Saints-Buccaneers game getting top billing on FOX

The New Orleans Saints are fighting for their playoff lives. They aren't the only ones, and the league is treating the next Saints game as a big one.

Make no mistake about it, even if the 2023 New Orleans Saints have taken the wind out of a lot of fans' sails by this point, the Saints' week 17 matchup with their division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers is still a big game.

The Saints need to win out to keep their playoff hopes afloat, but also need a decent amount of help as well. That goes for both their Wild Card berth and NFC South title hopes. Regardless, Derek Carr, Dennis Allen and the Saints need to take care of their own business first and foremost.

Speaking of the business of the NFC South, the division is in a sense on the line when the Saints take the field against those hated Buccaneers, because should the Bucs come out victorious, they would clinch the NFC South crown, effectively ending the Saints playoff hopes in the process. In a nutshell, both teams have a lot to play for.

As such, the NFL and FOX are treating this game with the respect it deserves, as FOX will be having their top commentating crew on the sticks for the game. Kevin Burkhardt will be the play-by-play with Greg Olsen naturally on color commentary with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi serving as the sideline reporters. So yes, the Saints, on the afternoon of New Year's Eve 2023 no less, will be receiving top billing on FOX. What a world.

The New Orleans Saints don't need any extra convincing that this is a huge game. There would be MASSIVE problems on top of what they already had if they did. It's crucial that they treat is at as such because quite frankly, the season, and jobs, are at stake.