NEW ORLEANS – After giving up 27 points to the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers regained the lead on a 55-yard touchdown from quarterback Baker Mayfield to Chris Godwin to make it 31-27.

While moving from left to right, Godwin caught a screen pass and raced down the right sideline past several Saints defenders. Godwin now has 11 catches for 125 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the day.

CHRIS GODWIN TO THE RACES

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/EQOnPtCcfO

—NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

Mayfield has had a tough time. After a touchdown on Godwin’s opening drive on a four-yard strike, he was intercepted three times. Mayfield had just two picks in the first five games of the season. The Bucs also got a touchdown from Mayfield on a 36-yard catch-and-run on a checkdown.

In the first quarter, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. recovered. a forced fumble by Tykee Smith against the Saints and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 with 8:42 to go.

ANTOINE TO THE HOUSE 🙌

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/GBnYB58wYQ

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 13, 2024

Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler – filling in for starter Derek Carr, who is out with an oblique injury – connected with wide receiver Chris Olave on a five-yard route. But Smith cleared the ball, and Winfield, playing as part of a two-deep safety grenade, recovered it at the Tampa Bay 42. Winfield had missed four games with a foot injury.

Smith, the Bucs’ starting nickel back and a rookie, also had a forced fumble in the Bucs’ overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons last week.

On Tampa Bay’s opening drive, Mayfield completed 6 of 6 passes for 62 yards and that 4-yard touchdown to Godwin. With that and Winfield’s return plus a field goal, the Bucs led 17-0 with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter.