Can the Saints overcome losing their elite center and key running back? This matchup's outcome hinges on these crucial personnel challenges.
The NFC South first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Louisiana to take on the last-place New Orleans Saints in Week 8. There are a lot of things to watch for in this divisional matchup In this article, we will key in on three of those.
How impactful is the loss of starting center Erik McCoy?
Veteran center Erik McCoy is the leader of the Saints’ offensive line. He is not just their best offensive lineman; he is one of the most elite centers in the NFL. He was graded by PFF as the No. 1 center in the league last season and ranked No. 10 out of 33 centers in 2025.
McCoy is vital to the success of both the run and the pass. McCoy was graded as the top run-blocking center in 2024, among 43 centers, and the top pass-blocking center in 2025, among 33 centers.
The Saints have already had trouble running the ball in 2025, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry and 100.1 rushing yards per game (No. 22 in the NFL).
New Orleans ranks No. 24 in the league in passing yards per game. Spencer Rattler has been sacked 15 times this season, tied for No. 10 among quarterbacks in 2025.
In an offense already struggling to move the ball, losing its best offensive lineman and captain of the O-line is a fierce blow. There are sure to be breakdowns in protection and greater pressure from interior pass rushers. Spencer Rattler, in just his second season, will be greatly tested in recognizing blitz schemes without his veteran center.
What will the Saints do after losing Kendre Miller for the year?
Kendre Miller was another brutal loss for the Saints. He will miss the rest of the year after tearing his ACL in Week 7 in the team's loss to the Chicago Bears. He has been an important part of this New Orleans offense and their most effective ball carrier in 2025, particularly in recent weeks. Here is how Miller compares to Alvin Kamara in several key stats/metrics:
Kendre Miller Alvin Kamara
YPC 4.1 3.6
PFF Grade 74.0 56.4
YAC per attempt 3.6 2.62
Missed tackles rate 31.9% 14.9%
Miller had been earning more opportunities in recent weeks and making the most of those opportunities. This also allowed veteran Kamara to get more rest between snaps, which further improved the efficiency of the run game.
Former Kansas Jayhawk Devin Neal is the next man up and will attempt to fill the role that Kendre Miller previously held. Kellen Moore wants to stick to a two-back committee approach, with Kamara remaining the alpha. There is a lot of opportunity for the rookie to thrive in the roughly 30% of snaps he is expected to see. There will be a lot asked of him, and only time will tell his capability of filling that void.
Is there anything to look forward to against the first-place Buccaneers?
Though most of the news is bad, there are a couple of positives to watch for in this matchup. The Saints committed a lot of money to Chase Young, who has missed time with injury. He has been exceptional in both of his games this year, creating constant pressure and earning an 89.8 PFF grade. Tampa Bay has been a below-average pass-blocking team in 2025, and they are missing two of their top three receivers. Chase Young should be in for another impactful game.
The No. 9 Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kelvin Banks Jr, had his best performances in the last two games. He allowed just four hurries, no sacks, and committed one penalty. Week 7 was also his highest-graded run-blocking performance. Having a young, franchise left tackle would be a significant win for this struggling New Orleans team.