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

4 of 5

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Takeaways from the game

Speaking of takeaways, here are some other takeaways from the game:

Any game in which Jameis Winston throws 51 passes is likely going to be a Tampa loss. Even when they scored 55 against the Rams, Winston only threw 41 passes. Tampa only attempted 8 rushes – they looked very much like we did last week, without as many turnovers.

Josh Hill went out with a concussion.

Taysom Hill played as a tight end a bit more, but once again injuries at that particular position leave us damaged. We picked up Jared Cook to be our number one there and he’s starting to come into his own, but we need better depth at that spot. Maybe that’s addressed in this year’s draft.

The Saints again damaged themselves with penalties. They amassed nine penalties for 76 yards. This group had done well until last week with the penalties. But, to be realistic, there were about five penalties that were simply poor officiating.

More from Who Dat Dish

There were two phantom holding calls as well as a pass interference call by an official who was just not in a good position to see the interference wasn’t there.

And there were bad misses. Cam Jordan was more or less mugged on a play where he nearly got a sack, but it was missed, while they called a hold on us downfield.

On another play, Winston intentionally grounds a ball with his LEFT HAND and it’s not called.

Yes, there was an eligible receiver in the area, but there needs to be some discretion there. When the ball is thrown directly downward with the off-hand, that should be called. As it were, Winston was already in the grasp, which they don’t call much anymore, and that’s what led to the “grounding” with the left hand.

Also, Sheldon Rankins was called for a late hit on Winston. I think it was a sympathy call by the official because Winston was hurt already. Or it was a reaction to the events of the Thursday night game, where Myles Garrett took down Mason Rudolph before the helmet incident.

The hit was maybe a tad late in that game and the takedown was maybe a bit excessive. Rankins’ hit was maybe a step after the ball was gone, a momentum hit. Seemed a bit ticky-tack for that call.

The Saints took advantage of the Bucs playing young cornerbacks. The Bucs released their veteran Vernon Hargreaves earlier in the week. Their corners for this week were a rookie who got his first real action last week and a second-year player.

That’s a tough sell going against a veteran like Drew Brees and the best wide receiver in the game today in Michael Thomas.