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BUCCANEERS vs. SAINTS

WHEN: Sunday, December 7, 2025 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: CBS

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Kevin Harlan | ANALYST: Trent Green | SIDELINE: Melanie Collins

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Tampa Bay Wins Back-To-Back Games, Sweeps New Orleans

In order for the Bucs to get back the three games they lost after the bye week, they’ll need to win three in a row at home. Sunday’s win over the Cardinals was the first step in that direction. Up next is a Saints team that has just two wins and was beaten soundly in New Orleans by Tampa Bay in Week 8, 23-3. Todd Bowles is 6-1 versus the Saints since taking over as head coach in 2022 – his best record against any Bucs opponent. And Bowles and the Bucs have swept the Saints in 2022 and last year, so this year will make it three sweeps in four seasons.

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson and DTs Vita Vea, Logan Hall and Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

I expect the Bucs defense to have a “get well” game against the Saints after a lackluster showing in last week’s game versus the Cardinals. Tampa Bay had two sacks against Arizona, but should have had four more if not for some missed tackle attempts. Better tackling was a focus this week in practice, and that combined with the fact that Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has been sacked nine total times in the past two games could make for another five-sack outing like the Bucs had back in Week 8.

Antoine Winfield Jr. recorded his second interception of the year last week, getting his first off Shough in New Orleans. Expect another couple of takeaways from Todd Bowles’ unit. The Saints have problems scoring and just don’t have many explosive weapons to really threaten the Bucs defense.

Offensively, I look for better efficiency in the red zone and more production from Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin Jr. than the team even got last week, which was pretty encouraging. Tampa Bay moves to 8-5 with the win and sets up a very interesting home game on Thursday Night Football versus Atlanta the following week.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Saints 10
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-3

Matt Matera: Bucs Won’t Make It Easy, But They’ll Win

Despite the big difference in their records, the Bucs and Saints seem to always go toe-to-toe when the game is taking place at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs shouldn’t screw this up even without Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, while Tristan Wirfs is questionable, but they also should’ve beaten the Cardinals by more than three points last week.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and C Graham Barton – Photo by: USA Today

Expect another heavy dose of Bucky Irving running the football in his second game back from injury. His ability to make defenders miss brings an extra element to the entire Bucs offense that was lacking without him. Plus, a healthier Baker Mayfield will allow Tampa Bay to open up the field just a bit more. They Bucs will get the job done in the red zone.

I’m more concerned about Tampa Bay’s defense stopping the Saints at the moment. I understand the Buccaneers dominated their last matchup, by Tyler Shough made his debut in the second half and has more game experience. Todd Bowles just isn’t calling a good defense, as quarterbacks constantly rack up passing yards against them. Tampa Bay has bailed itself out by creating turnovers, and the team might need another from Antoine Winfield Jr. and Co. to help win the game.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 28, Saints 21
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 9-3

Adam Slivon: Bucs Build More Confidence By Beating Saints At Home

Entering Week 14, the roller coaster of the Bucs’ season continues with a second matchup against the Saints. When both teams square off, it is typically physical and competitive, as neither side really likes the other. As it stands, Tampa Bay is in the playoff picture at 7-5, while New Orleans sits at a dismal 2-10. Compared to other games on the schedule, there has not been much discussion about this being a “trap game.” That is not to say the Saints cannot pull off the improbable, but with the Bucs needing every win they can get, they will not be taking this game lightly.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

While much of the conversation this week has revolved around the pending returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, they won’t play on Sunday. Regardless, it is clear that the offense must show more consistency, with Baker Mayfield needing to play at the level he did earlier this season. Mayfield has played through injuries, but he is the first to say there are no excuses. Having Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin Jr. back and playing how they did last week is a big boost, and they will be counted on as key pieces yet again.

Assuming the offense can find a way to get over 20 points, it is hard to imagine New Orleans hitting the same threshold. While Tyler Shough has more experience under his belt, he is not surrounded by many offensive weapons. Chris Olave has the most big-play potential, but he has not done much against Tampa Bay. Devaughn Vele is coming off a big game, and the 6-foot-5 wide receiver is a tough draw for Zyon McCollum. Juwan Johnson also poses challenges at the tight end position.

Even with that being said, the Saints have not scored more than 20 points in what will be over two months by the time kickoff rolls around. With each team sitting in vastly different positions, the Bucs have a significant talent advantage, which should be on display at Raymond James Stadium.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Saints 17
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 9-3

Bailey Adams: Bucs Complete Another Sweep Of The Saints

If the Bucs want any chance of being taken seriously down the stretch and into a potential playoff run, this is the kind of game they need to cruise in. It doesn’t always work out that way because this is the NFL and it’s a league of parity, but this is a game you would like to see Tampa Bay win comfortably. Todd Bowles and Co. are at home, they’re playing a two-win division rival they should want to bury even further and they’re healthier than they have been in a long time. This has the makings of a get-right game for the Bucs, and they can’t afford to mess it up.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

Maybe I have more of an optimistic feeling than this team deserves right now, but I do like the home team to take care of business in relatively comfortable fashion. I think Bucky Irving and the run game can lead the way on offense while Baker Mayfield is left to take some shots (maybe even to a returning Mike Evans???) when they’re open to create a balanced attack. This Buccaneer offense is close to being back to full strength, and I believe we’ll start to see some more signs of that this week, even against a Saints defense that gave them some trouble back in Week 8.

Where the even bigger opportunity is for a get-right is with the Tampa Bay defense, as this Tyler Shough-led New Orleans offense is not scary. At least it shouldn’t be if this defense has any hope of turning things around and getting on track before a possible playoff run. I think the pass rush and Todd Bowles’ blitz packages will make for a long day at the office for Shough, and I believe the takeaway run continues for this defense as the Bucs put together their most complete effort in quite some time for a second straight win and a third season sweep of the Saints in the last four years.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 30, Saints 16
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-3

Josh Queipo: Bucs Get One Step Closer To Winning The Division Again

The Saints have made the full pivot to embracing their young players in an effort to find any players that may be building blocks for 2026 and beyond. In doing so they have put a wider gap in talent between themselves and the Bucs. And Tampa Bay is poised to take full advantage and draw closer to sewing up the division with weeks to spare.

On offense, the Bucs are empowered by improved red zone play-calling and sustained health to show flashes of the team they were last year. Baker Mayfield, even with his left shoulder injury, had one of his most consistent games of the season. I’m confident he can build more trust with receivers he hasn’t fully been on the same page with all year. This improvement in the passing attack compliments a run game that has been third in the NFL in EPA/rush and fifth in success rate since Week 10.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Cliff Welch/PR

On defense the Bucs pass rush takes another step forward from last week, building upon the high-pressure numbers they posted but adding more sacks as they face rookie Tyler Shough. For some of the promise Shough has shown since taking over the starting job in New Orleans, he has one of the highest pressure-to-sack numbers in the sport meaning it should be hunting season for the Bucs.

They kill several drives with sacks on third-and-long to keep the Saints from getting anything consistent going. The final result is a wide point differential that this team has sorely needed over the last month to give them a chance to take a deep breath as they barrel towards a postseason that could set or reset the trajectory of the franchise for years to come.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 34, Saints 13
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 8-4