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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Take a bow, Buccaneers.

Despite a flurry of injuries that could have crippled many other teams, Tampa Bay stands 6-2 at the break after cruising past the hapless Saints 23-3. Unlike their first four victories, the Bucs didn’t need a last-minute comeback engineered by Baker Mayfield.

Instead, an inspired defensive effort led by Anthony Nelson provided a comfortable cushion as New Orleans fell to 1-7. The Bucs had five sacks and four takeaways to compensate for another ho-hum effort by an offense that sorely needs Bucky Irving to return.

Nelson and Antoine Winfield Jr. were sensational as an aroused Buc defense frustrated two quarterbacks and silenced a crowd that has grown tired of looking up to Tampa Bay in the NFC South.

Mayfield was pressured consistently in the opening half as Tampa Bay clung to a 7-3 lead that would have been more had the officials not ineptly taken away a touchdown from Winfield.

The only points mustered by the Saints were set up by Mayfield’s fumble. New Orleans went nowhere on the ground against one of the league’s elite rushing defenses. Tampa Bay’s run game wasn’t much better, averaging only 3.0 yards per carry, and the Bucs struggled deep in the red zone.

Anthony Nelson celebrates his historic day.

It was quite a day for the visitors, who now get to rest up for a week before preparing for a home matchup against the 6-2 Patriots, who just happen to be 4-0 on the road.

The 49ers lost while the Panthers and Falcons were both crushed, so Tampa Bay owns a two-game lead atop the division. A healthy Irving would give Tampa Bay’s bland offense some juice heading into a challenging stretch against the Pats, Bills and Rams — who are a combined 16-6.

Mayfield’s MVP aspirations have taken quite a hit the past two games and his battered body surely needs some rest. Who knows when or if Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan will return, so Emeka Egbuka figures to be the primary downfield target for a while.

A rejuvenated pass rush could prompt Jason Licht to reconsider pursuing a veteran pass rusher by the trade deadline, but the Bucs could surely use another target for Mayfield while Mike Evans recuperates from a fractured collarbone.

Here’s how the Bucs improved to 4-1 on the road and 2-0 in the division with their fourth consecutive victory in the Superdome:

* In his first start of the season, Nelson set the early tone with a one-handed interception against Spencer Rattler that he returned for a 4-yard TD. It was a crushing giveaway for the Saints, who had just revved up the crowd with a massive goal-line stand. The Bucs never trailed and New Orleans never recovered. As a bonus, Nelson added a pair of sacks and a forced fumble in a bravura performance filling in for injured Haason Reddick.

* Todd Bowles was hoping Winfield would return to his dynamic form and he couldn’t have asked for much more from his veteran safety. Winfield registered a pick and a fumble recovery while playing with energy and his trademark enthusiasm that rubs off on teammates.

* Coming off a shaky effort in Detroit, OC Josh Grizzard didn’t fare much better on Sunday. He showed no imagination on the goal-line failures that preceded Nelson’s interception and Tampa Bay was 3-for-13 on third down against a porous defense. Overall, the Bucs gained only 212 yards … unacceptable.

* Tristan Wirfs won’t like his tape from this game. He was off from the start.

* The Saints were almost as bad as the officials in this one. They were flagged for eight penalties and Alvin Kamara had only eight touches in 71 snaps. What was OC Doug Nussmeier thinking?

* The rest of the NFC South may be 8-15, but the Bucs have the look of a team that should be dangerous in January. It was the first time the Bucs had four takeaways on the road since Week 2 in 2022. Where else? New Orleans.

* Besides a strong pass rush, the Bucs played sticky coverage in the secondary. New Orleans had only one snap that gained more than 16 yards.

* Dan Feeney, signed off Buffalo’s practice squad five weeks ago, made his first start since 2023. He opened at right guard in place of injured Michael Jordan and Luke Haggard, who was inactive. Feeney was a third-round pick of the Chargers in 2017 who has been around the NFL block.

* As a unit, Tampa Bay’s offensive line was pushed around most of the day. Pass blocking was erratic and there were few creases opened for Sean Tucker, Rachaad White or Josh Williams.

* The Bucs have every reason to be proud of their work through eight games, especially considering all the key injuries. They rebounded from a setback at Ford Field and won comfortably on the road off a short week — no easy task. Buc fans expect a deep playoff run, not just a fifth consecutive division crown. You’d better believe ownership expects nothing less.