NEW ORLEANS — There was dejection as the Bucs continued to struggle to score against the Saints. And an there was a double ejection.
But in the end, the Bucs broke their seven-game regular-season losing streak to the Saints with an emotional 20-10 win Sunday.
Tom Brady threw a tie-breaking 28-yard touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman in the fourth quarter and cornerback Jamel Dean intercepted Jameis Winston twice at Caesar’s Superdome.
The victory improved the Bucs to 2-0 but more importantly ended the Saints’ regular-season mastery of Tampa Bay dating to 2018.
Safety Mike Edwards iced the game with a 68-yard pick-six, the fifth turnover produced Sunday.
The game got ugly early in the fourth quarter with both Bucs receiver Mike Evans and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore getting ejected.
Brady thought Scotty Miller was interfered with on a deep pass. He ran to the official to complain. Lattimore said something and Fournette pushed him. That’s when Evans charged Lattimore and knocked him backward.
Both teams brawled at midfield before both Evans and Lattimore were hit with off-setting penalties and tossed.
The Bucs continued their offensive ineptitude against the Saints by being shut out in the first half, extending their scoreless streak against New Orleans to six quarters dating to last season.
In fact, they were fortunate to trail only 3-0 at halftime.
Tampa Bay squandered two scoring chances with mistakes in short-yardage situations.
On third and inches from the Saints’ 26-yard line in the first quarter, Brady closed his gloved left hand before receiving Robert Hainsey’s snap and linebacker Demario Davis recovered the fumble. It was the third lost fumble by Brady since coming to Tampa Bay in 2020, with all three coming against the Saints.
Then on fourth and inches from the Saints’ 8-yard line, Bucs tackle Tristan Wirfs turned Kentavius Street loose and he dropped running back Leonard Fournette for a 1-yard loss.
Credit the Bucs defense, who had six sacks on the day, for keeping their team in the game.
Like they did at Dallas a week ago, they allowed the Saints to mount a long drive after receiving the first-half kickoff. They missed some run fits and Winston connected on some short passes. But the Saints were forced to settle on a 31-yard field goal by Will Lutz.
The Bucs forced a three and out on the Saints’ first try in second half to gain good field position.
Brady (18-of-34, 190 yards, one TD) moved the Bucs 28 yards in nine plays, converting on third down with a pass to Breshad Perriman.
That led to Ryan Succop’s 47-yard field goal with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter to tie the score at 3-3.
Then came the defensive play of the game for the Bucs. New Orleans began gashing the Bucs on the ground. But on second and 2 from the Tampa Bay 24, Mark Ingram ran 10 yards before safety Logan Ryan forced a fumble that was recovered by Carl Nassib at the Tampa Bay 10-yard line with 1:11 left in the quarter.
