2026
Week 18 · Sunday 1:00 PM ET · Caesars Superdome
vs
Saints offensevsBuccaneers defense
Season numbers through Week 8: 7 games for Saints, 8 for Buccaneers. Ranks are out of 32; #1 is the best offense or the stingiest defense.
Clean pockets
Saints take a sack on 5% of dropbacks (10th). Buccaneers get home on 6% (24th). League average is 7%.
Deep middle is open
Buccaneers are worst against deep middle throws, allowing +0.64 EPA per attempt. Saints send 3% of their throws there. That is a small part of their offense so far.
Ground game stalls
Saints average 3.2 yards per carry (31st). Buccaneers allow 3.6 (8th).
EPA per play
Call this one even. Saints average -0.04 EPA per play (22nd). Buccaneers allow -0.16 (2nd). League average is +0.00.
Players to watch
Buccaneers
Baker MayfieldQB · 68/110 · 679 yds · 3 TD · 2 INTEPA per dropback -0.25
Bucky IrvingRB · 147 car · 728 yds · 6 TD · 18 recEPA per touch -0.02 · 25th
Emeka EgbukaWR · 28 rec · 240 yds · 2 TD · 49 tgtEPA per target -0.26
Chris Godwin Jr.WR · 27 rec · 243 yds · 0 TD · 35 tgtEPA per target +0.19Jacob ParrishNickel Back · 36 tackles · 2 INT · 13 PD2 INT · T-11th in the NFLZyon McCollumLeft Cornerback · 30 tackles · 2 INT · 9 PD2 INT · T-11th in the NFL
Saints
Tyler ShoughQB · 183/273 · 1721 yds · 13 TD · 6 INTEPA per dropback +0.02 · 20th
Alvin KamaraRB · 41 car · 125 yds · 3 TD · 22 recEPA per touch -0.10
Chris OlaveWR · 49 rec · 636 yds · 2 TD · 71 tgtEPA per target +0.53 · 18th
Devaughn VeleWR · 33 rec · 348 yds · 3 TD · 48 tgtEPA per target +0.46 · 25thChase YoungStrongside Linebacker · 14 tackles · 7 sacks · 3 PD7 sacks · T-3rd in the NFLCarl GrandersonWeakside Linebacker · 25 tackles · 5.5 sacks5.5 sacks · T-9th in the NFLThe Saints lead the series 28–23 since 1999. Dec 7, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium: the Saints won 24–20. Baker Mayfield started at quarterback for the Buccaneers and Tyler Shough for the Saints; Todd Bowles and Kellen Moore coached.
The last 5
| 2025 · Wk 14 | NO 24 at TB 20 |
| 2025 · Wk 8 | TB 23 at NO 3 |
| 2024 · Wk 18 | NO 19 at TB 27 |
| 2024 · Wk 6 | TB 51 at NO 27 |
| 2023 · Wk 17 | NO 23 at TB 13 |
2026 records
| Buccaneers | Saints | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3–5 | 2–5 |
| Division | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Conference | 3–2 | 1–3 |
| Other conference | 0–3 | 1–2 |
| Home | 1–4 | 0–4 |
| Away | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Last 5 | LWLWW | LLLWL |
| Streak | Won 2 | Lost 1 |
| Points a game | 22.3 – 18.9 | 23.1 – 27.7 |
Every meeting since 1999, regular season and playoffs, from nflverse's game list, which starts in 1999; the all-time series goes back further. Franchises that moved count as one team (the Raiders, Chargers and Rams). Home and away are from the Buccaneers' side. Records are this regular season.
Saints offense · 3WR 1TE
- QBTyler Shough#6 · 183/273 · 1721 yds · 13 TD · 6 INT
- RBAlvin Kamara#41 · 41 car · 125 yds · 3 TD · 22 rec
- WRChris Olave#12 · 49 rec · 636 yds · 2 TD · 71 tgt
- WRDevaughn Vele#14 · 33 rec · 348 yds · 3 TD · 48 tgt
- WRBryce Lance#18 · 9 rec · 78 yds · 1 TD · 22 tgt
- TEJuwan Johnson#83 · 26 rec · 255 yds · 3 TD · 37 tgt
- LTAsim Richards#72
- LGDavid Edwards#76
- CErik McCoy#78
- RGCesar Ruiz#51
- RTTaliese Fuaga#75
Buccaneers defense · Base 3-4 D
- RDEA'Shawn Robinson#91 · 22 tackles · 1 sack · 2 INT · 3 PD
- NTVita Vea#50 · 16 tackles · 1 sack · 2 PD
- LDECalijah Kancey#94 · 9 tackles
- WLBRueben Bain Jr.#3 · 7 tackles · 1 sack · 1 PD
- SLBYaya Diaby#0 · 16 tackles · 3 sacks · 1 INT · 2 PD
- RILBJosiah Trotter#45 · 67 tackles · 1 sack · 1 INT · 3 PD
- LILBAlex Anzalone#34 · 41 tackles · 1 sack · 3 INT · 3 PD
- RCBBenjamin Morrison#21 · 11 tackles · 2 PD
- LCBZyon McCollum#27 · 30 tackles · 2 INT · 9 PD
- NBJacob Parrish#25 · 36 tackles · 2 INT · 13 PD
- SSTykee Smith#23 · 42 tackles · 1 INT · 2 PD
- FSAntoine Winfield Jr.#31 · 31 tackles
Starters from each team's current depth chart (nflverse, from ESPN), drawn in the offense's base three-receiver set against the defense's base front. The nickel back, the extra defensive back most teams use against three receivers, is drawn lighter. Left and right are as the offense sees the field. The toggle at the top flips which offense is drawn.
| Stat | NO off | Favors NO · Favors TB | TB def allows | NFL avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||
| EPA per play | -0.04#22 | -0.16#2 | +0.00 | |
| Success rate | 42%#23 | 39%#3 | 44% | |
| Yards per play | 4.9#29 | 5.1#7 | 5.4 | |
| Explosive play rate | 7%#30 | 7%#4 | 9% | |
| Passing | ||||
| Pass EPA per dropback | +0.01#19 | -0.20#2 | +0.03 | |
| Sack rate | 5%#10 | 6%#24 | 7% | |
| Running | ||||
| Run EPA per carry | -0.16#26 | -0.15#6 | -0.08 | |
| Yards per carry | 3.2#31 | 3.6#8 | 4.1 | |
| Money downs | ||||
| 3rd down conversion | 43%#10 | 34%#7 | 41% | |
| Red zone TD rate | 74%#2 | 50%#9 | 61% | |
| Targets by position | ||||
| WR yards per game | 162#9 | 131#10 | 147 | |
| TE yards per game | 51#20 | 56#20 | 55 | |
| TE targets per game | 8.3#10 | 8.1#23 | 7.6 | |
| RB receiving yards per game | 33#13 | 33#18 | 32 | |
Saints: EPA per throw
Buccaneers: EPA allowed per throw
Green gains more than expected, red loses value. Cells with fewer than 5 throws are grayed out.