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Halftime Update

Halftime update: New Orleans Saints 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24  | 2024 NFL Week 6

Saints lose Chris Olave to concussion but rally back from 17-point deficit, scoring 27 points in second quarter

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers threw the first punch in racing to a 17-point lead Sunday at the Caesars Superdome but the New Orleans Saints hit back and grabbed a 27-24 halftime lead. The Saints scored all 27 of their points in the second quarter, helped by intercepting Tampa quarterback Baker Mayfield three times, the last one picked by defensive end Cameron Jordan.

The Saints (2-3) will get the ball to start the second half.

The Saints started rookie quarterback Spencer Rattlerin place of injured starter Derek Carr. Rattler, a fifth-round draft pick out of South Carolina, completed his first pass for 27 yards but his second completion, to star receiver Chris Olave, was fumbled and returned for a 57-yard touchdown after Olave took a head shot. The hit gave Olave a concussion and he was ruled out for the game.

Tampa, which practiced in New Orleans all week to get away from Hurricane Milton and was playing its first game in 10 days, was sharp early. Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed all six passes on the opening drive, the final one a 4-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin. The fumble return touchdown gave the Bucs a 14-0 lead and then they tacked on a 26-yard field goal.

The Saints started their comeback with a 32-yard field goal by Blake Grupe and then another special teams play got the Saints back in the game. Returner Rashid Shaheed fielded a Bucs punt at his 46-yard line and returned down the right side for a 54-yard touchdown. It was the second punt return touchdown of Shaheed's career.

On the next possession cornerback Paulson Adebo intercepted Mayfield which led to a 29-yard field goal by Grupe. Mayfield was picked off again, this time by safety Johnathan Abram who returned in 34 yards to the 10-yard line. Then Rattler and rookie receiver Bub Means each recorded their first touchdowns on a 10-yard completion to the left corner of the end zone to give the Saints a 20-17 lead.

The Bucs (3-2) came back and re-took the lead on a 36-yard pass from Mayfield to running back Sean Tucker. The Saints fought back again and re-gained the lead on a 4-yard touchdown run by Alvin Kamara. The score was set up by a 41-yard completion to tight end Foster Moreau. The touchdown run was Kamara's 60th.

Mayfield was 19 of 30 with two touchdowns and the three interceptions while Rattler was 11 of 17 for 140 yards and a touchdown.

The Saints, trying to avoid losing their fourth consecutive game, used their fourth combination at offensive line with the absence of guard/center Lucas Patrick. Connor McGovern started in his place. The run game was a struggle, the longest run was a 16-yard scramble by Rattler.

The defense lost safety Tyrann Mathieu to a forearm injury and Abram left at the 2-minute mark with a lower-body injury.

Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL Season on Oct. 13, 2024 in the Caesars Superdome.

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