It turns out one yard that Mark Ingram failed to get in the middle of the fourth quarter on Monday night turned out to be a MASSIVE difference in the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Before Tom Brady threw the game-winning TD, the Saints blew a 16-3 lead. The first step toward that? With six minutes to go and the Saints on a second-and-8, Ingram caught a ball and scampered toward the first-down marker on the right sideline. He looked to have that first down with plenty of room … but he somehow stepped out a yard shy.
The Saints didn’t convert on 3rd-and-1, didn’t get a new set of downs to run down the clock … and the rest is history.
And Ingram knows he messed up, as he noted on Twitter:
That’s cool. No need to get a first down there Mark Ingram. pic.twitter.com/Lpmg8lvrQx
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) December 6, 2022
A losing play by Mark Ingram. pic.twitter.com/29oxqT4Co4
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 6, 2022
Im sick about this one. Regardless of circumstances or how I feel I have to get that fresh set of downs for the squad. I apologize to my teammates my coaches and my city for a crucial mistake. We work way too hard and sacrifice blood sweat and tears. I will be better. ⚜️🖤
— Mark Ingram II (@markingramII) December 6, 2022
Oof. That’s a rough one.