– Tampa Bay defeated the New Orleans Saints, 23-3, and have started 6-2 for the fifth time in team history and for the third time since 2020 (1979, 2002, 2020, 2021, 2025). The three points allowed by Tampa Bay were its fewest surrendered in a game since Week 18 of the 2023 season at Carolina (zero).
– The Buccaneers have now earned double-digit wins in each of their last four trips to New Orleans, marking just the second-such occurrence vs. New Orleans in NFL history (Chargers, 1977-1997). It was also the first time in franchise history that the Buccaneers have won four consecutive road games at New Orleans by any margin.
– Tampa Bay has won five consecutive NFC South contests for the first time since 2007. The Buccaneers 22-10 record (.688) in division games since 2020 is the third-best in the NFL behind only the Buffalo Bills (26-7) and the Kansas City Chiefs (25-7).
– Dating back to the 2021 season, the Buccaneers have held at least a share of the NFC South lead for 65 of the last 79 weeks.
– Tampa Bay recorded five sacks and four takeaways – the first time they have reached both of those marks in the same game since 9/18/22 at New Orleans. Since 2022, the Buccaneers are a perfect 6-0 vs. New Orleans when recording multiple sacks. Tampa Bay’s four takeaways in Week 8 are the team’s most in a single game since 12/24/23 vs. Jacksonville. Per ESPN research, Tampa Bay’s 15.0 sacks over its last three games are tied for the most over any three-game stretch in the past 25 years.
– Tampa Bay has five games this season with multiple takeaways – the most-such games in the NFL this season. The team’s four games with multiple takeaways and 3.0+ sacks are also the most in the NFL.
– The Buccaneers limited New Orleans to just 48 yards rushing – the fewest they have allowed in a game since Week 17 of last season (39).
– On the season, the Buccaneers defense ranks tied for first in defensive touchdowns (two), second in tackles for loss (50), tied for second in strip sacks (three), third in sacks (25.0), third in QB pressures (131), tied for third in takeaways (12), tied for third in fumble recoveries (five), tied for sixth in quarterback hits (48), tied for seventh in interceptions (seven), ninth in lowest opponent yards per play (5.2), tied for tenth in forced fumbles (six) and tied for tenth in passes defensed (36) through Sunday’s 4 p.m. games.
– Making his first start of the 2025 season, OLB
Anthony Nelson recorded 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception return touchdown, becoming the first player since 2007 to reach each of these marks in a single game and just 1-of-3 players since at least 2000 to accomplish this feat.
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Nelson was the first player since Alex Highsmith (PIT, 9/18/23 vs. Cleveland) to record at least one sack, forced fumble and interception return touchdown in a game. Since data is available dating back to 1994,
Nelson is the first Buccaneers player to record this stat line in a single game. He is the first player since
Khalil Mack (CHI, 9/9/18 at GB) to record each a forced fumble, a sack and an interception return touchdown in a single half.
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Nelson’s interception and touchdown were each the first of his career, while he improved his career totals to 21.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
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Lavonte David picked up his first fumble recovery of the season and the 20th of his NFL career. Since 2000, only three NFL players have recorded 30+ forced fumbles and 20+ defensive fumble recoveries:
David and Pro Football Hall of Famers Jason Taylor and Julius Peppers. He also led the team with 10 tackles, marking his 53rd career game with 10+ tackles.
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Jamel Dean knocked the ball free from Saints WR Rashid Shaheed, recording his second forced fumble of the season and the third of his career.
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Antoine Winfield Jr. scooped up the Dean forced fumble, marking the 10th of his NFL career. Since TruMedia data is available dating back to 2000, Winfield Jr. is just the 12thdefensive back with 10+ career forced fumbles and 10+ career fumble recoveries. All 11 other players on the list have played 116+ career games. Winfield Jr. has played 76.
Defensive Backs with 10+ Forced Fumbles and 10+ Fumble Recoveries Since 2000:
- Antoine Winfield Jr.
- Rondé Barber (Hall of Fame)
- Brian Dawkins (Hall of Fame)
- Ed Reed (Hall of Fame)
- Charles Woodson (Hall of Fame)
- Mike Adams
- Vonn Bell
- Dre’ Bly
- DeAngelo Hall
- Malcolm Jenkins
- Rodney McLeod
- Marcus Peters
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Winfield Jr. later picked off a Tyler Shough pass to secure his first interception of the season and the eighth of his career. Winfield Jr.’s two takeaways in Week 8 are tied for the most by any NFL player in a single game this season and the most by a Bucs player since he had two takeaways vs. Jacksonville on 12/24/23 (the first two takeaway game of Winfield Jr.’s career).
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Jacob Parrish recorded his second sack of the season, tying him for the most among all rookies. With two tackles for loss on Sunday, Parrish brought his season total to five, tying for the second-most among rookies and the most among all rookie defensive backs. Among rookies, Parrish also ranks tied for fourth in passes defensed (three) and tied for 10th in total tackles (37) through Sunday’s 4 p.m. games.
– LB
SirVocea Dennis picked up his second sack of the season and the third of his career.
Logan Hall and
Markees Watts split a sack, improving their career totals to 9.5 and 1.5, respectively.
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Tykee Smith contributed eight tackles and one pass defensed. Through Sunday’s 4 p.m. games, Smith ranks 10th in the NFL in total tackles (66) and first among all defensive backs.
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Baker Mayfield completed 15-of-24 passes for 152 yards, earning a 80.6 passer rating and his 25th regular season win as starting quarterback of the Buccaneers, which broke a tie with Josh Freeman and Vinny Testaverde for the sixth-most in franchise history.
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Sean Tucker rushed 12 times for 42 yards, tallying his second rushing touchdown of the season and the fourth of his career. Three of Tucker’s five career touchdowns from scrimmage have come at the Caesars Superdome.
– Rookie WR
Tez Johnson led the team with five receptions for 43 yards. He now has 40+ receiving yards in four consecutive games after having one reception for eight yards in his first three career games combined.
– TE
Cade Otton caught four passes for 40 yards. Over the past four games, Otton has hauled in 20 receptions for 237 yards – the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in Weeks 5-8 behind only Oronde Gadsden II (323).
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Emeka Egbuka made three receptions for 35 yards and he continues to lead rookies in receiving yards (562) and receiving touchdowns (five). Despite being just eight games into his NFL career, Egbuka’s 562 receiving yards surpassed Kevin House (531 in 1980) and Mike Alstott (557 in 1996) for the seventh-most by a rookie in team history.
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Chase McLaughlin converted on field goal attempts of 52 and 55 yards and is now 7-for-7 on attempts of 50+ yards this season. His seven 50+ yard field goals are the most in the NFL this season.
– Among players with 30+ career field goal attempts from 50+ yards,
McLaughlin’s 84.8 field goal percentage (39-of-46) from 50+ yards is the second-highest in league history, trailing only Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey.
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Riley Dixon punted three times for 151 yards (50.3 avg.), pinning one inside the 20-yard line, On the year, Dixon ranks tied for fourth with 12 punts pinned inside the 20.
