The Numbers Behind Tampa’s Missed Opportunity
Dec 31, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks down as he walks off the field after they lost to the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
After a four game win streak that saw explosive offensive performances, Tampa Bay had every reason to believe they could take advantage of a division winning opportunity against the Saints on Sunday. Unfortunately that offense was nowhere to be found and neither was any semblance of a competitive performance. The Bucs’ losing effort to the Saints was defined by costly turnovers, inconsistent play on offense, and a comeback effort that was too little too late.
Here are the numbers that define the loss.
-4 – The Bucs had a -4 turnover differential in the game, as Tampa Bay gave up the ball four times. Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions, and Rachaad White and Trey Palmer each had a fumble. New Orleans’ offense, meanwhile, went turnover-free.
3 – Three of Tampa Bay’s turnovers occurred in New Orleans’ territory:
- Early in the second quarter, a deep pass attempt by Baker Mayfield to Trey Palmer was picked off by Saints DB Alontae Taylor at the New Orleans 2 yard line.
- Midway through the third quarter, Rachaad White broke off a 16-yard run before Johnathan Abram forced a fumble at the Saints’ 43 yard line that was recovered by Demario Davis.
- Baker Mayfield connected with Trey Palmer on a deep pass in the fourth quarter, but he lost his balance after the catch and coughed up the ball on the Saints 21 yard line.
52:10 – The Bucs were shutout for the first 52 minutes and 10 seconds of the game. With 7:50 remaining in regulation, Baker Mayfield found Trey Palmer for a 22 yard touchdown pass to culminate an 8 play, 91 yard drive.
4, 84, 1 – it was a Trey day as Trey Palmer had 84 receiving yards in the game, which is his career high. He also had four receptions and a touchdown in the game, both of which are tied for his single-game career highs.
1 – Derek Carr only took one sack, which occurred midway through the second quarter and was credited to LB Markees Watts, who chased him out of bounds six yards behind the line of scrimmage.
61% – The Saints controlled the ball for 36 minutes and 38 seconds, which is approximately 61% of the game.
90 – The Bucs gave up 90 receiving yards to Saints TE Juwan Johnson, which is his career high; previously, he only had two career games where he topped 50 receiving yards. His 8 receptions and 12 targets were also career highs.
8 – Excluding the kneel down at the end of the first half, the Bucs’ first eight drives of the game ended in either a punt or a turnover.
2 – Of the Bucs’ eight plays they ran on third down, they only converted two of them.
3.47 – Excluding Derek Carr’s kneel downs at the end of the game, the Bucs allowed 3.47 yards per carry in their loss to the Saints. In terms of rushing defense, that was good for seventh best in the NFL in Week 17.
220 – The Bucs had 220 yards of offense on four drives in the fourth quarter.
0 – Tampa Bay ran exactly zero plays inside the Saints’ red zone on Sunday.
29, 20 – The Buccaneers had 29 more yards of offense than the Saints despite the fact that they ran twenty fewer offensive plays than their opponents.
6 – The Saints had six passes defended on Baker Mayfield, which includes the interceptions by Johnathan Abram and Alontae Taylor.
2 – Baker Mayfield was sacked twice, but they were both on critical plays. In the second quarter, he was taken down on a third and 10 by Zack Baun, which forced the Bucs to punt. In the third quarter, he was sacked by Bryan Bresee for a ten yard loss, which turned a 2nd and 3 in Saints territory into a 3rd and 13 back in Tampa Bay’s territory.
28 – Jake Camarda’s third punt in the first half was for a mere 28 yards, which allowed New Orleans to start their final offensive drive of the first half on Tampa Bay’s 46 yard line. That drive ended in a Saints field goal.
3 – The Bucs had three punts in the first half, all of which ended three-and-out drives.
50 – Tampa Bay had 50 total yards of offense in the first half.
0 – As a result of this game, there are currently zero NFC South teams with a winning record. Only three teams in NFL history have won their division with a losing record.
18 – Despite the loss and having the same record as the Saints, the Bucs control their own destiny in Week 18, as they own the conference record tiebreaker over New Orleans. A Bucs’ win over a putrid Panthers team or a Saints loss to the Falcons would give Tampa Bay the NFC South crown.
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