As far as the Bucs are concerned, this 10-day break between their Week 5 and Week 6 games came at an ideal time. For one, it gives the team time to get healthier and allows for a chance to get some combination of Luke Goedeke, Calijah Kancey and Antoine Winfield Jr. – hopefully all three – back on the field.

There’s also the fact that Tampa Bay is reeling from a collapse-turned-heartbreaker in Atlanta last Thursday. The Bucs were minutes away from a key divisional win over the Falcons, but couldn’t finish it off. They let up a game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation, then saw Kirk Cousins and Kha’Darel Hodge connect for a walk-off touchdown in overtime. So, instead of getting to 4-1 and creating separation in the NFC South race, Todd Bowles’ team is 3-2 and currently sits behind Atlanta in the standings due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

So, after the mini-bye, it’s time for the Bucs to get back on track. And they’ll have a chance to do some damage to another divisional foe’s place in the standings as they head to New Orleans to take on the 2-3 Saints, who are coming off a short week after losing in Kansas City on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 5 in the NFL.

As we approach Sunday’s chance at redemption, let’s take a look at how some of the Bucs’ key players have fared against the Saints in the past. New Orleans has a 40-25 overall edge in the all-time series (though Tampa Bay has a 1-0 advantage in playoff meetings), but what about this group of players? Let’s break it all down.

Baker Mayfield Has Played To Mixed Results vs. Saints

Saints DE Carl Granderon and Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield has seen the Saints three times in his career, beating them twice. His first matchup came when he was the quarterback of the Panthers in 2022. He led Carolina to a victory, though he only completed 12 of his 25 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. Nonetheless, he got the job done.

Mayfield then improved to 2-0 in his career against New Orleans when Tampa Bay played there early last season. That saw him have the best of his three performance against the Saints, as he completed 25 of his 32 passes for 246 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran eight times for 31 yards as the Bucs cruised to a big early-season win.

But when the Saints made the return trip to Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Eve in 2023, Mayfield was less impressive. Some late-game success made his overall numbers look better than his day as a whole, as he finished 22-of-33 for 309 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

So, while Mayfield is 2-1 against the Saints in his career, he’s had some mixed success in terms of his level of play. Overall, he has completed 65.6% of his passes against New Orleans for 725 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.

One Bucs Receiver Has More Regular Success vs. Saints Than The Other

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Much has been made of Mike Evans’ uneven track record against the Saints. His rivalry with Marshon Lattimore dominates the narratives when these two teams play, but Evans’ time with Tampa Bay preceded Lattimore’s with New Orleans and Evans could very well outlast him in the end, too.

Overall, Evans has 61 catches on 102 targets (59.8%) for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 19 meetings with the Saints. Across the board, those are his lowest totals against a divisional opponent. He has just one 100-yard game against the Saints and has never had a multi-touchdown game against them.

His best performance memorably came in Week 1 of the 2018 season when he caught all seven of his targets for 147 yards and a touchdown in the Bucs’ 48-40 win in New Orleans. Last year, Evans had mixed results in the season series with the Saints. In the first meeting, he caught all three of his targets for 40 yards before leaving with an injury. He then caught three of his four targets for 70 yards in the Week 17 loss in Tampa.

Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

On the flip side, Chris Godwin has put together more regular success in 13 career games against New Orleans. He has 64 catches on 103 targets (62.1%) for 913 yards and seven touchdowns in those 13 games, with four 100-yard games and one multi-touchdown performance.

Whereas Evans has one standout performance against the Saints, Godwin has a few to pick from. His coming-out party came on the final day of the 2017 season when Tampa Bay beat New Orleans on a late touchdown from Jameis Winston to Godwin. That was part of a day in which the rookie receiver had seven catches on 12 targets for 111 yards and the game-winning score.

A seven-catch, 125-yard and two-touchdown day in October of 2019 also stands out, as does his eight-catch, 140-yard and one-touchdown performance in October of 2021.

Last year, Godwin caught eight passes on 11 targets for 114 yards in the first matchup with New Orleans before bringing in three passes on five targets for 81 yards and a touchdown in the Week 17 meeting.

Rachaad White Has Yet To Get Going vs. Saints

Rachaad White hasn’t had the most success against the Saints in the four times he’s faced him thus far in his career. Overall, he’s posted 37 carries for 127 yards (3.4 avg.) and zero touchdowns while catching 13 of his 17 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown was key, as it came with three seconds left in the Bucs’ 17-16 win over the Saints in December of 2022.

Last year, White ran for 56 yards on 15 carries (3.7 avg.) and caught all three of his targets for 22 yards the first time the two teams met. He then ran for 42 yards on 11 carries (3.8 avg.) and caught all four of his targets for 24 yards in the second matchup.

White will look to team with Bucky Irving to knock the Saints’ 7th-ranked rush defense down a notch or two come Sunday afternoon.

Mixed Results vs. New Orleans For Veterans In The Bucs’ Front Seven

Vita Vea spent most of his career without much to write home about against the Saints. He had just 0.5 sacks in eight career matchups heading into last season, but that’s when he had his best-ever game in the series. When the two teams met in New Orleans, Vea had two sacks, including a sack-fumble on Derek Carr.

Now, in 10 matchups with the Saints, Vea has 2.5 sacks, 17 solo tackles, a tackle for loss, six quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As for Lavonte David, he has a long history of individual dominance over the Saints. In 24 career games, he has 194 tackles (136 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits, nine passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

That’s the most tackles and solo tackles he has against any one opponent, and it’s tied for his most quarterback hits and forced fumbles against any team. It’s his second-most sacks and tackles for loss as well.

David had a 1.5-sack game all the way back in 2013, but his best recent performance in a meeting with the Saints came in December of 2021 when he totaled 11 tackles (8 solo), a sack and a forced fumble.

In 2023, David had five tackles (none solo) in the first meeting with New Orleans before racking up 11 tackles (5 solo) in the return game in Week 17.

Some Memorable Moments From Playmakers In The Bucs’ Secondary

Two members of the Tampa Bay secondary have put up some masterful performances against the Saints over the years. In fact, in the case of Jamel Dean, one of the best games of his career came two years ago at New Orleans. In that game, he picked off two passes in what was his only multi-interception game. Overall in seven games, Dean has those two interceptions and four total passes defensed.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

Last year, Dean missed the first game against the Saints before having his best-graded game of the regular season (per PFF) in Week 17. In that matchup, he allowed just one reception for five yards on two targets and had a pass breakup.

While All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has had the least success against the Saints out of the Bucs’ three NFC South opponents, he’s still put together a pretty solid stat line. In six games, he has 40 tackles (24 solo), two sacks, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Winfield has better numbers against the Falcons and Panthers, but just last year, he had his best performance out of his six career games against the Saints. In their October meeting in New Orleans, he totaled nine tackles (six solo), a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. It was one of those do-it-all types of games for Winfield, who had plenty of them in 2023.

Tampa Bay will certainly hope it can get Winfield back in the lineup on Sunday in New Orleans after he has missed the last four games with an injury.

En route to New Orleans with Tampa Bay in our hearts.

Stay safe, Krewe. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/xhAdkHopDV

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 8, 2024