Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints are about to square off with their first divisional opponent of the season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming down to the Big Easy to face the Saints in their Week 8 tilt. It’s a game that should be hotly contested even though Tampa is managing some major injury concerns.
Here are five things to know about the Buccaneers including their high-level quarterbacking play, heated comments during game week and some big names that won’t be available.
The Buccaneers will be without star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.
The Bucs will be short-handed on offense. The wide receiver room will be without Evans (collarbone) and Godwin (fibula) but the running back room will also be without star back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder). That’s a lot of firepower to be without going into this matchup against a Saints team with something to prove. However, Tampa still has some unique and talented weapons. Tight end Cade Otton, running back Rachaad White and wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (who is the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year) and Tez Johnson all have ample playmaking potential along with a quarterback that’s been on fire most of the season.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is playing at an MVP level.
The Bucs passer has thrown for 1,767 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has been on the right side of game-winners, comeback drives and more. He is sure to be a nuisance for the Saints’ defense with his mobility and tenacious play style. There’s no sense in short-cutting it; an MVP candidate quarterback is on his way to New Orleans this weekend. The team’s defense will need to play up to that standard. Thankfully for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, the Detroit Lions put on a clinic for how to disrupt Mayfield’s play on Monday Night Football last week.
This will be the third time the Bucs have seen Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Rattler has only faced one team more than once in his early career so far, that team being the Buccaneers. He’s now about to take them on for the third time. That might give Rattler some comfort, but it certainly gives Bucs head coach and defensive leader Todd Bowles some confidence.
Known for being aggressive, Bowles’ defense has maintained that reputation so far this year by blitzing on 32% of defensive snaps, good for No. 6 in the NFL. During the team’s two meetings last year, Bowles blitzed Rattler only 22.9% of snaps in Week 6, but over 41% of snaps in their Week 18 meeting. However, this year, Rattler has improved against the blitz quite a bit, leaping from a 77.1 passer rating when blitzed last year, per Pro Football Focus, to a 93.0 rating so far in 2025.
Tampa has dominated this matchup recently.
The Buccaneers have not only won the NFC South for four consecutive years, but have also beaten the Saints in five of their last six matchups with New Orleans.
Mayfield has already ignited the matchup.
Leave it to Mayfield to make the match between the two teams even more intense. During media availability leading into the game, Mayfield accused the Saints of being a dirty football team.
Baker Mayfield on why he doesn’t like the Saints: “It hasn’t exactly been clean play from their part.” pic.twitter.com/mpP8m6NcBx
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) October 22, 2025
This will, without a doubt, not sit right with the Saints and their defense, who Mayfield now has to navigate on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how these comments serve as motivation and bulletin board material for New Orleans.
