Tampa Bay Buccaneers Brought Back to Earth In Un-Saintly Manner

Who dat?

What dat?

Oh dat.

Yeah, dat game Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Dat 31-6 stomping of the Buccaneers by New Orleans.

Yea, dat one.

This was a fast and furious reminder that the Buccaneers are still very much a work in progress, still very much a team with a lot of flaws, most of which were on display in that whimper of a game against the Saints.

This was a reminder that the Buccaneers have had and are going to have a very tough time running the football.

When former Buc Dave Moore told us that the Tampa Bay offensive line was being overpowered by the Saints throughout the first half, the handwriting was on the wall. When Connor Barth's late first-half field-goal attempt bounced off the post, you had to know that the Bucs were doomed, down 17-0 at the intermission.

It was tiring to hear Gene Deckerhoff keep reminding the radio listeners that the Bucs came from behind to beat New Orleans last year in the Crescent City.

There would be none of that on Sunday.

New Orleans ran through the Bucs at will. Chris Ivory (who dat?) from mighty Tiffin University bolted through the Bucs like the second coming of Barry Sanders. Before he was done, he went for 158 yards on just 15 carries.

On the other side, Cadillac Williams continues to sputter on two cylinders. Caddy amassed 18 yards on 10 carries.

How about those 42 rushing yards for the Bucs?

Remember the "Shula Rules?"

It was painfully obvious in this beat-down that the Bucs cannot continue to play like this.

You really don't want to see Josh Freeman forced to throw 43 passes in a single afternoon, do you?

This was a complete and thorough wipeout.

It was a singular and emphatic reminder that the road to the NFC South title goes through New Orleans.

And although these Saints don't look to be as overpowering as last year's version, they still have what it takes to slap the Buccaneers silly.