Are the Saints no longer Tampa Bay’s biggest rival?

Most Tampa Bay fans, if prompted to speak on the matter, would confidently say the New Orleans Saints are not only the Buccaneers’ biggest rival but most hated opponent. The Rivalry cuts deep for fans who had the pleasure of watching New Orleans run the NFC South from 2017-2020 when they proceeded to secure four consecutive division titles and win at least 11 games in each of those four seasons.

The script has flipped in recent years, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have run off four-straight NFC South championships of their own— Tying those Saints for the most consecutive NFC South titles. The turning point moment is very clearly definable. After running through the Buccaneers like a swinging hammer through wet cardboard during the 2020 regular season, the two teams matched up again in the playoffs. For the Buccaneers, the third time was the charm. Tampa Bay intercepted Drew Brees three times (including intercepting his last career pass), forced four turnovers, and got themselves a 30-20 victory. In the smallest of pictures, that performance allowed the Buccaneers to advance— They would take on the Green Bay Packers a week later in the NFC Championship. From a broad vantage point, that day was representative of Tampa Bay staking their claim as the new head of the table in the NFC South.

 Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Prior to that Divisional weekend, the Bucs had only beaten New Orleans one time since 2017. Since Tampa Bay’s dismantling of Drew Brees that day, the Buccaneers have gone 5-3 against the Saints, far from perfect, but a substantial improvement.

While a rivalry wouldn’t exist without the Saints winning games (it’s hard to have a rivalry with an inferior opponent), New Orleans versus Tampa Bay runs deeper than just on-field competition. Saints players have found ways to take offseason shots at the Bucs, the head-to-head matchups between the two teams have often been riddled with trash-talking, physical play, and even fisticuffs— For years, the general atmosphere of the contests have been chippy, to say the least.

It isn’t often, however, that fans get a behind-the-scenes look at a rivalry through a player’s lens. That’s what Bucs’ fans received yesterday, when outside linebacker Yaya Diaby was interviewed on the MrBucsNation podcast. Diaby was asked if he and others on the team view the New Orleans Saints as their biggest rivals. Diaby responded by saying,

“I’m starting to think that it’s Atlanta. It’s always something with Atlanta that just gives us a hard time... Last year, we didn’t get one win on them, the year before we split a win... I feel like it’s Atlanta.”

While this may be a surprising take for a lot of Buccaneers’ fans to hear, the claim does come with a bit of merit. Tampa Bay has not swept the Falcons since 2021. Conversely, the Buccaneers swept the Saints last season and have swept them in two of the last three. New Orleans hasn't beaten the Buccaneers twice in a season since Todd Bowles took over as head coach. Bowles is actually 5-1 against New Orleans. Atlanta, however— as Diaby alluded to, swept the Buccaneers just last year.

Tampa's playoff victory in 2020 represented a changing of the guard in the NFC South, with that change has come new feuds, new opposition, and perhaps a new antagonist in the story of Tampa Bay football.