New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

Week 8 in the NFL brings an all-NFC South showdown as the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) square off against the struggling New Orleans Saints (1-6).

The Buccaneers limp into this one after a humbling night in Detroit, where Mike Evans went down with a broken collarbone and the offense sputtered in a 24-9 defeat. Baker Mayfield has done a commendable job holding things together behind a patched-up offensive line and a revolving door of receivers, but Monday's loss showed that duct tape only holds for so long in this league.

The Saints, meanwhile, have spent most of 2025 flirting with competence without ever closing the deal. Last week was another low point, they were buried early by the Bears, trailing 20-0 before falling 26-14. Spencer Rattler has been steady, maybe even slightly better than advertised, but let's be honest: with New Orleans sitting at 1-6, the front office might already be peeking at the 2026 quarterback class.

Expect Tampa Bay’s defensive front to dictate terms, collapsing the pocket and forcing Rattler into hurried throws and bad decisions. Mayfield, even without a full-strength supporting cast, should have enough firepower to keep the chains moving and secure a comfortable win, one that keeps the Buccaneers firmly atop the NFC South while the Saints continue to drift further into rebuild territory.

New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick-off time

NFL

Caesars Superdome

The Saints and the Buccaneers play on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a game on the NFL Week 8 schedule, with kick-off slated for 4:05 pm ET or 1:05 pm PT.

Team news & squads

New Orleans Saints team news

The Saints are in far better shape on the injury front. Only three players missed Wednesday's session, Chris Olave (ankle), Alontae Taylor (personal), and Chase Young (illness) — and all are expected to suit up on Sunday. Tight end Juwan Johnson (neck) and running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) were limited, but both should be good to go barring any late setbacks. Defensive tackle John Ridgeway III (shoulder) logged a full practice, a promising sign as he inches closer to returning from injured reserve.

Rattler has been the driving force behind the Saints’ offense this season, throwing for 1,450 yards with an impressive 67.7% completion rate and eight touchdown passes. On the ground, Alvin Kamara continues to set the pace with 342 rushing yards, while Chris Olave has emerged as the top target in the passing game, hauling in 44 catches for 440 yards and three scores. Defensively, veteran linebacker Demario Davis anchors the unit with 61 total tackles, 33 of them solo, while Carl Granderson leads the team in sacks with 4.5, and rookie corner Kool-Aid McKinstry has picked off two passes.

Saints Injury Report: Isaac Yiadom (CB) – Questionable, Erik McCoy (C) – Doubtful, Kendre Miller (RB) – Out, John Ridgeway III (DT) – Injured Reserve, Trey Palmer (WR) – Injured Reserve

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers team news

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are running on fumes heading into Week 8. On top of losing star wideout Mike Evans, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, the Bucs have already ruled out three more key contributors for Sunday's showdown with the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Chris Godwin (fibula), Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder), and pass-rusher Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) will all be sidelined, a brutal blow to a team already battling depth concerns on both sides of the ball.

That means offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will need to dig deep into his playbook, and maybe his imagination, to keep this offense humming. With Evans out for the next 6–8 weeks and Godwin still recovering, expect a flurry of targets to head toward Cade Otton, Tez Johnson, Sterling Shepard, and Rachaad White. It’s going to take a full-squad effort to keep Baker Mayfield upright and this offense functional.

Mayfield continues to command the offense efficiently, posting 1,539 passing yards with a 66.2% completion rate and 12 touchdowns. Rookie back Bucky Irving leads the rushing attack with 237 yards, while Emeka Egbuka has become Mayfield’s go-to receiver, tallying 27 receptions for 469 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Tykee Smith leads the Bucs with 45 total tackles, 27 of them solo. YaYa Diaby has recorded three sacks, and Jamel Dean has notched a pair of interceptions.

Buccaneers Injury Report: Josh Williams (RB) – Questionable, Bucky Irving (RB) – Questionable, Luke Haggard (OT) – Questionable, Chris Godwin (WR) – Questionable, Mike Evans (WR) – Out

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Watch and live stream Saints vs Buccaneers in the USA

The Saints vs Buccaneers game in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on FOX. Fans can catch the coverage onFubo (Try for free today!).

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More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Saints vs Buccaneers worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

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To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.

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How to buy Saints vs Buccaneers tickets

The showdown between the Saints and the Buccaneers is set for Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, a venue that packs in up to 72,220 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

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READ MORE: NFL 2025 Tickets: Prices, deals, season tickets & membership information

Saints vs Buccaneers Fantasy Football

Baker Mayfield (projected 21.8 Week 8 fpts) has spent the first half of the season dodging disaster, patching holes, and finding ways to keep the Buccaneers humming. But on Monday night, the wheels finally wobbled. The veteran passer managed just 4.6 yards per attempt — his lowest of the season — while completing 28 of 50 throws (56%) for 228 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. The grit was still there, but the spark that had carried Tampa Bay early on flickered under Detroit’s pressure.

Even so, Rachaad White continues to serve as the heartbeat of this offense. Locked into a workhorse role on one of the league’s most explosive units, he remains a low-end RB1 with upside — especially given how consistently the Buccaneers feed him the rock.

If Emeka Egbuka (projected 10.0 fpts) is cleared for Sunday’s clash with the Saints, fantasy managers should hit the “start” button without hesitation. He’s too dynamic, and the Bucs need every weapon they can muster.

On the flip side, Spencer Rattler (projected 15.6 fpts) had one of those maddening afternoons that define a young quarterback’s growing pains. He threw for a season-high 233 yards and notched multiple touchdowns for the second time this year but four turnovers undid all that progress. After entering Week 7 with just two giveaways all season, Rattler imploded with three interceptions and a lost fumble, torpedoing what could've been a breakout fantasy day.

Still, there’s a flicker of optimism. Rattler has posted new season highs in passing yards in three straight weeks, showing he’s trending in the right direction despite the miscues. He remains a QB2 for now, volatile but intriguing, with the potential to punch above his weight if he can keep the ball out of harm’s way.

Meanwhile, Alvin Kamara (projected 9.6 fpts) was limited in Wednesday’s practice, which shouldn’t raise alarms. The Saints are simply being cautious after his recent ankle tweak. Unless there’s an unexpected setback, the star running back should be ready to roll for Week 8, continuing to serve as the engine of New Orleans’ offense.

Saints vs Buccaneers Game Predictions

The New Orleans Saints haven't exactly been pushovers this year; aside from one lopsided defeat, they've managed to stay competitive despite boasting one of the league's weakest rosters. Still, it's hard to see them keeping up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four quarters. New Orleans' defense ranks near the bottom of the NFL, and their inability to establish a consistent ground game continues to be a major liability. Those flaws play right into Tampa Bay's strengths, giving Baker Mayfield and company a clear path to another divisional victory.

Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Saints 17

Saints vs Buccaneers Betting Odds

Spread

Buccaneers -4.5 (-106)

Saints +4.5 (-114)

Moneyline

Buccaneers -225

Saints +188

Total

OVER 46.5 (-114)

UNDER 46.5 (-106)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

NO

Last 5 matches

TB

1

Win

0

Draws

4

Wins

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  27

  -

  19

  New Orleans Saints

• New Orleans Saints

  27

  -

  51

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  13

  -

  23

  New Orleans Saints

• New Orleans Saints

  9

  -

  26

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  17

  -

  16

  New Orleans Saints

Useful links

• Saints 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Buccaneers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)