The Buccaneers sail by the New Orleans Saints, crushing them 23-3. The score does not sufficiently reflect how badly Tampa Bay beat New Orleans, with at least one score being removed from Tampa Bay’s total due to officiating errors. Quite simply, the Bucs defense dominated the entire game, forcing four turnovers. The only three points scored by the Saints came off a Baker Mayfield sack-fumble, which was the Saints’ only trip to the red zone.

Offensively, the Bucs were much less successful, averaging an anemic 3.8 yards per play. The pass game was stifled by poor execution and a surprisingly potent Saints pass rush, which got the best of even the Bucs’ most consistent pass protectors. Tampa Bay attempted to lean on its run game, but with little imagination in the play design, it averaged just three yards per carry.

Fortunately, the defense did more than enough to carry the team and get Tampa Bay to the bye week with a 6-2 record.

Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs’ Week 8 win over the Saints:

STUD: Anthony Nelson

The Bucs were without pass-rusher Haason Reddick, but it did not matter. Anthony Nelson had a performance for the ages in his absence. The veteran outside linebacker recorded four tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Nelson’s pick-six broke the game wide open for Tampa Bay’s dominant defensive performance. Overall, his performance was a testament to Tampa Bay’s defensive depth and resilience amid a parade of injuries over this season.

DUD: Josh Grizzard

Despite Tampa Bay’s victory, the offensive performance was a pale shadow of the defense’s domination. The Bucs may be missing half their starting offense due to injuries, but offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard appeared to make little effort to compensate for the offense’s limited resources. Tampa Bay ran the ball 29 times despite averaging just three yards per attempt.

The rush plays themselves were not particularly imaginative, particularly on the goal line. In the second quarter, the Bucs ran four straight run plays on the New Orleans’ one-yard line and failed to get into the endzone. Tampa Bay’s offensive injuries account for only so much. Grizzard needs to be better at leveraging his available resources to their greatest potential if the Bucs are to have any hope in the postseason.

STUD: Antoine Winfield Jr.

The Bucs’ star safety has had a quiet season up to this point, but Antoine Winfield Jr. came to New Orleans to make plays. He recovered a Rashid Shaheed fumble and would have had a touchdown if not for an apparent (read: phantom) whistle that blew the play dead. He also ripped a pass away from Chris Olave for an interception that he again ran into the endzone, but again he was thwarted as he was ruled down by contact.

Winfield Jr. added a pass breakup and four tackles to his big performance. A day like this was a long time coming since Winfield Jr. returned this season fully healthy after a less productive 2024 season.

DUD: Tristan Wirfs

It is rare for the Bucs’ All-Pro left tackle to make the duds list, but based on his standards, Tristan Wirfs belongs here for how he played against the Saints. Wirfs might be the NFL’s best pass protector, but he struggled against Chase Young, who recorded 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hits, as well as applying consistent pressure on Baker Mayfield, especially in the first half. Wirfs also drew two false start penalties, a rare lapse in discipline. Given Wirfs’ history of consistent excellence, he is unlikely to have a similar performance this year, but that does not excuse his average play in New Orleans.

STUD: Jamel Dean

Another week, another big game by Jamel Dean. The veteran cornerback was responsible for punching out the ball from Chris Olave’s hands that Winfield Jr. theoretically returned for a touchdown. It is the fourth Bucs takeaway that Dean has been responsible for this season, which leads the team. Dean added six tackles and a quarterback hit. Since he was asked to take a pay cut, Dean has been one of Tampa Bay’s biggest playmakers. His newfound knack for finding the football is a major reason why the Bucs enter their bye week with a 6-2 record.