Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playoff-bound after clinching the NFC South Championship with a hard-fought 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints on January 5, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium.
The Buccaneers finish the regular season with a record of 10-7, securing a home playoff game as either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the NFC. This win marked their fourth consecutive NFC South crown, demonstrating their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
The matchup began with early momentum swings. The Saints opened the scoring with a methodical drive, taking a 3-0 lead thanks to a field goal from Blake Grupe. Tampa Bay quickly responded with their own 52-yard field goal after a penalty extended their drive, leveling the score at 3-3.
New Orleans took back control, culminating a seven-minute drive with a touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler to Dante Pettis, pushing their lead to 13-3. Tampa Bay struggled to finish drives during the first half, but managed to slice the Saints' lead to 13-6 with another field goal late in the second quarter.
Just as momentum seemed to shift, the Saints added another field goal from Grupe—this time from 39 yards—heading to halftime with a 16-6 lead. The first half showed flashes of the Saints' potential, with Rattler completing 21 of 28 passes for 181 yards, proving effective under pressure.
The second half, though, would be where the Buccaneers truly came alive. Quarterback Baker Mayfield drew upon his experience, leading Tampa Bay to score with a touchdown pass to tight end Payne Durham, cutting the Saints’ lead to 16-13. When Rattler threw another field goal to extend New Orleans’s lead to 19-13 following Mayfield's interception, the Buccaneers just seemed to gather steam.
Tampa Bay’s first lead came via sensational play—a 32-yard catch by rookie wideout Jalen McMillan who toe-tapped the sideline for what would become the game-winning touchdown. The Buccaneers took the lead 20-19, leveraging the shift of momentum effectively.
From there, the Bucs’ defense clamped down, forcing multiple punts and limiting New Orleans to just three points after halftime. A lengthy drive capped with Bucky Irving’s rushing touchdown solidified Tampa Bay’s dominance, extending the lead to 27-19.
Despite having one last chance to equalize the game, the Saints faltered and failed to capitalize, allowing the Buccaneers to run out the clock and secure the division title. The victory highlighted Tampa Bay’s ability to navigate adversity, as head coach Todd Bowles praised his team's second-half performance.
“Our guys showed resilience out there, especially after the way the first half went,” Bowles noted. “We made adjustments, came out, and executed when it mattered.”
Key performers emerged during the game, showcasing the depth and talent of the Buccaneers. Mayfield, who was pivotal to the turnaround, threw for two touchdowns, including the clutch connection with McMillan. Rattler, on the other hand, illustrated his potential as he led the Saints with ten completions to different receivers.
Bucky Irving also played a significant role, giving the Buccaneers the powerful rushing presence they needed, providing the knockout punch late with his rushing touchdown.
With the playoff picture now clear, the Buccaneers will await their first-round playoff opponent, which could potentially be the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, or Detroit Lions, depending on results from other Week 18 matches.
The NFC South title win not only marks the Buccaneers’ return to the playoffs but also proves they are playoff-ready, having fought to finish the season strong with winning momentum. The Saints, having concluded their season at 5-12, hope to regroup and rebuild for next year, eager to have both experienced and rookie talents reevaluated for their future pursuits.
Now, attention turns to the postseason as the Buccaneers attempt to make noise on their quest for the ultimate goal—a trip to the Super Bowl.