The Week 6 contest between the Saints and Buccaneers provided plenty of fireworks in the first 30 minutes of play.
New Orleans and Tampa Bay combined for 51 points in the first half. The over for the game had been set at 42.5 (-110).
The Saints (28 points per game, fourth in NFL) and Bucs (25.4 ppg, 10th) came into Sunday boasting some of the league’s most explosive offenses. However, New Orleans played without starting quarterback Derek Carr, and then during Sunday's action lost star receiver Chris Olave to
a concussion in the first quarter.
While the Saints initially struggled to get going, Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay sprinted out to an early 17-0 lead in the first quarter, keyed by safety Antoine Winfield Jr.'s 58-yard fumble recovery.
But New Orleans rallied. Receiver Rashid Shaheed returned a punt for a 54-yard score, and a few series later, rookie Spencer Rattler’s first career touchdown pass to Bub Means, giving the Saints a 20-17 lead in the second quarter.
New Orleans capped its second-quarter comeback with an Alvin Kamara touchdown run, taking a 27-24 lead into the half.
Entering Sunday, the Saints led the league in first-half points per game (17.8) and the Bucs ranked third (16.8).
About the Author
Kaelen is a freelance sports writer at Action Network with a focus on the NBA, NFL, and college football.
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