Saints-Buccaneers Capsule

By AP
Published

NEW ORLEANS (11-4) at TAMPA BAY (4-11)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Saints by 8 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - New Orleans 8-7, Tampa Bay 5-9-1

SERIES RECORD - Saints lead 32-19

LAST MEETING - Saints beat Buccaneers 30-10, Nov. 5

LAST WEEK - Saints beat Falcons 23-13; Buccaneers lost to Panthers 22-19

AP PRO32 RANKING - Saints No. 6, Buccaneers No. 28

SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (2), RUSH (5), PASS (5)

SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (16), PASS (11)

BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (27), PASS (4)

BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (31), RUSH (T24), PASS (32)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Playoff-bound Saints will clinch NFC South championship with victory. ... QB Drew Brees, one of three players in NFL history with over 70,000 career passing yards, has thrown for 1,911 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in his past seven games against division opponents. ... Saints RBs Mark Ingram (1,486 yards from scrimmage, 12TDs) and Alvin Kamara (1,426 yards, 12 TDs) are only teammates in league history with at least 1,300 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in same season. ... WR Michael Thomas has 98 receptions for 1,151 yards and five TDs. ... Bucs have lost five straight, their second five-game skid of season. ... QB Jameis Winston has lost eight consecutive starts. Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick started only games team won during stretch in which it has dropped 10 of 12. ... Since returning from shoulder injury, Winston has played fairly well, throwing for 1,221 yards and eight TDs vs. two interceptions over past four games. ... WR Mike Evans has 66 receptions for 946 yards. Needs 54 yards to join A.J. Green and Randy Moss as only NFL receivers to begin pro career with 1,000-plus yards receiving in four consecutive seasons. ... Bucs will miss playoffs for 10th straight year. ... Fantasy Tip: Saints WR Ted Ginn, Jr., had 54-yard TD reception against Falcons last week. He has four receiving TDs in past five games vs. Bucs, who are last in league in pass defense. Winston, who may be as healthy as he's been all season, is coming off two of most-accurate passing games of career. He completed 77.8 percent of throws for 367 yards, TD and no interceptions last week, although he did lose three fumbles.

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