By James Varney, The Times-Picayune

Grading the New Orleans Saints in their 23-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at the Superdome:

Offense: 1 fleur-de-lis

Coach Sean Payton intimated things might have been different if the Saints hadn’t fumbled near the goal line in the second quarter, and he might be right. But Julius Jones did fumble, and the offense never seemed to regain its touch against the visiting Buccaneers. Quarterback Drew Brees was guiding a unit depleted by injuries — three starters were inactive and two others, tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Chris Ivory, left the game in the first half. These are ominous signs, but so, too, were the three turnovers. Some of the team’s turnovers, including Brees’ interception, were the result of bad luck or bad breaks, but there is no changing the fact New Orleans’ regular season turnover margin of minus-6 isn’t a championship statistic.

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