Notes and stats from the Buccaneers 34-23 loss to the Saints

- On the Buccaneers first offensive possession, Tampa Bay went nine plays for 57 yards and a touchdown. QB Tom Brady’s first touchdown with the Buccaneers came on the ground via a two-yard score, marking the 23rd rushing touchdown of his NFL career. It was the first time in Brady’s 21-year career that his team’s opening drive of the season resulted in a Brady rushing touchdown.

- Brady’s first touchdown pass for Tampa Bay, and the 542nd of his NFL career, came on a nine-yard pass to TE O.J. Howard in the third quarter. Howard was the 22nd-different tight end to have caught a touchdown pass from Brady throughout his 21-year career. The touchdown marked the 13th career receiving touchdown for Howard.

- Brady finished his first game with the Buccaneers 23-of-36 for 239 yards and three total touchdowns. His three total touchdowns are the most by a Buccaneers quarterback in their debut.

MOST TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS BY A QB IN BUCCANEERS DEBUT

Rank Player (Season) Total TD

1. Tom Brady (2020) 3

2t. Jameis Winston (2015) 2

2t. Josh McCown (2014) 2

2t. Joe Ferguson (1988) 2

2t. Mike Hold (1987) 2

- In the fourth quarter, Brady connected with WR Mike Evans for a two-yard touchdown. Evans’ 49 touchdown receptions since entering the league in 2014 are the third-most in the NFL. He also built upon his own franchise record for most receiving touchdowns in team history.

MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS IN BUCCANEERS HISTORY

Rank Player (Seasons) Rec. TD

1. Mike Evans (2014-Present) 49

2. Jimmie Giles (1978-86) 34

3. Kevin House (1980-86) 31

4. Joey Galloway (2004-08) 28

5t. Cameron Brate (2014-Present) 27

5t Mark Carrier (1987-92) 27

- WR Chris Godwin led the team in receiving with six receptions for 79 yards. WR Scotty Miller established new career highs with five receptions and 73 yards receiving.

- RB Ronald Jones II led the Buccaneers on the ground with 66 rushing yards on 17 carries (3.9 avg.).

- The first sack of the season came from OLB Jason Pierre-Paul, who dropped Saints QB Drew Brees for a nine-yard loss, pushing his career sack total to 80.5. Pierre-Paul has 22.0 sacks in 27 games with Tampa Bay. His 80.5 sacks since entering the league in 2010 are the 12th-most during that span. Pierre-Paul’s 22.0 sacks for the Buccaneers tied John Cannon for the 15th-most sacks in team history.

- ILB Lavonte David led the defense with two tackles for loss, taking his career total to 118, which rank as the second-most tackles for loss in the NFL since 2012 behind only J.J. Watt’s 145 (through Sunday’s 4 p.m. games). David has 31 career games with multiple tackles for loss, which are the most-such games by a linebacker since 2012.

MOST TACKLES FOR LOSS – SINCE 2012 (Through 4 p.m. games on Sunday)

Rank Player (Current Team) TFL

1. J.J. Watt (HOU) 145

2. Lavonte David 118

3. Aaron Donald (LAR) 117

4t. Von Miller (DEN) 116

4t. Michael Bennett (Retired) 116

- David finished Sunday’s contest tied for the team high with 10 tackles, securing a double-digit tackle total for the 35th time in his career. His 35 games with 10-or-more tackles are the third-most in the NFL since 2012.

- ILB Devin White shared the team lead in tackles with 11 of his own, marking his third game with 10-or-more tackles in just 14 career appearances.

- Players making NFL debut: OLB Quinton Bell, S Antoine Winfield Jr., T Tristan Wirfs.

- Players making Buccaneers regular season debut: QB Tom Brady, RB Leonard Fournette, TE Rob Gronkowski, RB LeSean McCoy, K Ryan Succop.

(Courtesy of the Buccaneers Communication Department.)