TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune just six weeks after a humiliating defeat, the New Orleans Saints, led by the dynamic play of quarterback Tyler Shough and a relentless ground game, upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 to 20 on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

The victory, witnessed by 63,125 fans, snapped a three-game losing streak for the Saints and improved their record to 3 wins and 10 losses. More significantly, it avenged a 23 to 3 home loss to the Buccaneers on Oct. 26. Tampa Bay, which entered the game with a 93.5% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, fell to 7 wins and 6 losses, damaging its playoff positioning.

The most important part of the game was the Saints’ immediate and emphatic response to their recent past. From the opening kickoff, New Orleans played with an urgency absent in the previous meeting. Mason Tipton’s 54-yard return on the game’s first kick set an aggressive tone. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, making his fourth career start, then engineered a crisp, 7-play, 55-yard drive. He completed three passes for 40 yards and scrambled for an 11-yard gain to the Tampa Bay 3-yard line. Two plays later, running back Devin Neal plunged in from 3 yards out to give New Orleans a 7 to 0 lead just two minutes and 36 seconds into the contest.

Tampa Bay answered with a methodical 12-play, 67-yard drive of its own, capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to running back Bucky Irving. The game settled into a defensive struggle for the remainder of the half. The Buccaneers’ defense, led by safety Christian Izien’s eight tackles and a key interception by cornerback Zyon McCollum, stifled the Saints’ offense after the initial score. Kicker Chase McLaughlin’s 41-yard field goal early in the second quarter gave Tampa Bay its first and only lead at 10 to 7, a margin that held until halftime.

The third quarter belonged to Shough and the Saints’ revitalized offense. After the Buccaneers’ opening drive of the half ended with an interception by Saints safety Alontae Taylor, New Orleans took over near midfield. Following two runs by Neal, Shough took a designed run around left end, found a seam, and outraced the Tampa Bay defense for a spectacular 34-yard touchdown. The scoring dash, Shough’s first rushing touchdown of the season, reclaimed the lead for New Orleans at 14 to 10.

Tampa Bay responded with its most impressive drive, a 13-play, 65-yard march that consumed over seven minutes. It was powered almost exclusively by the run, with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker combining for 42 yards on the ground. Tucker finished it with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, putting the Buccaneers back ahead 17 to 14.

Undaunted, Shough led the Saints on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that bled over eight minutes off the clock. Mixing runs by Neal and Audric Estime with precise short passes, New Orleans methodically moved to the Tampa Bay 5-yard line. The drive stalled there, but kicker Charlie Smyth converted a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 17 as the third quarter ended.

The Saints’ defense then forced a critical three-and-out to start the fourth quarter. Taking over with momentum, Shough orchestrated the game-winning drive. He converted a key third down with a 12-yard pass to Chris Olave and later found Neal for a 14-yard gain to the Tampa Bay 13. On the next play, Shough scrambled to his left, avoided pressure, and sprinted into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown, his second rushing score of the day, giving New Orleans a 24 to 17 lead with 8:26 remaining.

Tampa Bay had two final chances. A 32-yard run by Irving on the ensuing drive set up a 37-yard McLaughlin field goal, cutting the deficit to 24 to 20 with 4:54 left. After forcing a Saints punt, the Buccaneers got the ball back at their own 20-yard line with 1:48 to play and no timeouts. Mayfield, who finished a subpar 14 of 30 for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception, could not muster a comeback. His final four passes fell incomplete, the last a desperate heave toward Emeka Egbuka on fourth down that sailed out of bounds, sealing the Saints’ victory.

Shough finished with an efficient 13 of 20 for 144 yards and added 55 yards and two critical touchdowns on the ground. Neal was the workhorse, carrying 19 times for 70 yards and a touchdown while catching a pass for 14 yards. The Saints’ defense, led by seven tackles each from linebacker Demario Davis and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, held Tampa Bay’s offense in check for most of the afternoon.

For Tampa Bay, Irving was a bright spot with 55 rushing yards, 26 receiving yards, and a touchdown. The Buccaneers’ defense recorded three sacks but ultimately could not contain Shough’s dual-threat ability in crucial moments.

The result defied pregame projections, as New Orleans, an 8.5-point underdog, secured a victory that not only ended a dismal skid but also delivered a measure of payback against their NFC South rivals.