New Orleans Saints get right in dominant win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defense and a quick start

The Saints only sacked Winston twice on Sunday, but the sack total doesn’t tell the entire story.

Cam Jordan and Sheldon Rankins were in the Bucs backfield more than their running backs were. It was this relentless pressure that kept Winston off the mark much of the day and forced him into four interceptions.

On the back end, the Saints did a solid job without Marshon Lattimore available. It’s not ideal to see PJ Williams as an outside corner, but he did a commendable job against one of the better receivers in the league.

They often gave him a little safety help over the top which was wise, and they held Mike Evans to only four catches for 69 yards. Evans was largely a non-factor in the game.

The Saints did something they used to do with regularity but have struggled with this season – they got out to a quick start. Tampa only ran five plays in the first quarter and the Saints owned the time of possession, 13:19 to 1:41.

The Black and Gold scored 13 points in the opening quarter for the first time this season. A 20-7 lead and two interceptions in the first half – including one to end the first half – put the Saints in the driver’s seat for the game.

Even when Tampa righted the ship in the third quarter the Saints were up to the task and the game was not really in doubt.