The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready for their biggest game of the season. After a dominant 48-14 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 17, the Bucs now have a chance to clinch the NFC South with a victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 18. For the team, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“It’s a divisional opponent—they’re going to come in here and give everything they have,” said cornerback Zyon McCollum. “They have nothing to lose, so we’ve got to be prepared and give it our best shot. This is a t-shirt and a hat game, so there’s a lot of excitement around the locker room.”
Buccaneers Starting To Get Hot at the Right Time
The Buccaneers’ offense has been on fire. Quarterback Baker Mayfield had his best game of the season in Week 17, completing 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. His performance earned him a B grade and an 85.6 score in Pro Football Network’s QB+ Metric, which evaluates quarterbacks based on factors like success under pressure, third-down conversions, and clutch play.
Mayfield isn’t the only one stepping up. Running back Bucky Irving added 113 rushing yards, and wide receiver Mike Evans caught eight passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Evans is now just 68 yards away from his 10th straight 1,000-yard season, which would tie him with Jerry Rice for the longest streak in NFL history.
Mayfield praised Evans’ impact, both on and off the field. “Mike won’t say anything about it, and that’s just who he is,” Mayfield said. “That’s why we love him … He’s been so consistent for so long. It’s never been about just himself; it’s been about winning and trying to find ways to win.”
Baker Mayfield on the importance of getting Mike Evans his 11th 1,000-yard season. “You’re talking about tying somebody that has all receiving records across the NFL throughout history…somebody in this community that has raised people up…” pic.twitter.com/ag5QDDMwK6
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) January 1, 2025
While the offense is clicking, Tampa Bay’s defense has also made strides since their bye week. According to the Pro Football Network Defense+ Metric, the Buccaneers recorded their second-best grade of the season in the Week 17 win over the Panthers. Their 83.5 (B) grade was eclipsed only by the team’s Week 14 showing against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Quietly, Tampa’s defense has turned around since returning from a bye in Week 12. A soft schedule has helped, but the Bucs rank second in EPA per play (0.12) and fifth in success rate (60.5%) over that timeframe. Four of Tampa Bay’s five highest Defense+ grades have come since then as well.
The pass defense numbers are still ugly for the season, as the Bucs have the fourth-lowest pass defense success rate (52.2%) overall. That’s even with the recent boost in form, as Tampa Bay actually ranks fifth-best (57.7%) in that category since Week 12.
The Buccaneers should be able to post a similarly high level of performance in Week 18 against the Saints’ backups. Head coach Todd Bowles credited better communication and execution for the turnaround.
“It’s really just guys executing … talking, and communicating a lot better,” Bowles said. “We’ve won five out of six, so we’ve got to win one more. I like the way we’re playing right now.”
The Buccaneers will face a struggling Saints team that has scored just 10 points over their last two games. Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler has been inconsistent, completing only 56% of his passes in just one game this season. However, Bowles is not underestimating their division rivals.
“They put 27 points on us last time,” Bowles said. “I’m the last person to talk about somebody else’s injuries because we deal with our own, so that doesn’t bother me. I’m just getting ready for a tough ball game. We know who they have … they’re going to come out ready to play.”
With the playoffs on the line, the Buccaneers are keeping their eyes on the prize. Bowles emphasized that the team’s focus is on winning, even as they aim to help Evans reach his milestone.
“Winning is the most important thing, so there’s no balance there,” Bowles said. “We’re going to win any way we can try to win. We’d like to get [Evans] that in the process, but we’re trying to win the game.”
As the Buccaneers prepare for their “t-shirt and hat game,” they’re playing their best football of the season. With Mayfield leading a top-three offense and the defense peaking at the right time, Tampa Bay looks poised to secure the NFC South title and make noise in the playoffs.