Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles stayed up most of the night last Wednesday into Thursday morning watching Hurricane Milton consume the Tampa Bay area with damaging high winds, torrential rain, and flood waters claiming spots that had barely begun recovery from Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.
The Tampa Bay Lightning donated tickets to hundreds of first responders, other recovery workers, and their families following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Milton.
Baker Mayfield overcame three turnovers with 325 yards and four touchdowns passing, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 51-27 in what they hoped would be a morale boost to their Florida many fans who endured Hurricane Milton. The result blemished rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler’s first NFL start for New Orleans, which has lost four straight after opening the season with a pair of lopsided victories. The Bucs escaped Milton’s path by leaving Tampa Bay on Tuesday and practiced in New Orleans all week. They responded by putting up big numbers in the Superdome. Tampa Bay rushed for 277 yards and finished with 594 yards. Rattler passed for 243 yards and a TD but was intercepted twice.
Every game against a divisional opponent is important, but for the Bucs, Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints carries a little extra meaning.
Nikita Kucherov had a third-period hat trick to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in Friday night’s season opener for both teams.
The Tampa Bay Lightning preseason game scheduled for Monday against the Nashville Predators has been canceled due to Hurricane Milton, the team announced Sunday.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have no one to blame but themselves for failing to take advantage of an opportunity to tighten their grip on first place in the NFC South. Instead, the three-time defending division champions share the top spot with Atlanta after allowing the Falcons to drive for a tying field goal in the closing seconds of regulation, then score a touchdown in overtime for a 36-30 victory that left the Bucs struggling for words to describe what happened. The Bucs and Falcons both have 3-2 records.
Kirk Cousins sure earned all that money Thursday night.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to face off against the Atlanta Falcons during Thursday Night Football, streaming live tonight on Amazon’s Prime Video.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding momentum into Thursday night’s NFC South clash with the Atlanta Falcons but so far, the short game week has presented Florida many challenges.