Bucs Gameday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints Week 18 Fourth Quarter Live Game Updates

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to lock up the NFC South with a win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.

Caleb Skinner

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images / Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed a bit of luck in Week 17 to keep their playoff hopes alive. They got just that after dismantling the Panthers and the Falcons losing in overtime to the Commanders. The events of Week 17 vaulted the Bucs back into first place of the NFC South and with a win today against the New Orleans Saints they would lock up their fifth straight playoff berth.

The Buccaneers have had a whirlwind of a season with the offense becoming this team's backbone while the defense has struggled - albeit this has somewhat been improved over the second half in the season. The Bucs will need to rely on their offense again today to put up points, however, the defense, despite being down multiple players due to injury, will have an opportunity to dominate itself with the Saints missing multiple key guys including Derek Carr, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara.

Tampa Bay will want to have a strong showing no matter who is playing for the Saints. Taking care of business and controlling their own destiny is all they have to do today and we will see if they are able to carry over the momentum from last week's dismantling of the Carolina Panthers.

Follow along with us here at BucsGameday as we bring you up-to-the-minute live game updates of today's matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints.

READ MORE: Scouting The Opponent: Top Players Bucs Must Watch Against Saints in Week 18

PREGAME:

- Buccaneers' Inactives: WR Kameron Johnson, S Antoine Winfield Jr., OLB Jose Ramirez, CB Jamel Dean, OL Royce Newman, TE Cade Otton, DL C.J. Brewer

- Saints' Inactives: QB Derek Carr, LB Willie Gay Jr., LB Pete Werner, RB Kendre Miller, RB Alvin Kamara, WR Mason Tipton, DT Khristian Boyd

1st Quarter:

- New Orleans has won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. The Bucs will receive the second half.

- Rattler rolls out for his first pass of the game and it is incomplete.

- Rattler connects with Wilson for a gain of seven, and on third and three, Mims picks up the first down with a gain of six.

- Rattler finds Johnson for a gain of 19 yards and another first down.

- A short throw and a run of 12 yards by Edwards-Helaire gives the Saints another first down.

- On 3rd and 2, Valdes-Scantling is tackled for a loss of two to bring up fourth down. Saints will send on the field goal unity.

- Grupe's 35-yard FG is GOOD and the Saints take an early 3-0 lead over the Buccaneers.

- Baker opens the first Bucs' drive with a two yard pass to Bucky Irving.

- Baker connects with Jalen McMillan for a gain of 14 yards and a first down.

- On 3rd and 4, Baker finds Devin Culp in traffic for a gain of 16 yards and another first down.

- On 3rd and 11, Baker's pass is complete to McMillan for no gain and the Bucs will be forced to punt.

- A running into the kicker will give the Bucs five yards to bring up fourth and five. The Bucs now decide to send McLaughlin on for the field goal attempt.

- McLaughlin's 52-yard FG is GOOD and the Buccaneers have tied the game up with the Saints 3-3.

- Offsides on Logan Hall will give the Saints five free yards, first and five.

- False start on the Saints will back them up five yards, second and nine.

- On 3rd and 9, Rattler completes a pass to Johnson for a gain of 15 yards and a first down.

- Rattler finds Valdes-Scantling for a gain of 14 yards and another first down.

- Ineligible man downfield will back the Saints up five yards, 2nd and 14.

- Holding on Lavonte David will give the Saints five yards and an automatic first down.

- At the end of the first quarter, the Buccaneers and Saints are tied 3-3.

2nd Quarter:

- On 3rd and 3, Rattler's pass is ruled incomplete for Valdes-Scantling and the Saints will send on their field goal team.

- Grupe's 39-yard FG is GOOD and the Saints lead the Buccaneers 6-3.

- Baker connects with Mike Evans for a gain of six to bring up third and four.

- Baker's third down pass is is incomplete with pressure in his face. The Bucs will be forced to punt.

- Rattler connects with Johnson for a big 26-yard gain and a first down out to midfield.

- On 3rd and 7, Rattler finds Holker but he is one yard short of the first down. The Saints will for it on fourth down.

- Rattler connects with Edwards-Helaire for a gain of 14 yards and a first down.

- On 3rd and 3, Rattler finds Mims but he is short of the first by a yard. The Saints will once again go for it on fourth down.

- Williams picks up the fourth down conversion with a gain of six yards.

- Rattler connects with Moreau for a gain of nine yards, and then Williams picks up the first down to the 3-yard line. First and goal.

- Rattler finds a wide open Pettis in the endzone for a touchdown. The Saints lead the Buccaneers 13-3.

- Irving rushes for a gain of six, and then picks up a first down with a scamper of 25 yards.

- Baker connects with Irving for a loss of seven to bring up 2nd and 17.

- Baker scrambles for a gain of 8 yards to bring up 3rd and 9.

- On 3rd and 9, Baker connects with Mike Evans for a gain of 14 yards and another first down.

- Holding on Trey Palmer will back the Bucs up 10 yards. 1st and 20.

- Mayfield finds Payne Durham for a gain of 10 yards. Two-minute warning.

- On 3rd and 10, Baker connects with Evans for a gain of 11 yards and a first down.

- Jalen McMillan takes the handoff for a gain of six. Saints use their second timeout of the first half with 1:11 left.

- On 3rd and 3, Baker's pass is incomplete and the Bucs will send on the field goal unit.

- McLaughlin's 16-yard FG is GOOD and the Saints lead the Buccaneers 13-6 with one minute left in the first half.

- Rattler picks up the first down with a couple passes to Johnson and Moreau for a total of 10 yards.

- Rattler finds Mims for a gain of eight yards and another first down.

- Rattler finds Austin for a gain of 13 yards and another first down with 30 seconds left.

- Rattler connects with Pettis for a gain of 11 yards and another first down.

- On 3rd and 7, Rattler's pass is incomplete and the Saints will attempt a field goal.

- Grupe's 39-yard FG is GOOD. The Saints take a 16-6 lead over the Buccaneers right before halftime.

- The Bucs kneel the rest of the clock out and we enter halftime.

HALFTIME: Saints 16, Buccaneers 6

3rd Quarter:

- On 3rd and 6, Baker scrambles for a gain of 10 yards and a first down.

- Irving rushes for a gain of seven, and then Baker finds Sterling Shepard for a gain of 11 yards and a first down. Unnecessary roughness on the Saints will give the Bucs an extra 15.

- Facemask on the Saints will give the Bucs half the distance to the goal and an automatic first down to the Saints' 12-yard line.

- On 3rd and 5, Baker finds Durham for a six-yard touchdown. Buccaneers cut into the Saints' lead, trail 16-13.

- On 3rd and 9, Rattler's pass is incomplete and the Saints will be forced to punt.

- A false start on Luke Goedeke will back the Bucs up five yards. 3rd and 9.

- On 3rd and 9, Baker is picked off and the Saints will take over at the Bucs' 35-yard line.

- Edwards-Helaire picks up seven yards, and then no gain will bring up third and four.

- On 3rd and 4, Rattler's pass is incomplete and it will be fourth down. The Saints will send on the field goal unit.

- Grupe's 49-yard FG is GOOD and the Saints lead the Buccaneers 19-13.

- McMillan takes the short pass from Mayfield for a loss of six. 2nd and 16.

- Baker connects with Evans for a gain of nine yards to bring up third and seven.

- On 3rd and 7, Baker overshoots Evans and the Bucs will be forced to punt.

- Browning drops the snap and then his punt is deflected and only goes 14 yards. The Saints will have great field position, taking over at the Bucs' 47-yard line.

- Unsportsmanlike conduct on the Saints will back them up 15 yards. 2nd and 19.

- Yaya Diaby sacks Rattler for a loss of four to bring up 3rd and 23.

- On 3rd and 23, the Saints run the ball for a short gain but will be forced to punt the ball back to the Buccaneers.

- Bucky rushes for a gain of five, and then a holding on Bredeson will back the Bucs up ten yards. 2nd and 15.

- False start on Sterling Shepard will back the Bucs up another five yards. 2nd and 20.

- Baker scrambles for a gain of 14 yards to bring up third and six.

- On 3rd and 6, Baker connects with Culp for a gain of 20 yards and a first down.

- At the end of the third quarter, the Buccaneers trail the Saints 19-13.

4th Quarter:

- False start on Durham will back the Bucs up five yards. 1st and 15.

- Baker finds Evans for a gain of 10 yards to bring up 3rd and 3.

- On 3rd and 3, Baker scrambles for a gain of seven and another first down.

- Baker scrambles for a gain of six, and then a short run by Irving will bring up third and one.

- Baker is tackled for a loss of seven to bring up 4th and 8. The Bucs appear like they will go for it from midfield.

- Baker finds McMillan for a gain of 33 yards and a first down. Unsportsmanlike conduct on McMillan will back the Bucs up 15 yards. First and ten from the Saints' 24-yard line.

- Holding on Goedeke will back the Bucs up another 10 yards. First and 20 from the Saints' 34-yard line.

- Baker connects with McMillan for a 32-yard touchdown and the Bucs have taken the lead over the Saints, 20-19.

- Rattler finds Valdes-Scantling for a gain of 20 yards and a first down.

- Vita Vea sacks Rattler for a loss of 8 yards to bring up third and long.

- On 3rd and 18, a delay of game on the Saints will back them up five yards. 3rd and 23.

- Rattler's third down pass is almost intercepted by Mike Edwards but falls incomplete and the Saints will be forced to punt. Edwards went down on the play and is being assessed for an injury.

- Baker finds Mike Evans for a gain of 9 yards and a first down.

- Baker is sacked for a loss of five to bring up 2nd and 15.

- On 3rd and 14, Baker scrambles for a gain of 28 yards and another first down.

- Holding on Ko Kieft will back the Bucs up 10 yards. First and 20.

- Baker connects with Evans for a gain of 9 yards, and then an unnecessary roughness on the Saints will give the Bucs 15 yards and an automatic first down.

- Tucker rushes for a gain of 14 yards and another first down.

- Baker finds Evans for a gain of 12 yards and another first down.

- Two-minute warning. Bucs have the ball, second and two from the Saints' 11-yard line.

- Baker shovels a pass to Bucky Irving who takes it 11 yards to the house for a touchdown. Buccaneers lead the Saints 27-19 with 1:51 remaining.

- Rattler finds Moreau for a gain of 11 yards and a first down.

- Rattler finds Johnson for a gain of 11 yards and another first down.

- Rattler connects with Wilson for a gain of 11 yards. New Orleans uses their second timeout of the second half with 59 seconds left in the game.

- On 3rd and 10, an offsides on Calijah Kancey will bring up third and five for the Saints.

- On 3rd and 5, Rattler's pass is incomplete and the Saints will be forced to go for it.

- On 4th and 5, the Bucs get the stop and will take over at their own 32-yard line.

- Baker finds Evans who takes it eight yards and once again reaches the 1,000-yard mark for an 11th straight season.

FINAL: Buccaneers 27, Saints 19

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Caleb Skinner
CALEB SKINNER

Caleb is from Nashville, TN and graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with majors in Sociology and History. He has previously written for an FSU outlet and started covering the Buccaneers in March of 2022. Caleb is an avid sports fan and former host of the Tribeoholics podcast. You can follow Caleb on Twitter @chsnole

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