The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats from December 7, 2025 reveal the full story of one of the biggest upsets of the NFL season. Tyler Shough delivered the performance of his young career on a rainy night in Tampa. The Saints rookie ran for two touchdowns and completed 13 of his 20 passing attempts for 144 yards, guiding New Orleans to a victory that few expected. His 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Saints the lead for good, and his 13-yard scoring run in the fourth sealed the result. Shough and Devin Neal combined for 125 rushing yards on the ground, the most by Saints rookies in the same game since 2017.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Inactive: Tristan Wirfs (Oblique), Mike Evans (Clavicle), Luke Haggard (Shoulder), Benjamin Morrison (Hamstring)
In-Game Exits: Ben Bredeson (Knee, Q2), Tykee Smith (Stinger, Q2), Haason Reddick (Ankle)
Note: Undrafted rookie Ben Chukwuma made his first NFL start at left tackle in place of All-Pro Tristan Wirfs.
Game Analysis
Tyler Shough Leads Saints Upset
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats from December 7, 2025 tell the story of one of the biggest upsets of the NFL season. Tyler Shough delivered the performance of his young career on a rainy night in Tampa. The Saints rookie ran for two touchdowns and completed 13 of his 20 passing attempts for 144 yards, guiding New Orleans to a victory that few expected. His 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Saints the lead for good, and his 13-yard scoring run in the fourth sealed the result. Shough and Devin Neal combined for 125 rushing yards on the ground, the most by Saints rookies in the same game since 2017.
Mayfield Struggles in Wet Conditions
Reviewing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats, Baker Mayfield struggled badly in the wet conditions, completing just 14 of 30 passes with a 55.1 passer rating. Tampa Bay controlled the game in terms of time of possession, holding the ball for 32 minutes and 12 seconds compared to New Orleans’ 27 minutes and 48 seconds. The Buccaneers also outgained the Saints 301 yards to 260. However, Tampa Bay converted only 3 of 13 third-down attempts — a 23 percent rate that proved fatal in a close game.
Wirfs Absence Hurts Tampa Bay Offense
The absence of All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs was felt throughout the contest. Without their best offensive lineman, Tampa Bay allowed three sacks on Mayfield, forcing the veteran quarterback into uncomfortable situations all night. Undrafted rookie Ben Chukwuma started in his place, making his first NFL appearance under difficult conditions.
Defensive Standouts — Taylor and Vea
A closer look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats shows two defensive players stood above the rest. New Orleans cornerback Alontae Taylor earned the highest PFF grade among Saints defenders at 84.9, picking off a Mayfield pass and limiting his targets to just 33.3 percent completion rate. For Tampa Bay, defensive tackle Vita Vea was the standout performer with 4 pressures, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and a game-high PFF grade of 85.5.
Final Standings Impact
The victory dropped Tampa Bay into a first-place tie with Carolina in the NFC South, while New Orleans moved to 3-10 on the season. The result stands as one of the most surprising outcomes of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Stats sourced from ESPN, the Associated Press, NFL.com, and Pro Football Focus (PFF). PFF grades are initial and subject to revision following film review.
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