Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 New Orleans Saints 31Sunday 24 December 2016 at Mercedes-Benz StadiumFOX COMMENTARY CREW Kenny Albert and Darryl Johnston
GAME SCORINGNO0:57-1QIngram 6 run (Lutz kick)TB10:50-2QBrate 12 pass from Winston (Aguayo kick)NO6:45-2QLutz FG42NO0:00-2QLutz FG34NO14:01-3QIngram 14 run (Lutz kick)TB8:38-3QRodgers 3 run (Aguayo kick)NO6:20-3QCadet 11 pass from Brees (Ingram run)TB1:52-3QEvans 34 pass from Winston (Aguayo kick)NO11:55-4QLutz FG21TB2:00-4QAguayo FG35
The Bucs’ playoff chances realistically ended in New Orleans when the succession of injuries to the receiving corps and offensive line just left them too out-manned to compete in a scoring shootout with the No.1 offense in the NFL. Trailing 13-7 at half-time, a botched kick return and interception led to a quick Saints’ score and from then on, trailing by two scores for the second half was too much for Jameis Winston and his colleagues to overcome. The Bucs played without Doug Martin who was named a healthy inactive and they lost TE Cameron Brate to injury during the second half leaving them with nothing more than Mike Evans as a target for Winston.