Buccaneers fans have two big reasons to root for the Saints in Week 15

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have dug themselves into a hole in the NFC South title race. As bad as things are, though, there's still a ton of light at the end of the tunnel, and the Bucs can get some big help on Sunday.

The team started the season 6-2 and looked like they’d be able to cruise to another division title, but after losing five of their last six games, they’ve fallen to 7-7 and surrendered control of the division to the Carolina Panthers. 

The Panthers will face off against the lowly New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and if they beat the Saints, they can go on to clinch the NFC South with a win over the Buccaneers next weekend.

Tampa Bay's only path to another division title would be sweeping the Panthers, which feels pretty unlikely given how the Bucs have been playng throughout the second half of the season.

To avoid next week’s game against Carolina being do-or-die for the Buccaneers, and for an overall better playoff outlook, the Bucs and their fans will be rooting hard for the Saints this weekend. But that’s not the only reason to pull for New Orleans in Week 15.

At 3-10, the Saints currently hold the fifth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The upcoming draft class is considered to be a strong one, ripe with exciting talent. Holding a top five draft pick puts the Saints in position to land one of the best players in the draft and instantly improve the roster. 

There are three other 3-10 teams  — the Commanders, Jets, and Cardinals. All three are underdogs in Week 15. If those three teams were to lose their games combined with a Saints win over Carolina, the Saints pick could slide all the way down to No. 8.

It’s rare for Bucs fans to pull for the Saints, but this is purely for selfish reasons. A win for New Orleans benefits the Bucs in the short term, and could also hurt the Saints in the long term when draft season rolls around.