Saints could play spoiler to Buccaneers’ playoff hopes

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints’ season won’t end with a playoff appearance for the fifth-consecutive year, but that doesn’t mean the team doesn’t have anything to play for this weekend at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Tampa (7-5) has just a half-game lead for the NFC South over the Carolina Panthers. With the Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Panthers all next up on the Buccaneers’ schedule, three wins could solidify the Bucs’ place atop the division. 

While New Orleans can’t change its postseason destiny, the team can have a major impact on Tampa’s. 

Many have mentioned the Detroit Lions’ 2021 and 2022 seasons as a framework for the Saints’ rebuild. At the end of the 2021 year, the Lions toppled the then 13-3 Green Bay Packers in Week 18 to pick up the teamMa third win of the season. The next year, Detroit, which was already eliminated from the playoffs, knocked off Green Bay again. The second win came with the Packers in a win-and-in situation. 

While a New Orleans upset won’t directly keep the Buccaneers out of postseason position, it would certainly complicate things for Tampa. 

A loss for the Saints also keeps their draft position near the top, so it could be viewed as a win-win for the club. But with a roster of competitive players, the urge to play spoiler and wrangle a statement win is one not worth passing up if in reach.