• WHERE: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX

This NFC South battle will look different without Derek Carr in the lineup, but the Saints can and will use their ground game. The Bucs run defense is 31st in overall rush defense efficiency, which should give Alvin Kamara — provided he’s good to go, as he’s dealing with multiple injuries — room to do his thing. The Saints are on a three-game slide coming into this game, and in a competitive division, they need one in the win column here.  

Baker Mayfield’s stats through five games speak for themselves: 71.9% completion rate (third in NFL), 11 passing touchdowns (second), and a 112.2 passer rating (third). The offense seems to have found a sound rhythm, as the Bucs are averaging 25.4 points per game (ninth). On defense is where they’ve fallen short, but they’re playing a rookie QB2 this week, which could give them an easier task.  

NFL Pro Insight for Buccaneers-Saints 

Since Marshon Lattimore entered the league in 2017, he and Mike Evans have faced each other in 12 games between the regular season and playoffs. Across those 12 games, Lattimore lined up against Evans on 265 of his 432 routes (61.3%), the most routes any defender has lined up against any individual receiver since 2017.  

Lattimore has allowed 19 receptions for 302 yards and two touchdowns to Evans on 29 targets faced as the nearest defender, while forcing a tight window on 10 of the 29 targets (34.5%). Buccaneers quarterbacks have combined to complete 27 of 44 passes for 426 yards, a touchdown, and six interceptions when targeting Evans versus all other Saints defenders in coverage.