Tampa Bay Bucs vs. New Orleans Saints: Complete Week 5 Preview for Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got their first win of the 2014 season in dramatic fashion last week, but they'll have to overcome yet another hostile environment in Week 5 if they want to make it a streak against the division rival New Orleans Saints.

Picked by many to be the two teams representing the NFC South in the playoffs, the Saints and Bucs both enter this game with surprising 1-3 records, leaving fans on both sides scratching their heads. 

It looks likely that Mike Glennon will get his second consecutive start of the season, as Josh McCown continues to recover from a sprained thumb on his throwing hand.  After last week's fourth-quarter comeback win, many fans hope head coach Lovie Smith sticks with the second-year pro, even after McCown is back to full strength.

Will the Bucs' Tampa 2 defense be able to replicate the success Dallas had against the New Orleans offense last week?  Who will step up in the receiving game for Tampa Bay with Mike Evans injured?  How are the Bucs preparing for the indoor road environment?

Here's everything Bucs fans need to know heading into Sunday's game.

Bucs Week 4 Recap

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At 0-3 and coming off a humiliating loss to the Atlanta Falcons in front of a national audience, the Bucs were given a slim chance at going into Pittsburgh and snatching a victory from the Steelers.

But that's just what they did, as quarterback Mike Glennon led a dramatic last-minute drive to give the Bucs their first win of the season, hitting Vincent Jackson for a five-yard touchdown pass with just seven seconds remaining to seal 27-24 victory.

Glennon only completed half of his pass attempts on the day, but the North Carolina State product threw for more than 300 yards for the first time in his young career and made the big throws when his team needed them the most. 

Tampa Bay's defense got after Ben Roethlisberger, sacking him five times—all in the first half, including two on the Steelers' first possessions—but the star quarterback still had his share of success, throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns.  Antonio Brown scorched the Bucs for 131 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches, while Heath Miller hauled in a team-high 10 passes for 85 yards and a score of his own.

Penalties were the story of the game for Pittsburgh, as head coach Mike Tomlin's crew committed 13 offenses for 125 yards, including six 15-yard personal fouls.

The Bucs were stopped inside the red zone on fourth down late in the game, but the Steelers couldn't capitalize.  After a three-and-out and a short punt by Brad Wing, Glennon hit Louis Murphy—who led the Bucs with 99 yards on six catches—for a 41-yard gain to set up the eventual game-winning score.

News and Notes

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Dome Away from Home

In an effort to prepare his team for playing in a domed atmosphere in New Orleans, head coach Lovie Smith has had his team practicing indoors at Tropicana Field this week, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Via Mark Cook of PewterReport.com, head coach Lovie Smith talked about the advantages of simulating such an environment:

"

It was a good practice for us and playing on the turf is a different feel. For a couple of reasons (we’re practicing at Tropicana Field), there’s a lot of rain here and our fields are drenched but it is a different feel inside. Catching the ball, looking in the lights, change of directions, all of those things were good and then it was just a change of pace to do something different for our players.

"

It's impossible to accurately replicate such a game atmosphere, but if there's anything useful the Bucs can get out of the change of scenery, it's well worth the effort to give them a small taste.

What Could Have Been

Mike Glennon will make his 15th start for the Bucs on Sunday, but he very easily could have been backing up Drew Brees instead.

According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, head coach Sean Payton said the Saints were tempted to draft Glennon with their third-round pick in 2013, had the Bucs let him get past them:

"

Glennon was right in that cloud, if you will. And it's just funny how you go back. And both of those guys have bright careers in our league. 

I just recall him specifically because we saw a lot of things we liked. And now unfortunately he's in our division and we're watching him.

"

New Orleans took tackle Terron Armstead two picks later instead, a pick that has already turned out well for the team.  But had Glennon slipped past Tampa Bay, Glennon could very well have been the heir apparent to Brees in the Big Easy.

Sixth Time's a Charm?

After a fairly back-and-forth series over the years, the Saints have had the Bucs' number over the past few seasons.  This week, Tampa Bay will try to beat New Orleans for the first time in six tries.

Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com points out a couple of interesting notes regarding this matchup since the two teams became division foes: "The Buccaneers and Saints were totally even after the first 10 years of NFC South play, each winning 10 times.  The Bucs got sweeps in 2005 and 2007, and to continue the theme, in both cases made it to the postseason."  

The Saints look like a much better team at home, and the Bucs will have to overcome a raucous crowd if they want to beat New Orleans for the first time since 2011.

Injury Report

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Player	Position	Injury Status
Gerald McCoy	DT	Limited Participant
Josh McCown	QB	Did Not Participate
Mike Evans	WR	Did Not Participate
Michael Johnson	DE	Limited Participant
Mark Barron	S	Limited Participant
Mason Foster	LB	Limited Participant
Dashon Goldson	S	Did Not Participate
Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TE	Limited Participant
Larry English	DE	Did Not Participate
Johnthan Banks	CB	Did Not Participate

*All injury statuses courtesy of Buccaneers.com, based on participation in Thursday's practice.

The Bucs continue to lick their wounds, as plenty of key players are again on the injury report this week.

On offense, it looks doubtful that McCown will be active this week as he tries to avoid surgery on his sprained thumb.  Evans—Tampa Bay's most consistent offensive performer to date—is dealing with a groin injury that should keep him out for at least a couple of weeks, which will leave the Bucs incredibly thin at receiver.  Seferian-Jenkins is still fighting an ankle injury, but he returned to practice Thursday and should be good to go.

Defense dominates the injury report yet again, but most of the ailing parties had at least some participation in Thursday's practice.  McCoy and Johnson will be vital to Tampa Bay's ability to put pressure on Drew Brees, while Foster's return would be helpful at middle linebacker, an integral position in the Tampa 2.

The Bucs could be without at least one of their starting safeties, as Goldson has yet to practice this week.  Barron saw limited action on Thursday, and his status for Sunday's game is still up in the air.

English is still battling a hamstring injury, and while Banks appeared on the report this week, his absence was related to a personal matter and not because of injury.

X-Factor and Matchups to Watch

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Jimmy Graham vs. Bucs linebackers/safeties

The Bucs are still experiencing the growing pains of learning the nuances of the Tampa 2 defense, and they're having particular trouble containing tight ends. Through four games, the Bucs have allowed starting tight ends to catch 24 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. 

Next on the docket for the Bucs is Graham, widely considered the best tight end in the NFL.  Tampa Bay has struggled to cover the deep middle of the field with either Mason Foster or Dane Fletcher, so you can bet Graham will look to exploit that area with his lethal combination of size, athleticism and hands.

The Bucs' back seven has to step up and deliver in this matchup, or it will be a long day for the entire defense.

Bucs pass rush vs. Drew Brees

Tampa Bay's front four came to life early in last week's game, sacking Ben Roethlisberger five times in the first half.  If the Bucs want to have any chance of limiting Brees on Sunday, they'll need to have the same success getting after him.

Despite his struggles in last week's loss to Dallas, Brees still finished 32-of-44 for 340 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Tampa Bay proved last week it can win despite allowing an extremely efficient performance by the opposing quarterback, but that's not something fans should expect for a second week in a row.

The Bucs need to hit Brees early and often, keeping him as uncomfortable as possible in his home stadium.

Bucs offensive line vs. Saints blitz

Tony Romo proved last week what can be done to the Saints secondary if given enough time in the pocket.  Tampa Bay's offensive line had its lapses last week but was effective when it counted most—on third down and against extra pressure.

If the Bucs can get that same type of performance this week up front, Glennon should be able to take advantage of an underachieving group of defensive backs.

Bucs X-Factor of the Week: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Mike Evans has been the Bucs' most reliable receiver so far this season, but he's out for the next few weeks with a groin injury.  Fresh off a return from his own injury, Tampa Bay will need a breakout performance from the tight end it selected just after Evans in this year's draft.

Louis Murphy stepped up last week in Evans' stead, but Bucs fans shouldn't expect that kind of performance from him on a weekly basis.  With plenty of attention likely to be focused on Vincent Jackson, this is the week for Seferian-Jenkins to prove why the Bucs spent a top-40 pick on him back in May.

Prediction

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The Bucs got the monkey of their back with a big road win last week, but they'll have to overcome another hostile environment if they want to start a streak in Week 5.

New Orleans struggled on both sides of the ball in a disappointing loss in Dallas last week, falling to 1-3.  The Cowboys suffocated Drew Brees and the Saints offense with the Tampa 2 under former Bucs assistants Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli, and Tampa Bay will look to replicate that success this week.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, New Orleans is much tougher to beat at home, and Sean Payton's crew will be chomping at the bit to shake off last week's poor showing.  Tampa Bay's offense should have its share of success moving the ball against a weak Saints defense, but the Bucs' chemistry on the defensive side of the ball is still a work in progress that Brees should be able to exploit.

I expect a bit of a shootout here, and I don't think the Bucs are quite ready to keep up just yet.

Prediction: Saints 31, Bucs 24