New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Full Tampa Bay Game Preview
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to continue their improbable quest for a playoff berth this week, as they welcome another division rival to Raymond James Stadium in the New Orleans Saints.
The Bucs currently sit at .500 with a 6-6 record, coming off a dramatic comeback win last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Lovie Smith and his crew have won four of their last six games, and things are starting to click on both sides of the ball at just the right time. They're just one game back of the Seattle Seahawks for the final NFC playoff spot as they head into the final quarter of the season.
The Saints are 4-8 and occupying the cellar of the NFC South for the moment after narrowly missing the chance to knock off the undefeated Carolina Panthers last week. Drew Brees and company will instead have to set their sights on playing spoiler against the Bucs this week, who have a 3-1 record against division opponents.
These two teams squared off in New Orleans in Week 2, with the Bucs coming away with a late 26-19 victory on the road.
Every game is a playoff game for the Bucs from here on out, so here's everything the Pewter Pirate faithful need to know about this week's NFC South showdown.
Viewing Info
Date: Sunday, December 13
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: Fox
Week 13 Results and Recap
1 of 6
NFC South Standings
Carolina Panthers (12-0)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
New Orleans Saints (4-8)
The Bucs got the job done on both sides of the ball last week, capping off a huge 23-19 win with late-game heroics from Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and Lavonte David.
Winston's Houdini-esque scramble on 3rd-and-19 on the game-winning drive will likely go down as an iconic moment in franchise history, a run that would set up the Bucs for the go-ahead score. Evans had struggled with drops throughout the game but came through in the clutch with a sliding grab near the edge of the end zone to put the Bucs ahead for good.
David put the exclamation point on a fantastic defensive performance by sealing the win with an interception on the first play of Atlanta's last-ditch effort in the final minutes.
Despite being without two of their best players in Gerald McCoy and Jacquies Smith, the Tampa Bay defense stifled Atlanta's talented offensive attack, especially in the red zone. The Falcons were forced to settle for field goals nearly every time they got within striking distance, managing to score just one touchdown all afternoon.
Winston also rushed for his fifth touchdown of the season, tying the single-season franchise record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. The rookie signal-caller completed 18 of his 27 passes for 227 yards on his way to mounting yet another fourth-quarter comeback in his first NFL season.
Evans finished with 61 yards on five catches, while Vincent Jackson averaged 29 yards on each of his three receptions. Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught three passes for 31 yards in his first action since Week 2, while the backfield tandem of Doug Martin and Charles Sims racked up a combined 151 yards on the ground.
David led the way on defense with 11 tackles and the game-sealing takeaway, while rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander added 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and also knocked down a pass on a key third down.
The loss was the fifth-straight defeat for Atlanta, while the Bucs have now won four of their last six games.
News and Notes
2 of 6
Bucs Making Giant Leap in the Red Zone
Tampa Bay's offense has had plenty of struggles in the red zone over recent years, but in its first year with quarterback Jameis Winston and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter at the helm, things are turning around quickly.
Not only have the Bucs increased the frequency with which they score touchdowns instead of field goals inside the 20, but Winston has yet to throw an interception in that crucial area, as well. Lovie Smith has taken notice, per Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune:
"You probably can’t say that about most quarterbacks in the league. He’s obviously done a good job with that. That’s an area where one of the worst things you can do is throw an interception. But that’s all part of the (development) Jameis has gone through. We’ve seen that growth throughout the year.
"
Tampa Bay's touchdown percentage in the red zone has gone from 42.8 over the first eight games of the season to 75 percent over their last four games. If it can continue that trend and keep avoiding costly turnovers, it'll go a long way toward powering its playoff push down the stretch.
With Alexander Out, Can Bucs Fill Gaping Hole in the Middle?
Standout rookie Kwon Alexander will miss the final four games of the regular season due to a suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
But while there's sure to be a drop-off with Alexander out of the lineup, Smith is confident in potential replacements like Danny Lansanah, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:
"Just remembering what Danny did last year, I think he was the only player we had who scored two defensive touchdowns. That's more than a lot of offensive guys scored. He's been around the ball, and he's a smart player. Whenever you can play multiple positions, there's a reason he's been in the league a long time. … We're going to miss Kwon quite a bit, but we're okay moving forward.
"
Alexander's presence and production won't be easy to replace, but both Lansanah and Bruce Carter have starting experience at the position, which should help ease the pain of his absence over these last four games.
ASJ Glad to be Back
After missing the previous 10 games with a shoulder injury, Austin Seferian-Jenkins returned to his starting tight end spot last week, catching three passes for 31 yards in Tampa Bay's win against the Atlanta Falcons.
The second-year pro admitted he showed a little rust when dropping a would-be touchdown late in the game, but he's glad to finally be back on the field and contributing, per Eric Horchy of PewterReport.com:
"I was super excited to get out there and play. Football is what I love. I love to be around these guys and help support [them] any way I can. Being out on the football field was a big step in doing that. I was a little rusty out there, a little anxious, pressed a little too much, but I was very happy to be out there and very happy to do whatever I could to help.
"
A second-round pick in 2014, Seferian-Jenkins flashed his potential by catching a pair of touchdowns in Week 1. His return gives Winston yet another dangerous weapon who can stretch the field and create mismatches against both linebackers and defensive backs, which he's sure to take advantage of over the final four games of the season.
Latest Injury News
3 of 6
DE Jacquies Smith
Tampa Bay's best edge-rusher could be out again this week, as Smith was unable to participate in practice on Wednesday. His hamstring injury is still lingering and could force rookie undrafted free agent Howard Jones to replace him in the starting lineup for another week. Jones is explosive and talented, but the Bucs would still miss Smith's presence, especially on passing downs.
WR Vincent Jackson
Jackson is back on the injury report this week, still dealing with a nagging injury that kept him inactive for a four-game stretch earlier this year. He was limited in Wednesday's practice, so fans should keep an eye on his status on Thursday to see if he's made progress. Even if he's less than 100 percent, I expect him to be in the starting lineup for Sunday's key division matchup.
DT Gerald McCoy
After missing last week's game with a hand injury, McCoy was back at practice on Wednesday, though just in a limited capacity. His level of participation on Thursday will shed more light on his chances of returning to the starting lineup on Sunday. If he's unable to go again this week, look for Tony McDaniel and Akeem Spence to be Tampa Bay's starters at defensive tackle.
LB Lavonte David
David found his way onto the injury report thanks to an ankle tweak, limiting his participation in Wednesday's practice. Considering his high level of play over the last few weeks and the absence of middle linebacker Kwon Alexander for the rest of the season, I'd be shocked if he's not in the starting lineup on Sunday.
All injury information courtesy of Buccaneers.com
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Top Matchups
4 of 6
Bucs receivers vs. Saints CB Brandon Browner
Browner has struggled for much of the season, but he was absolutely torched last week by Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
This week, you can bet the Bucs will attack Browner's side of the field early and often, hoping to get the same results Carolina enjoyed last Sunday. Whether it's Evans or Jackson, expect plenty of targets to go Browner's way, with lots of success for Winston and the Tampa Bay passing game.
Bucs OT Donovan Smith vs. Saints OLB Hau'oli Kikaha
Smith will face yet another fellow rookie this week, as Kikaha will look to flash his pass-rushing skills against Winston's blindside protector.
Both second-round picks in this year's draft, Smith and Kikaha have been pleasant surprises for their respective teams. Kikaha has bagged four sacks and three forced fumbles in 11 games this year, and he could present quite a challenge for Smith in passing situations this week.
Matchup X-Factors
5 of 6
Bucs X-Factor of the Week: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
After a 10-week hiatus thanks to a nagging shoulder injury, ASJ finally returned to the starting lineup last week, grabbing three receptions for 31 yards. He also showed some rust by dropping a sure touchdown on a key third-down situation in the red zone, but his presence was definitely a huge positive for the offense.
This week, he should be more comfortable after getting some game action under his belt, allowing him to be an even bigger part of Tampa Bay's passing game. The Saints secondary is their weakest unit, and they'll already have Evans and Jackson to worry about. ASJ should be able to take advantage of that distraction, and it could lead to a breakout game for the former second-round pick.
Prediction: Bucs 38, Saints 27
6 of 6
The Saints proved last week they can challenge the league's best, and this week's film work should make sure the Bucs don't overlook their division rivals. Brees can still sling it with the best of them, and his shootout with Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers last week was just the latest example of how potent their offense can still be.
They also have the opportunity to play spoiler for the Bucs, who are still in the thick of the NFC playoff race, while the Saints are all but eliminated at this point.
That said, the Bucs are playing their best football at the most important time of the year, having gone 3-1 over the last four games, including a huge home win over the Atlanta Falcons last week. The Bucs are 3-1 against NFC South opponents, and they've already beaten the Saints in their own house.
If the Bucs can stick to their identity and run the ball effectively, they should be able to keep the ball away from Brees and prevent him from putting together a reprise of last week's performance. Tampa Bay has excelled at scoring touchdowns instead of field goals in the red zone over the last four weeks, while it has improved at forcing opponents to settle for three points.
Momentum is clearly moving in the right direction for the Bucs, and it should continue this week. Brees and the Saints will keep it close until the fourth quarter, but the Bucs will pull away late for a double-digit victory.
Final Prediction: Bucs 38, Saints 27
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
