Saints Defense Turns Back the Clock, Shuts Down Bucs in Gritty NFC South Spoiler Win
TAMPA, Fla. - Carl Granderson didn’t need to see the play call. He already knew what was coming.
Just over a month ago, the Saints’ defense had stood tall on the goal line against this same Buccaneers team, turning away a critical short-yardage run and nearly repeating the feat later in that game. So when Tampa Bay lined up for a fourth-and-1 near midfield on Sunday, Granderson trusted his instincts - and his memory.
“They couldn't run up the middle,” Granderson said. “We stuffed the middle like a turkey.
We knew they were going to try and hit the outside. It was a wrap after that.”
He was right. Granderson read the pitch, shot the gap, and dropped the running back for a seven-yard loss - the first of five fourth-down stops in what turned into a statement win for New Orleans, 24-20 over the Bucs.
Tampa Bay, still fighting for the NFC South crown, finished just 2-for-7 on fourth down. The Saints?
They played like a team with nothing to lose - and everything to prove.
A Defensive Clinic in Critical Moments
Let’s be clear: Tampa Bay moved the ball on the ground. They racked up 179 rushing yards on 39 carries - a solid day by any measure. But when it came to the moments that mattered most - short yardage, fourth downs, red zone stands - the Saints’ defense made the kind of plays that define games.
It wasn’t just about stopping the run. It was about setting a tone, again and again, when the Bucs needed a single yard to extend a drive. And this time, unlike their October meeting, the Saints didn’t just win the physical battle - they won the game.
“Everything’s on the line,” said veteran defensive end Cam Jordan. “That’s what gets players excited.
When you’re on defense, you’re like, ‘Man, put it on me. Put it on us.’”
That mindset showed up in every crucial moment. Of the five fourth-down stops, three gave the Saints prime field position. While the offense initially struggled to cash in, they finally broke through in the fourth quarter after a game-changing play from rookie corner Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Kool-Aid Delivers the Hit, and the Moment
With Tampa Bay facing a fourth-and-2 and trailing late, Baker Mayfield fired a quick pass to Chris Godwin, who looked to have the first down - until McKinstry arrived like a freight train. The second-year corner delivered a clean, jarring hit that knocked the ball loose just before Godwin could secure it.
“I went up to him and told him, ‘Man, I don’t think you realize how big a play that was,’” said fellow cornerback Alontae Taylor.
The Saints took over and scored what would be the game-winning touchdown just moments later. It was the kind of play that doesn’t just swing a game - it sticks in the memory of a young defense learning how to finish.
Third-Down Dominance Sets the Table
To even get to those fourth-down moments, the Saints had to be sharp on third down - and they were. New Orleans held Tampa Bay to just 3 of 13 on third down, tying their best performance of the season.
The last time they did that? Against the Bucs in their first meeting.
That kind of consistency on third down speaks to preparation, execution, and a defense that’s beginning to find its identity, even in a season where the playoff picture has long faded.
One of the biggest stops came with under five minutes to go. The Bucs were threatening, and tight end Cade Otton looked like a prime target for a game-tying score.
But Michael Davis, a seldom-used cornerback inserted for a specific package, stuck to Otton like glue and denied the pass in the end zone. Tampa Bay settled for a field goal - their final points of the day.
“We’re there to ruin their season,” Davis said. “We’re out of playoff contention. They’re still in the hunt, so we’ve got to ruin their season.”
And that, they did.
Spoiling the Party - and Building for the Future
The loss drops Tampa Bay to 7-6, tying them with the Carolina Panthers atop the NFC South. With two head-to-head matchups still looming between those teams in the final four weeks, the division is wide open - and the Saints just made it that much more complicated.
At 3-10, New Orleans won’t be part of that race. But this win wasn’t about standings.
It was about pride, about growth, and about laying bricks for what comes next. Beating a team that’s won the division four straight years - and doing it with toughness and discipline - is exactly the kind of performance that can galvanize a young core.
Even 13 games into the season, the Saints were still waiting for a moment where the defense would truly be asked to seal a win. On Sunday, they got it.
With 1:48 left and the Bucs needing 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown, linebacker Demario Davis saw the opportunity - and embraced it.
“It was like a dog licking its chops,” Davis said.
Tampa Bay drove nine yards. On fourth-and-4, they came up just short.
Game over. Season spoiled. And for the Saints, maybe a glimpse of what’s possible when the defense is clicking and the mindset is right.