Saints fire back after Baker Mayfield’s trash talk ahead of Buccaneers matchup
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are once again at the center of an NFC South feud that never seems to cool off.
Ahead of their Week 8 matchup, the tension is rising as both teams prepare for another heated chapter in this rivalry. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t hold back when talking about the Saints earlier this week.
"It has not exactly been clean play from their part when we play them. It is a physical game; it is what it is," Mayfield said Wednesday. "You expect it [from a] division rival... Yeah, not much else to say besides for the fact that I do not like them."
As expected, the Saints weren’t going to let those comments slide, with veteran linebacker Demario Davis responding on Thursday.
— NOF (@nofnetwork) October 23, 2025Demario Davis responds to Baker Mayfield's comments about playing the #Saints and shares thoughts on trash talk:
"I don't have the context of what he said ... but the game is played between the white lines."
Added, "You can trash talk with your game, too, but I'm for all the… pic.twitter.com/4A9w2ZYmkv
Davis Responds to Mayfield
When asked about Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s recent comments, Saints linebacker Demario Davis didn’t back down.
“I don't have the context of what he said ... but the game is played between the white lines,” Davis said. “You can trash talk with your game, too, but I'm for all the smoke ... the pregame talk ain't where it's at.”
Davis’ confident response sent a message to Mayfield that the Saints aren’t focused on words, but rather on letting their play speak when it matters most.
The history between these two teams adds to the anticipation. Over the years, their rivalry has featured intense physical battles and plenty of bad blood.
Banged-Up Buccaneers look to rebound
The Buccaneers enter Week 8 still dealing with significant injuries. Running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Chris Godwin (fibula) have both been ruled out, forcing Baker Mayfield and the offense to find production elsewhere. Tampa Bay’s loss to Detroit in Week 7 exposed some of its offensive struggles, and now the challenge only grows with a hungry Saints defense coming to town.
Mayfield’s competitive fire has always fueled him, but he’ll need to back up his words against one of the league’s tougher units. The Saints, led by Davis, thrive on getting under their opponent’s skin. This is something that Tampa's defense models as well.
With emotions high and the rivalry hotter than ever, Sunday’s matchup isn’t just another game — it’s a chance for Tampa Bay to make a statement and remind the NFC South who still holds the upper hand.
Steelers Have Shown Interest in $33 Million Wide Receiver: Insider
The Steelers have reportedly shown interest in trading for Raiders' wide receiver Jakobi Meyers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are leading the way in the AFC North with a 4-2 record through six weeks, and while they are fresh off a surprising loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7, there are still a lot of reasons to feel good about the team’s performance so far this season. However, it’s clear that there are some areas of need the front office could be looking to address ahead of the trade deadline.
One such area is the wide receiver, where a No. 2 option has failed to emerge behind DK Metcalf to this point. With several players expected to be on the market ahead of the upcoming deadline, reports have indicated that the Steelers are showing interest in star Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.
Steelers Exploring Potential Jakobi Meyers Trade
Over the offseason, Pittsburgh swung a massive trade with the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver DK Metcalf, seemingly giving them a solid tandem at wide receiver with George Pickens also in town. Pickens ended up getting traded to the Dallas Cowboys, though, and guys like Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson have struggled to step up and produce alongside Metcalf.
That could lead to a potential deal for Meyers, who has been viewed as a trade target all season long. With Meyers entering the final year of his contract with the Raiders, he wanted a new deal that he did not get during the offseason, leading to him requesting a trade before the start of the season. While he has continued playing for Las Vegas, he still wants to get dealt before the upcoming deadline.
The Steelers need help at wide receiver, which makes them an obvious potential landing spot for Meyers should the Raiders decide to unload him. According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, Meyers is just one of several wide receiver trade targets that Pittsburgh has checked in on with the deadline drawing near.
“Pittsburgh, they are scouring the earth for wide receiver help, they’re looking around,” Fowler said on “SportsCenter.” “Las Vegas has Jakobi Meyers as an option … There could be a receiver moved at the deadline. Pittsburgh could be involved in those conversations.”
Should the Steelers Trade for Jakobi Meyers?
Despite playing in the Raiders’ abysmal offense, Meyers has still managed to put up decent numbers through six games, catching 29 passes for 329 yards. On paper, he’d be a solid complement for the big-play threat that Metcalf is, as Meyers excels at working out of the slot and getting open on short-to-intermediate routes.
If Meyers is up for grabs, the Steelers would be foolish not to try to get a deal done for him. Bringing him to town wouldn’t only give Rodgers another reliable option in the passing game, but it would also take some of the attention off of Metcalf from opposing secondaries. He may be a somewhat pricy option, but after putting together an aggressive offseason, swinging a deal for Meyers seems like a real possibility with the trade deadline just over a week away.
