The New Orleans Saints (2-3) aim to snap a three-game losing streak as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) in a critical Week 6 NFC South showdown. After a strong start, the Saints have hit a rough patch, worsened by quarterback Derek Carr‘s injury. Spencer Rattler, the former South Carolina standout, is set to make his first NFL start.
Rattler will face a Tampa Bay defense looking to rebound after a tough overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints need to rediscover their offensive rhythm, where they’ve been inconsistent lately despite having the fourth-best scoring average in the NFL (28.0 points per game).
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers, led by Baker Mayfield, are eager to bounce back after a missed opportunity last week. Mayfield has been solid, completing 71.9% of his passes with 11 touchdowns this season. Tampa Bay needs this win to keep pace in a tight NFC South race.
The Saints historically hold the edge in this rivalry, but Tampa Bay has won three of its last four trips to the Superdome. With both teams desperate for a victory, this matchup will test whether the Saints’ defense, ranked 8th in points allowed (19.2), can hold off Mayfield and the Bucs’ 9th-ranked offense (25.4 points per game).
