Saints (6-5) at Bucs (8-3)
Week 13
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: FOX, WTVT Channel 13, DirecTV/NFL Sunday Ticket Channel 710.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 130.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, the kickoff should be a pleasant 78 degrees under cloudy skies. But toward the second half thunderstorms are expected as temperatures will remain somewhat consistent. It is expected to be breezy with winds over 20 mph at kickoff only slightly deminishing by the second half.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -4.
Outlook: Last Monday night Drew Brees looked like a young Dan Marino lighting up the Packers defense. Joe thinks this was a fraud on several levels including the fact the Packers play in a grossly overrated division where the Lions — the Lions! — give opponents a game.

Throw in the fact that the Saints don’t play well on the road and that the game will be on grass in likely lousy weather against one of the NFL’s top defenses, well, don’t let last Monday night fool you.

Granted, it’s possible that Reggie Bush will be back and he absolutely kills the Bucs. But with a sloppy field just how much damage can he do?

In Week 1 Brees shredded the Bucs defense for 343 yards and still the Saints only won by four. That won’t happen today.

Here’s a couple of other tidbits to concentrate on:

* Besides Bush, Saints wide receiver Marques Colston has burned the Bucs. He has a touchdown catch in his last two games against the Bucs.

* Jeff Garcia usually lights up the Saints two of is better games have come against the Saints.

This is a critial game for the Bucs. They must win this if they hope to capture the NFC South and possibly get a bye if not a home game to start the playoffs.