The math is very simple — win and you’re in.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to face off against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday New Year’s Eve, and a win will clinch the NFC South and send the Bucs to the playoffs for the fourth time in a row. The team will have an opportunity to do it next week against the Carolina Panthers if it doesn’t get it done this week, but the Bucs will want to take care of business at home in front of their fans just as they did in 2022.
As always, Bucs Wire is live at Raymond James Stadium and will provide drive-by-drive updates here. If you can’t catch the game or just want to follow along, check out our updates below!
First Quarter
- TOUCHDOWN, SAINTS: Juwan Johnson scores for New Orleans on the opening drive on a pass from Derek Carr after the team marches 73 yards in 14 plays. XP is good, it’s 7-0 Saints.
- Bucs get to 3rd and 1 but get stuffed on a Rachaad White run, going three-and-out to start.
- Saints go three-and-out the drive after that, so Bucs have a chance for some redemption.
- First quarter ends as the Bucs complete a huge 33-yard pass to Mike Evans.
SCORE: Saints 7, Bucs 0
Second Quarter
- INTERCEPTION: Baker Mayfield throws a deep ball to Trey Palmer short and Alontae Taylor makes him pay for it. Saints will take over at the two-yard line — a long Bucs drive stalls.
- After an incredibly long drive, the Saints are stopped near midfield and will punt.
- Bucs go three-and-out and do not capitalize. Jake Camarda shanks the punt, so the Saints have great field positon here.
- TOUCHDOWN, SAINTS: Derek Carr floats a dime to Tayson Hill at the corner pylon and the kick is good. 14-0 Saints with just 1:53 left in the game.
- Bucs go three-and-out at lightning quick speed and the Saints might actually have time to do something here with a timeout and 1:34 to go.
- The Saints do score at the end of the half, making it 17-0 on a good kick. Bucs in real trouble here as the next half begins.
SCORE: Saints 17, Bucs 0
Third Quarter
- Tampa Bay goes for consistency to start the third quarter, moving the ball four yards and then punting.
- The Saints get crippled by a false start penalty, so they go three-and-out to start their offensive third quarter.
- TURNOVER: The Bucs do well to move down the field toward the New Orleans red zone until that momentum is soundly crushed by a Rachaad White fumble. Saints have the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Bucs Wire…