Baker Mayfield passed for 325 yards and four touchdowns and the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 51-27 on Sunday afternoon.
Mayfield overcame three interceptions to complete a tumultuous week in which the Bucs (4-2) relocated to New Orleans on Tuesday to avoid Hurricane Milton.
Sean Tucker racked up 192 yards from scrimmage (136 rushing, 56 receiving) with two touchdowns, and Chris Godwin had 11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns as Tampa Bay squandered a 17-0 first-quarter lead before outscoring the Saints 27-0 in the second half and finishing with 594 yards.
Rookie Spencer Rattler made his NFL debut in place of the injured Derek Carr and passed for 243 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions for the Saints (2-4), who lost their fourth straight.
Mayfield’s 55-yard touchdown pass to Godwin produced the fourth lead change of the game and gave Tampa Bay a 31-27 edge at the end of the third quarter.
An 8-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Cade Otton preceded Bucky Irving’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Tucker’s 5-yard run completed the scoring with 1:55 left.
The Bucs received the opening kickoff and drove to Mayfield’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Godwin.
Rattler’s second pass was a 5-yard completion to Chris Olave, but Olave was hit and fumbled. Antoine Winfield Jr. picked up the ball and raced 58 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Olave sustained a concussion that forced him from the game.
Chase McLaughlin added a 26-yard field goal that increased the lead to 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.
New Orleans got its first points when Blake Grupe kicked a 42-yard field goal on the third play of the second quarter, and Rashid Shaheed returned a Tampa Bay punt 54 yards for a touchdown to trim the lead to 17-10.
Paulson Adebo’s interception of Mayfield led to Grupe’s 29-yard field goal. Johnathan Abram intercepted Mayfield on the next drive, and on the ensuing play, Rattler’s 10-yard touchdown pass to rookie Bub Means gave New Orleans a 20-17 lead.
Mayfield bounced back by connecting with Tucker on a 36-yard touchdown before Alvin Kamara’s 4-yard touchdown run gave the Saints a 27-24 halftime lead.
