Bucs vs. Saints: Rivalry Runs Hot, Records Be Damned
There are rivalries in the NFL that come with pageantry, history, and playoff implications. Then there’s Bucs vs.
Saints - a matchup that, regardless of records, always feels personal. And as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to host New Orleans this Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, there’s no mistaking the tone inside the locker room: this one matters.
The Saints come in at 2-10, a team that’s struggled to find its footing all season. But if you think the Bucs are overlooking them, think again.
“I got it out for the Saints every year,” said safety Antoine Winfield Jr., speaking like a man who doesn’t need a standings graphic to get fired up. “Going in, I know what type of game it is going to be. It’s just trying to get everyone on that same level.”
That level? Let’s call it playoff-intensity-in-December-against-your-most-hated-rival kind of level.
Bad Blood Runs Deep
This isn't just another divisional game. It’s a grudge match. And Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield made it crystal clear where he stands.
“We don’t like them. They don’t like us,” Mayfield said, with the kind of blunt honesty that doesn’t need a follow-up question. “Not much else to say other than the fact I don’t like them.”
You don’t often hear that kind of candor in the NFL, but in this rivalry? It’s par for the course. The Bucs may have dominated the Saints 23-3 earlier this season, but that doesn’t mean they’re expecting a repeat performance without a fight.
“They play hard - you can see it on the tape,” Mayfield said. “Since we played them last, it shows.
We know what to expect. The record doesn’t indicate how physical this matchup is going to be or what a tough matchup it is.”
Translation: throw the standings out the window. This one’s going to be a slugfest.
Keeping Composure, Not Just Containing the Saints
For Tampa Bay’s coaching staff, the prep work this week goes beyond the usual film study and game-planning. This rivalry has a way of boiling over, and the Bucs want to make sure they’re the ones keeping their cool when things get chippy.
“We try to give them examples on tape each week - whether it’s the Saints or anyone else,” said offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. “If we see them doing something after the whistle that could elicit a personal foul, we show it. I know that’s how it goes in any kind of rivalry.”
Discipline will be just as important as execution. The Bucs know the Saints can bait teams into mistakes - and in a game this emotionally charged, the team that keeps its head could be the one that walks away with the win.
Turnovers Will Tell the Story
For head coach Todd Bowles, it all comes down to one stat: turnovers.
“Anytime we play them, it’s always who wins the turnover battle - every time,” Bowles said. “The records are out the window.
They play hard, we play hard, we both know each other pretty well. Whoever wins the turnover battle wins the game.”
That’s not coach-speak - it’s been the story of this rivalry time and again. These teams know each other’s tendencies inside and out.
There are no secrets. So the edge comes from execution, physicality, and protecting the football.
What’s at Stake
While the Saints are out of playoff contention, the Bucs still have plenty to play for. But even if there were no postseason implications, this one would still feel like a must-win.
“They know us, we know them well,” Mayfield said. “So it’s one of those - who can execute better and be the more physical team.”
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Expect fireworks. Expect jawing.
Expect a game that looks nothing like a 2-10 team facing a division leader - because when it’s Bucs vs. Saints, the records don’t matter.
The rivalry does.