saints return home to face Carolina next Sunday, while the Bucs have a quick turnaround with a Thursday night showdown against Atlanta - a game that now carries even more weight in the division race.
For New Orleans, this win won’t fix a 3-10 season, but it’s a reminder that this team - and its rookie quarterback - isn’t mailing it in. They’re learning, growing, and maybe even building something.
And for Tampa Bay? The margin for error just got razor thin.