It wasn't pretty. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are NFC South Champions. The Bucs defeated the New Orleans Saints in a tough matchup, grinding out a 27-19 win. With this victory, the Buccaneers moved to 10-7 to finish the year and captured their fourth consecutive NFC South title, securing them either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs.
The New Orleans Saints got the ball first and scored first, kicking a field goal after an extended drive to go up 3-0. Tampa Bay was initially forced to punt at midfield, but a five-yard penalty for running intothe punter moved them up, allowing them to hit a 52-yard field goal to tie it at 3-3. The Saints went on another lengthy drive and opened the second quarter with another field goal, making it 6-3. Subsequently, the Saints capitalized on yet another drive and widened their lead to 13-3 with seven minutes left in the half.
The Buccaneers struggled to find the end zone during the first half and went to halftime trailing 16-6 after kicking another field goal. The teams returned for the second half, and the Bucs finally broke through with their first touchdown of the game, as Baker Mayfield connected with Payne Durham for a three-yard touchdown pass, pulling them closer at 16-13.
The Saints responded with another field goal to extend their lead to 19-13, but the Bucs answered back with strong offense. Mayfield hit Jalen McMillan for a sensational 32-yard touchdown, putting the Bucs up 20-19 with less than ten minutes left to play.
With the clock winding down and the Bucs up by just one point, Todd Bowles had the golden opportunity to fulfill Mike Evans' remarkable milestone. Evans was sitting at 995 receiving yards for the season and, with the game well under control, there was no hesitation from Bowles. The players executed the play knowing who would be getting the ball as Evans caught the pass for his 1,000th yard, adding another accolade to his historically significant career.
Evans’ achievement marked his 11th consecutive season with at least 1,000 receiving yards, placing him alongside legendary Jerry Rice, cementing his status among the greats of football. This was especially important to the Buccaneers and their fans, who witnessed the ups and downs of the season, including Evans battling through injuries and defenses focusing on him more without fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin.
With the game under wraps and the Bucs leading 27-19, the defense stepped up and stopped the Saints, allowing Tampa Bay to run out the clock, bringing absolute joy to the fans at Raymond James Stadium. The jubilant celebration reflected not just relief but pure enthusiasm for what they had accomplished.
While celebrating this important milestone, head coach Todd Bowles remarked, "It wasn't pretty. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are NFC South Champions," echoing the sentiment felt throughout the stadium. This victory not only secured Tampa Bay's division but also solidified their fifth straight playoff appearance, showcasing their resilience through various obstacles during the season.
Having clinched their place, the Buccaneers now await to learn who their next opponent will be, with the possibilities including the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, or the Detroit Lions. Fans are now brimming with excitement as they anticipate the playoffs, hoping their team leverages this momentum to extend their playoff run and succeed beyond the regular season.