Halftime in Tampa: Sloppy Conditions, Sloppier Football as Bucs Lead Saints 10-7
Rain’s falling in Tampa, and so far, so is the quality of play. At halftime, the Buccaneers hold a narrow 10-7 lead over the Saints in a game that’s been more about miscues than momentum.
Let’s be clear-this one’s been messy. Between the two teams, we’ve seen 11 penalties, a turnover each, a missed field goal, and three punts.
If you’re a fan of clean execution and crisp football, this first half probably wasn’t for you. But if you like gritty, grind-it-out battles with playoff implications simmering beneath the surface, there’s still plenty to watch.
Bucs Offense: Just Enough to Stay Ahead
Tampa Bay has moved the ball better than New Orleans, outgaining them 153 to 74 in total yards. Baker Mayfield, working through the wet conditions, has had an up-and-down half. He’s 9-of-17 for 89 yards and tossed a touchdown-a 24-yard catch-and-run to rookie Bucky Irving, who showed great burst after the catch to find the end zone.
Chris Godwin has been Mayfield’s most reliable target, pulling in three catches for 36 yards. But the Bucs haven’t been able to string together consistent drives, with penalties and offensive line issues slowing their rhythm.
Speaking of the line, they’re patching things together on the left side. Starting left guard Ben Bredeson exited in the first half with a knee injury and is questionable to return.
Mike Jordan stepped in, and he’s lining up next to rookie Ben Chukwuma, who’s getting his first real taste of NFL action at left tackle in place of the injured Tristan Wirfs. That’s a lot of inexperience protecting Mayfield’s blind side, and it’s something to watch closely in the second half.
Saints Strike Early, Then Stall Out
New Orleans came out of the gate hot. Mason Tipton sparked the opening drive with a 54-yard kickoff return, setting the Saints up at the Tampa Bay 45. Six plays later, Devin Neal punched it in from three yards out to give the Saints an early lead.
But after that? Not much.
The Saints’ next five possessions were a sequence of frustration: two punts, one interception, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs. That’s five straight drives with nothing to show for it.
Tyler Shough has had a tough go under center. He’s 7-of-11 for 76 yards and threw a pick.
He’s looked comfortable at times, but the Bucs’ defense is starting to dial up pressure and force mistakes. Juwan Johnson has been his most active target with three catches for 30 yards, but the Saints haven’t found a reliable rhythm in the passing game.
What to Watch in the Second Half
This game might not be pretty, but it’s far from over. The Bucs have the edge in yardage and the scoreboard, but with a banged-up offensive line and a one-score lead, they’ll need cleaner execution to close this one out.
For the Saints, it’s about capitalizing on opportunities. They had excellent field position early and couldn’t sustain it. If they can protect Shough and find a spark-maybe from the run game or another big special teams play-they’re right in this.
Both teams are fighting not just the weather, but themselves. And with the NFC South still very much in play, the stakes are higher than the halftime score might suggest.
Second half coming up-and with it, a chance for one of these teams to seize control of a game that’s been begging for someone to take command.