The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 13 at 1 p.m. ET at Caesars Superdome in an NFC showdown. The Bucs moved Tuesday, October 8 to New Orleans in anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s expected arrival along the Florida coast. In Week 6, the Bucs will be playing for more than just football. Tampa Bay has won three of the last four meetings with the Saints and the Bucs will look to improve their record Sunday at the Superdome.
Zyon McCollum
Rashid Shaheed, an undrafted free agent from Weber State in 2022, leads the Saints in receiving yards with 338. He is averaging 17.8 yards per reception in 2024 and since entering the league in 2022, Shaheed has nine receptions on passes that were in the air for more than 50 yards – the most by any NFL player during that span. Shaheed has a deadly double move and is a dynamic threat on the ground with his speed. He works quickly over defenses and Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum will get a heavy dose of Shaheed on Sunday. McCollum has 4.33 speed to stick with the Saints’ vertical weapon and has eight passes defensed in five games in 2024. The Sam Houston State product is having a career-best year as a full-time starter opposite to Jamel Dean and plays with physicality and phases the course well.
Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving has 293 yards from scrimmage in 2024 and will face the Saints for the first time as a rookie. Irving, a small back with a compact frame, runs with vision and superb contact balance. He created an effective duo with Rachaad White. With impressive lateral cuts, downhill bursts and spin moves, Irving adds another dimension to the Tampa Bay backfield. On Sunday, he will face Demario Davis, a top linebacker in the NFL. Davis, who was a 2023 Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-pro after accumulating 121 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits, is a complete player. He has the speed to take on defenders outside of the tackles and has excellent diagnostic skills to keep offenses off balance.
Mayfield Baker
Baker Mayfield is firing on all cylinders in 2024 as commander of the Buccaneers. His passer rating of 112.2 ranks second in the league among all quarterbacks with at least two starts. In Liam Coen’s system, Mayfield thrived, providing tight window throws and taking advantage of two-shell coverage by exploiting the lower zone of the field. He also made big plays using his legs, totaling 107 yards and two touchdowns while consistently keeping drives alive. Mayfield is adept at escaping pressure and keeping his eyes downfield to put the Bucs in advantageous field position. With moxie, superb arm talent and an understanding of how to exploit certain defensive looks, Mayfield is off to a career-ready start heading into the 2024 campaign. The Saints re-signed do-it-all safety Tyrann Mathieu during the offseason after allowing the second-fewest EPA among all NFL defenders in 2023. He collected 22 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble. recovery in 2024. Mathieu fights through blocks, possesses rare reading and reaction skills coupled with exceptional blitzing ability. He will be moved all over the defensive backfield and Mayfield will need to know where Mathieu is on every play.
Jordan Whitehead
Jordan Whitehead, the Bucs’ versatile safety, plays with tenacity and a disruptive trigger. With a fearsome first step and hard hitting, Whitehead’s physical prowess energizes the defense. He is dealing with a groin injury, but participated limitedly in practice Wednesday and Thursday. Whitehead has accumulated 36 tackles and three passes defended in 2024 and will look to make his mark on Sunday against a rookie quarterback in Spencer Rattler. Whitehead came close with several near-sacks, closing out the run like a missile and week six could be the breakout day. Rattler can extend plays using his legs and is efficient in terms of RPO looks. Following the loss of Derek Carr to injury, the Saints will turn to Rattler in their Week 6 matchup. A former five-star prospect at Arizona, Rattler began his college tenure at Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina after losing his starting job to Caleb Williams. He left Columbia after completing 67.5% of his passes for 6,212 yards, 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions and was drafted in the fifth round (150th overall) by New Orleans.
David Lavonte
In 25 career games against the Saints, Lavonte David has accumulated 201 tackles (20 for a loss), 142 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, nine passes defended and three forced fumbles. The elite linebacker has had a history of success against New Orleans and will look to continue the trend Sunday at the Superdome. Whether it’s stopping Alvin Kamara at the point, blitzing the quarterback, or leading tight ends in man coverage, David will look to disrupt the Saints’ rhythm in enemy territory. David rallies the defense with consistent play and sets the tone in the middle. His pursuit against the run and prowess against tight ends/running backs with hip fluidity in man coverage elevates Todd Bowles’ defense.
