Saints Pass Defense vs. Buccaneers Passing Attack Worthy of Pay-Per-View

The Saints and Buccaneers renew a recently contentious rivalry, with pay-per-view worthy matchups between the New Orleans defense and Tampa Bay offense.

NFC South rivals New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers square off on Sunday afternoon in the Caesars Superdome. Both teams come in at 2-1, with the Buccaneers having lost at home to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night and the Saints blowing a 17-point lead to lose 18-17 at the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. 

These teams have had some extremely contentious and physical matchups over the last few seasons. Baker Mayfield replaces Tom Brady as Tampa Bay's quarterback, but there are still several tantalizing individual matchups on this side of the ball.

Tampa Bay comes in ranked just 25th in total offense after three games, having been held to under 250 total yards twice. New Orleans counters with the league's 9th ranked defense, but a unit that gave up 18 fourth quarter points in last week's loss. 

In recent matchups between these teams, extra attention gets paid when Tampa Bay drops back to pass.

Saints Pass Defense vs. Buccaneers Passing Attack 

Tampa Bay Passing Game 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws the ball against the Chicago Bears. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY

Mayfield has completed 66.7% of his throws so far, on track to be a career high, for 636 yards with four touchdowns and just one interception. He threw for 317 yards against the Bears in Week 2, but less than 180 in the other two games. 

The top overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by Cleveland, Mayfield is trying to resurrect his career. He's been a capable quarterback with a strong running game, which the Buccaneers do not have. Otherwise, he's a streaky passer prone to mistakes under pressure. 

Mayfield has never had a better pair of wideouts than he has in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Predictably, the two are responsible for 50% of Mayfield's completions and 69% of his passing yardage. 

Evans has eclipsed 1,000 yards in all of his previous nine seasons and leads the team with 17 catches for 297 yards and three scores so far. He's a big wideout who tries to dominate defensive backs with his physicality, but also has the speed to make plays deep.

Godwin is a seventh-year pro that has over 1,000 yards in three of the last four seasons and 13 receptions for 141 yards this year. Not as physically imposing as Evans, Godwin is an outstanding route runner that gets excellent separation but also makes plays in traffic routinely. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) makes a reception against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY

Wideout depth is supplied by rookie sixth-round choice Trey Palmer, undrafted rookie Rakim Jarrett, and 2022 undrafted player Deven Thompkins. The three have combined for nine receptions and 59 yards. Second-year RB Rachaad White is a good receiver out of the backfield. He's third on the team with 10 catches.

Second-year TE Cade Otton is developing into a very capable receiving option. Otton, who has nine receptions for 76 yards, is a good receiver over the middle with the athleticism to be a mismatch for some linebackers. Ko Kieft and David Wells are more blocking specialists, but are capable of making plays in short yardage. 

Mayfield has been sacked just three times so far, but has been pressured 26 times by opposing rushers. The Buccaneers have an entirely new trio of interior linemen with both tackles playing new spots.

Fourth-year OT Tristan Wirfs was considered one of the top right tackles in the NFL, but now starts on the left side. Luke Goedeke was a starting guard as a rookie in 2022. He's now taken Wirfs' spot at right tackle.

Rookie second-round choice Cody Mauch is the new starter at right guard. Former tackle Robert Hainsey is now the starting center. Seven-year journeyman Matt Feiler assumes the left guard role.

New Orleans Pass Defense 

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) makes an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of an abysmal effort by the offensive line, the most disappointing part of the Saints loss at Green Bay was the lack of pass rush from their defensive line. Packers QB Jordan Love was sacked just once, from blitzing CB Alontae Taylor, by a Saints defense that registered 13 pressures but just one QB hit from their defensive line. 

This would seem to be an anomaly rather than a trait. New Orleans generated excellent pressure through the first two games and comes into Week 4 with eight sacks and 20 QB hits.

Perennial Pro Bowl DE Cam Jordan has only a half sack so far, but eight pressures and several other hurries.  Carl Granderson has been an excellent complement on the other side with seven pressures and a team-high 2.5 sacks. Tanoh Kpassagnon has been quiet so far, but provides capable outside depth. 

Saints defensive tackles are a much-improved unit over the group we saw the previous two years. First-round rookie Bryan Bresee, who has five pressures and a half sack, is developing into a disruptive force. Nathan Shepherd has added a sack and four pressures of his own. Malcolm Roach and Khalen Saunders round out a very effective interior rotation. 

Linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner are each outstanding run defenders, but also valuable and versatile members of the pass defense. Werner, a third-year pro, is heady in zone coverages and even more aggressive this year as a blitzer. 

Davis is one of the NFL's best all-around defensive players. He's a devastating blitzer, but also athletic and instinctive enough to lock up backs or tight ends in man coverage all over the field.

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) breaks up a pass to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

A tremendous trio of New Orleans cornerbacks is capable of locking down even top receiving units. One status to watch is that of CB Paulson Adebo, who missed last Sunday with a hamstring injury and has yet to practice this week. Isaac Yiadom filled in admirably against Green Bay, breaking up four passes and giving up only three receptions on nine targets. 

Marshon Lattimore had an off day (for him) against the Packers, but has had a tremendous start to the season. Lattimore, who typically shadows an opponent’s best receiver, has intercepted a pass, broken up six others, and is allowing a meager 40% completion percentage when targeted this season. 

Second-year CB Alontae Taylor was the defensive star against the Packers. Taylor allowed only three catches on 11 targets and is allowing less than 59% completion rate when targeted so far. He's the top slot man for the defense, but will see more action on the outside if Adebo remains out.

Safety Marcus Maye will serve the second of his three-game suspension this Sunday. His absence was felt against Green Bay, but rookie Jordan Howden and veteran Lonnie Johnson are capable replacements. Tyrann Mathieu will likely serve as the deep safety and has outstanding range and instincts. 

Get Your Popcorn Ready

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore breaks up a touchdown pass to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. Mandatory Credit: Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via USA TODAY NETWORK

Lattimore will likely guard Evans most of the day as the two continue their contentious individual rivalry. In 11 matchups against Lattimore, Evans has averaged just 2.6 catches and less than 45 yards per outing. He's been held to two or less receptions in six of those contests, including in five of the last seven meetings. Over that same span, Lattimore has an interception, 15 passes broken up, and allowed only 43% completion rate. 

Godwin has been a bigger problem for New Orleans coverage. He'll likely be covered by Adebo if healthy, or a combination of Taylor and Yiadom. The Saints will also have to be wary of Otton after Green Bay TE Luke Musgrave had six key receptions on them last week. 

New Orleans pressure made Tom Brady miserable in seven meetings when Brady played for the Bucs. It will also be critical against Mayfield.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY

In 24 career games against Tampa Bay, Cameron Jordan has 17 sacks, 33 QB hits, 19 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles. With Wirfs now on the left side against the emerging Granderson, Jordan will face off against converted guard Goedeke.

Saints defensive tackles will also need to play a key role in the unit's success. They'll square off against three new faces on the interior of Tampa Bay's line.