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Live Game Updates: Follow the Saints vs. Bucs NFC South Action for Week 6!

Keep updated with the Saints action as we give you all the latest from the Superdome in our live game thread.

John Hendrix

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images / Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
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NEW ORLEANS -- Kickoff is right around the corner for the Saints and Bucs game from inside the Superdome, as New Orleans looks to get back to .500 after losing their last three contests. It'll be an interesting game to watch, as rookie Spencer Rattler makes his debut and has a good bit of pressure on him to help the team right the ship. However, it's not all on his shoulders.

Stay dialed in to all of the happenings from the Superdome, as we'll give you like notes and updates from the game for Week 6.

Pregame Notes

  • A lot of people are very puzzled by the Saints' decision to not play Kendre Miller after activating him off injured reserve on Saturday. Here's my thoughts. Miller is making a lot of progress, but the playbook knowledge and execution is what needs to be tightened up here. Dennis Allen knows he's talented and all, but it's just been a couple of weeks that he's been involved hands-on in the New Orleans offense.
  • With no Lucas Patrick, the Saints offensive should look like this from left to the right: Taliese Fuaga, Nick Saldiveri, Connor McGovern, Landon Young and Trevor Penning. My main concern is Vita Vea coming from the interior. We'll see how they handle it.
  • The Spencer Rattler hysteria is real, and these are two really big games for him. Dennis Allen maintains that Derek Carr will be their starter when he's healthy, but if Rattler plays exceptionally well, that might be a little difficult to justify. He said that turning to Rattler was his decision. I'd think Carr will try to make his return after the mini-bye when they play the Chargers on the road in two weeks, but we'll see.
  • Willie Gay Jr. is back and is in base during walkthroughs. We'll see how much time he sees, but he's got a big wrap and extra padding on his left hand.
  • Saints introduced their offense today, and Spencer Rattler got a nice reception from the crow.d

First Quarter - Saints 17, Bucs 0

Scoring

  • Bucs, 10:05 (8-74, 4:55) - Chase Godwin 4-yard pass from Baker Mayfield.
  • Bucs, 8:42 - Antoine Winfield 58-yard fumble return.
  • Bucs, 4:01 (8-71, 3:56) - Chase McLaughlin 26-yard field goal.

Notes

  • Not a good start defensively for the Saints. That was a very easy and methodical drive for Tampa. Where's the pass rush and what was that exactly? Not a good spot to put your rookie quarterback in.
  • Spencer Rattler came out dealing with a beautiful hookup to Juwan Johnson for 27 yards. The second play saw a fumbled exchange that resulted in a loss.
  • Just a disaster regardless of how it plays out, but Chris Olave took a helmet shot from Zyon McCollum and ended up fumbling the ball on the catch that gave the Bucs a scoop and score. It was reviewed and determined to be a fumble and the Bucs are in control.
  • You got to catch that pass from Rattler if you're Cedrick Wilson Jr. That's a brutal play. Naturally, they had to punt and it could get ugly really quick here.
  • Olave ended up going to the locker room, which probably means concussion territory, and that's not good for the Saints.
  • Something is very off with the New Orleans defense. I'm not sure what, but this is routine stuff they look like they're not executing on.
  • Real nice catch by Bub Means to get a Saints first down on the following drive.
  • Rattler showed off a nice decision running the ball and had some wheels to pick up 16 yards as the quarter winded down. He followed that up with a nice pass over the middle to Foster Moreau for 13 yards.

Highlights

Second Quarter - Saints 27, Bucs 24

Scoring

  • Saints, 13:43 (11-58, 5:18) - Blake Grupe 42-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 13:04 - Rashid Shaheed 54-yard punt return.
  • Saints, 9:00 (6-17, 3:24) - Blake Grupe 29-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 8:37 (1-10, 0:04) - Bub Means 10-yard pass from Spencer Rattler.
  • Bucs, 5:39 (6-76, 2:58) - Sean Tucker 36-yard pass from Baker Mayfield.
  • Saints, 2:47 (7-70, 2:52) - 4-yard run by Alvin Kamara.

Notes

  • Really don't understand why they are trying to run up the middle on 3rd Down there. The interior run isn't working and hasn't been. Jamaal Williams lost yards on 2nd-and-2 to make it 3rd-and-4 before that.
  • Saints catch a break and get a big stop that they needed after two pre-snap penalties by the Bucs. Sterling Shepherd also had a personal foul penalty that backed them up. Rashid Shaheed made them pay.
  • Shepherd picked up another penalty, this time an unsportsmanlike conduct. Baker Mayfield was picked off by Paulson Adebo on the ensuing play and the Saints got a big turnover. Alontae Taylor got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play that wiped out a big return.
  • The run game isn't working, especially inside, it's got to stop.
  • Tyrann Mathieu has a forearm injury and is questionable to return. Mike Evans left the field but returned to the sideline.
  • Huge pick by Johnathan Abram to get the Saints back the ball, as the pass went off the hands of Jalen McMillan. He had a nice return to set New Orleans back up and Rattler found Bub Means for the score on a pretty pass.
  • Saints defenders ran into each other on the 39-yard hookup from Mayfield to Ryan Miller.
  • That's a nice TFL by Nathan Shepherd following the big hookup from Mayfield.
  • No one bothered to get Sean Tucker on the hookup and they missed tackles to help him get into the end zone.
  • Alontae Taylor went into the medical tent. The Saints just can't catch any breaks.
  • The Rattler-Bub Means connection is working for the Saints offense, and that was a frequent one we saw in training camp.
  • Huge hookup over the middle from Rattler to Foster Moreau to pick up 41 yards. He was able to get inside the 10-yard-line with some YAC.
  • The run game worked on the score, as Kamara takes it in and the Saints are back on top in a very wild game.
  • Johnathan Abram was hurt prior to the Bucs' big play that got them across midfield, but it wasn't blown dead. He ended up going into the blue tent and left the field.
  • You can't say Cam Jordan doesn't do anything anymore, because he got the third pick on Mayfield after Bryan Bresee got the tip at the line.
  • Alontae Taylor is back in the game for the Saints.
  • That was a weird play to end the half, and Bryan Bresee ended up getting hurt on it when the ball was on the ground.

Highlights

Third Quarter

Scoring

Notes

  • Johnathan Abram has a back injury and is questionable to return for the Saints. He's on the sideline to start the half, as is Bryan Bresee.
  • Good way to start coming out of the half with Rattler throwing to Shaheed on the run for 11 yards. Those aren't easy throws to make.
  • Pretty hookup to Juwan Johnson the 3rd Down play that picked up 19.
  • That's a weird sequence seeing Bub Means' catch get ruled as incomplete then Connor McGovern still picking up a face mask call on the return. I wonder if they would have went for it on 4th-and-6 had it not been for the penalty.
  • That's a good tackle for loss by Alontae Taylor. He's been playing great for this team.
  • Back-to-back sacks for the Bucs on the ensuing possession. Rattler had been kept relatively clean up until then.
  • Really nice punt by Matt Hayball to pin the Bucs deep at their own 8-yard-line. We don't talk a lot about him, but he's been doing a nice job.

Highlights

Week 6 Saints-Bucs Coverage

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John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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