The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to reclaim the NFC South crown in 2026 after losing it to the Carolina Panthers.
Last season, the Bucs squandered a 6-2 start, ultimately finishing 8-9 and snapping their four-year reign atop the division.
But despite the Panthers being the defending champions, Carolina might not even be Tampa Bay’s biggest obstacle. Another NFC South rival is emerging as the Buccaneers’ biggest challenger for the division title.
Saints could be the Buccaneers’ biggest NFC South threat in 2026
Pro Football Focus ranked the teams most likely to go from “worst to first” in 2026. The New Orleans Saints were listed at No. 1, being deemed the most likely team to go from last place to division champions.
Last Place Division Finishers Most Likely to go from Worst to First in 2026📈 pic.twitter.com/LfAJXXacno
— PFF (@PFF) July 7, 2026
Despite their last-place finish, the Saints caught fire at the end of last season. After a dreadful 2-10 start to the campaign, they won four out of their final five games to finish 6-11.
A big part of their turnaround was the shift to Tyler Shough as the starting quarterback, who went 5-4 as a starter during his rookie year.
Shough showed a ton of promise, including leading New Orleans to a win over the Bucs on the road in Tampa Bay.
The Saints saw the upside in their young quarterback, and they went all-in this offseason to surround him with a quality supporting cast entering year two.
New Orleans spent their first-round draft pick on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who was widely considered the best pass catcher in the draft class.
The Saints further added to their arsenal, spending their third-round pick on tight end Oscar Delp, a prospect frequently linked to the Buccaneers due to his effectiveness as both a receiver and blocker.
They also bolstered their backfield by signing Travis Etienne, who rushed for 1,107 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns last season. He’s a dynamic weapon who has eclipsed 1,300 scrimmage yards in three of his four pro seasons.
The Saints have quietly built an offense that has the potential to be one of the NFL’s most explosive units, spearheaded by Chris Olave, coming off his first All-Pro nod. They have a dynamic group of pass catchers, a talented running back room, a promising young quarterback, and a respected offensive play caller in head coach Kellen Moore.
And while much of the focus has revolved around their offense, the Saints consistently boast a strong defense as well. New Orleans finished as the No. 9 defense in total yards allowed last season, and No. 4 against the pass.
Throw in the fact that they always play the Bucs tough, and Tampa Bay is looking at a real obstacle in the division. Despite the Buccaneers winning the division in four of the past five seasons, while the Saints have not made the playoffs during that span, the series remains close with the Bucs holding a slim 6-4 series lead.
New Orleans is a perennial thorn in Tampa Bay’s side, and if the Saints can build on their strong finish to last season, they can be one of the league’s most surprising teams in 2026 and pose the biggest threat to the Buccaneers in the NFC South race. The teams will face off in the regular season finale in Week 18, in a showdown that could determine who wins the division title.
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