WEEK 18 · Sun 01/05 · 12:00 PM CST
Saints
New Orleans Saints
AT
Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
SAINTS: Roster | Depth Chart | Stats | Injury Report
BUCCANEERS: Roster | Depth Chart | Stats | Injury Report
The New Orleans Saints (5-11) close the 2024 season on the road, traveling to take on the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) at Raymond James on Jan. 5. It is the latest regular season date that the Saints will play the Buccaneers and the first time they finish the regular season against each other since the 2017 campaign.
The Saints hold a 40-25 regular season advantage in the series, the club's top winning percentage (.615) against an opponent the team has faced more than once. The Saints will look to even up their record at 4-4 since Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi took the Saints reigns and looking to help him finish the season with a 2-1 road record. The Buccaneers need a win to clinch the NFC South. A Saints win combined with an Atlanta victory would deny Tampa Bay their playoff ticket.
This Week In The NFC South: The Atlanta Falcons (8-8) host the Carolina Panthers (4-12) on Sunday at noon CT.
SAINTS vs. BUCCANEERS SERIES HISTORY
The Saints and Buccaneers first met in 1977. New Orleans has posted a 40-25 regular season record vs. Tampa Bay, the club's best winning percentage (.615) vs. an opponent they've played at least 17 games against. In the last ten regular season meetings between the Saints and Buccaneers, the Saints have a 6-4 edge, with only one of the contests being decided by a touchdown or less.
In the 65 regular season games of the series there has been:
- 2,183 points scored by New Orleans, 1,241 allowed.
- A seven-game regular season New Orleans winning streak from 2011-2014 and from 2018-2021.
- An 18-10 record for the Saints in games played in Tampa.
- 28 games decided by double-digits.
- Eight games decided by 21 or more points.
- 34 games decided by seven points or less.
- A 41-point win by New Orleans on December 16, 2012, the club's first shutout against the Buccaneers.
- Since both clubs joined the NFC South in 2002, New Orleans has swept the regular season series eight times, the last in 2021.
THE LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING
New Orleans Saints 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 51; Oct. 13, 2024 @ Caesars Superdome – In a frenetic game that featured six turnovers, almost 20 penalties, a punt return for a touchdown, a rookie quarterback making his first start and wild swings in momentum, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored the final 27 points to defeat the New Orleans Saints 51-27 on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.
Saints rookie Spencer Rattler made his NFL debut in replace of the injured Derek Carr and had a solid debut until the Bucs' pass rush started to get home against the Saints' makeshift offensive line. Rattler had to play almost the entire game without star receiver Chris Olave who was knocked out of the game with a un-penalized head shot that caused a fumble and led to the Bucs' second touchdown.
Rattler was 22 of 40 for 243 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, both in the second half. Running back Alvin Kamara had 13 carries for 40 yards with a 4-yard touchdown run, the 60th of his career. Rookie receiver Bub Means had his first reception, his first touchdown catch (10 yards in the second quarter) while catching five catches for 45 yards. The Saints used their fourth combination at offensive line with the absence of guard/center Lucas Patrick. Connor McGovern started in his place. FULL GAME RECAP
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Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL Season on Oct. 13, 2024 in the Caesars Superdome.
SAINTS vs. BUCCANEERS SUPERLATIVES
A look at the top individual performances for Saints players against the Buccaneers in the previous 65 meetings:
SAINTS RUSHING YARDAGE vs. TAMPA BAY (100+ yards)
Player | Performance/Location/Date |
RB Rueben Mayes | 24 carries for 172 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Oct. 19, 1986 |
RB Chris Ivory | 15 carries for 158 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Oct. 17, 2010 |
RB Craig Heyward | 20 carries for 155 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Nov. 11, 1990 |
RB Deuce McAllister | 15 carries for 123 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Oct. 8, 2006 |
RB George Rogers | 23 carries for 120 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Nov. 29, 1981 |
RB Deuce McAllister | 26 carries for 110 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 2, 2003 |
RB Deuce McAllister | 31 carries for 109 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Sept. 9, 2002 |
RB Deuce McAllister | 21 carries for 102 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Oct. 10, 2004 |
SAINTS PASSING YARDAGE vs. TAMPA BAY (300+ yards)
Player | Performance/Location/Date |
QB Drew Brees | 37-of-45 for 439 yards and 3 TDs, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Sept. 9, 2018 |
QB Drew Brees | 29-of-45 for 383 yards and 1 TD, @ Raymond James Stadium, Oct. 16, 2011 |
QB Drew Brees | 24-of-31 for 381 yards and 4 TDs, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Dec. 29, 2013 |
QB Drew Brees | 27-of-37 for 377 yards and 4 TDs, @ Raymond James Stadium, Oct. 21, 2012 |
QB Drew Brees | 35-of-57 for 371 yards and 2 TDs, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Oct. 5, 2014 |
QB Drew Brees | 23-of-32 for 343 yards and 3 TDs, @ Louisiana Superdome, Sept. 7, 2008 |
QB Ken Stabler | 29-of-43 for 333 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Dec. 5, 1982 |
QB Drew Brees | 26-of-46 for 322 yards and 1 TD, @ Raymond James Stadium, Sept. 15, 2013 |
QB Drew Brees | 24-of-32 for 314 yards and 3 TDs, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 5, 2006 |
QB Teddy Bridgewater | 26-of-34 for 314 yards and 4 TDs, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Oct. 6, 2019 |
QB Drew Brees | 31-of-41 for 312 yards and 2 TDs, @ Raymond James Stadium, Dec. 13, 2015 |
QB Drew Brees | 26-of-39 for 307 yards and 4 TDs, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Dec. 16, 2012 |
SAINTS RECEIVING YARDAGE vs. TAMPA BAY (100+ yards)
Player | Performance/Location/Date |
WR Michael Thomas | 11 receptions for 182 yards, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Oct. 6, 2019 |
WR Michael Thomas | 16 receptions for 180 yards, @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Sept. 9, 2018 |
TE Jimmy Graham | 10 receptions for 179 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Sept. 15, 2013 |
TE Jimmy Graham | 7 receptions for 124 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Oct. 16, 2011 |
WR Marques Colston | 11 receptions for 123 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 5, 2006 |
WR Willie Snead IV | 7 receptions for 122 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Dec. 13, 2015 |
WR Lance Moore | 9 receptions for 121 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Oct. 21, 2012 |
WR Marques Colston | 7 receptions for 118 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Oct. 16, 2011 |
WR Joe Horn | 9 receptions for 118 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Dec. 7, 2003 |
WR Michael Thomas | 8 receptions for 114 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 7, 2019 |
RB Reggie Bush | 8 receptions for 112 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Sept. 7, 2008 |
WR Marquez Callaway | 6 receptions for 112 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Dec. 19, 2021 |
WR Devery Henderson | 3 receptions for 111 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 5, 2006 |
WR Marques Colston | 6 receptions for 106 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 30, 2008 |
WR Joe Horn | 8 receptions for 108 yards, @ Raymond James Stadium, Sept. 9, 2002 |
WR Joe Horn | 5 receptions for 106 yards, @ Louisiana Superdome, Dec. 1, 2002 |
SAINTS SACKS vs. TAMPA BAY (3+)
Player | Performance/Location/Date |
LB Pat Swilling | 4 sacks, @ Tampa Stadium, Nov. 11, 1990 |
DE Bruce Clark | 3 sacks, @ Superdome, Sept. 9, 1984 |
LB Darion Conner | 3 sacks, @ Houlihan’s Stadium, Sept. 18, 1994 |
DE/DT Willie Whitehead | 3 sacks, @ Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 2, 2003 |
SAINTS vs. BUCCANEERS STATISTICAL COMPARISON
2024 NFL Regular Season League Rankings
Saints | Tampa Bay | |
Record | 5-11 | 9-7 |
Scoring Avg. (NFL Rank) | 19.9 (23) | 29.7 (4) |
Opp. Scoring Avg. (NFL Rank) | 23.2 (18) | 22.9 (17) |
Total Off. (NFL Rank) | 321.9 (20) | 399.9 (3) |
Rushing Off. (NFL Rank) | 118.1 (14) | 147.3 (4) |
Passing Off. (NFL Rank) | 203.8 (24) | 252.6 (3) |
Total Def. (NFL Rank) | 379.0 (30) | 344.9 (22) |
Rushing Def. (NFL Rank) | 139.1 (28) | 99.9 (18) |
Passing Def. (NFL Rank) | 239.9 (27) | 244.9 (30) |
Punt Return Avg. (NFL Rank) | 12.7 (4) | 8.0 (25) |
Kickoff Return Avg. (NFL Rank) | 27.0 (18) | 26.0 (25) |
Turnover Margin (NFL Rank) | -3 (17) | -4 (18) |
Possession Avg. | 28:10 | 31:59 |
Touchdowns | 36 | 56 |
Penalties | 102 | 96 |
Penalty Yards | 926 | 749 |
Opp. Penalties | 103 | 88 |
Opp. Penalty Yards | 869 | 820 |
SAINTS vs. BUCCANEERS SERIES FAST FACTS
SERIES FAST FACTS - as of Week 17 2024 | |
Category | Details |
Saints’ Largest Margin of Victory | 41 points, Saints won 41-0 on 12/16/12 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. |
Buccaneers’ Largest Margin of Victory | 27 points, Buccaneers won 48-21 on 12/23/01 at Raymond James Stadium. |
Current Series Streak | Buccaneers won last game, 10/13/24-present. |
New Orleans’ Longest Winning Streak | Seven games, 11/16/11-11/28/14 and 12/9/18-12/19/21. |
Buccaneers’ Longest Win Streak | Three games, 9/18/22-10/1/23. |
Most Points by Saints in a Game | 44 points, Saints won 44-34 on 12/6/87 at the Louisiana Superdome. |
Most Points by Tampa Bay in a Game | 51 points, Tampa Bay won 51-27 on 10/13/24 at Caesars Superdome. |
Most Combined Points (Both Teams) | 88 points, Buccaneers won 48-40 on 9/9/18 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. |
Fewest Points by Saints in a Game | Three points, Buccaneers won 10-3 on 12/4/05 at Tiger Stadium. |
Fewest Points by Buccaneers in a Game | 0 points (two times), Saints won 41-0 on 12/16/12 and 9-0 on 12/19/21. |
Fewest Combined Points (Both Teams) | 9 points, Saints won 9-0 on 12/19/21 at Raymond James Stadium. |
SAINTS vs. BUCCANEERS CONNECTIONS
- Saints WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling prepped at Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and played the final three years of his college career at the University of South Florida.
- Valdes-Scantling and Buccaneers G Royce Newman were teammates in Green Bay in 2021.
- Saints Assistant Special Teams Coach Phil Galiano served as special teams coordinator in Tampa Bay from 2012-13.
- New Orleans Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods served as a defensive quality control coach in Tampa Bay from 2004-05.
- Saints DE Isaiah Foskey was teammates at Notre Dame with Buccaneers OL Robert Hainsey.
- Buccaneers WR Sterling Sheperd's late father, Derrick Sheperd, played for the Saints in 1989.
- Saints WR Dante Pettis and C/G Shane Lemieux played with Sheperd and Buccaneers G Ben Bredeson with the New York Giants.
- Saints LB Demario Davis and DT Nathan Shepherd played for Tampa Bay Head Coach Todd Bowles and Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Kacy Rodgers with the New York Jets.
- Saints Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi, Bowles, Rodgers, and Tampa Bay Outside Linebackers Coach George Edwards served on the same Miami Dolphins coaching staff.
- Bowles served as defensive coordinator & secondary coach at Grambling State from 1998-99.
- New Orleans WR Bub Means and Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey were college teammates at Pittsburgh.
- Shepherd played with Buccaneers K Chase McLaughlin and S Jordan Whitehead with the Jets in 2022.
- New Orleans S Tyrann Mathieu was teammates in Arizona with Tampa Bay Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Larry Foote and Assistant Secondary Coach Rashad Johnson.
- Buccaneers WR Trey Palmer was a standout at Kentwood (La.) HS, played at LSU from 2019-21 as a member of their 2019 national championship team, where he played with Saints RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
- Saints DB Jordan Howden played with Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr., RB Bucky Irving, and TE Ko Kieft at the University of Minnesota.
- Saints Vice President/Player Engagement Fred McAfee played for Tampa Bay in 1999.
- Tampa Bay Offensive Line Coach Kevin Carberry served as assistant offensive line coach in New Orleans in 2023.
- New Orleans CB Kool-Aid McKinstry and Tampa Bay LB Chris Braswell were college teammates at the University of Alabama.
- Saints DE Payton Turner and Buccaneers DE Logan Hall were college teammates at the University of Houston.
- New Orleans Tight Ends Coach Clancy Barone, Senior Offensive Assistant Rick Dennison, Quarterbacks Coach Andrew Janocko, Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak, and Tampa Bay Outside Linebackers Coach George Edwards served on the same coaching staff with the Minnesota Vikings.
- Saints WR Dante Pettis and Tampa Bay TE Cade Otton, LB Joe Tyron-Shoyinka, NT Vita Vea, and NT Greg Gaines were college teammates at the University of Washington.
- Pettis and Buccaneers T Justin Skule were teammates in San Francisco from 2019-20.
- Tampa Bay Defensive Quality Control Assistant Joey Fitzgerald served on the Southeastern Louisiana University coaching staff in 2017.
- Fitzgerald served on Grantham's defensive staff at Florida in 2018 and on the Louisiana-Monroe staff in 2019-20.
- Fitzgerald also served on the Northwestern State University staff.
- Tampa Bay Senior Offensive Assistant Tom Moore served as running backs coach of the Saints in 1997.
- Dennison and Buccaneers Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey served on the same Denver Broncos coaching staff from 2005-06.
- McGaughey served as special teams coordinator & defensive assistant at LSU from 2011-13, where he developed Mathieu into a first-team All-American return specialist in 2011.
- Saints C/G Cesar Ruiz and Buccaneers G Ben Bredeson were college teammates at Michigan.
- Saints T Landon Young and Buccaneers S Mike Edwards were college teammates at Kentucky.
- Valdes-Scantling and Edwards were teammates in Kansas City in 2023 and in Buffalo in 2024.