Gameday Tampa Bay!
December 11th, 2016
Game 13
Saints (5-7) at Bucs (7-5)
Kickoff: 4:25 p.m.
TV: WTVT-TV Channel 13; DirecTV Channel 715.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St.Petersburg region); SiriusXM Channel 83.
Weather: It’s supposed to be San Diego-like weather. Per AccuWeather.com, tailgaters will enjoy a sunny afternoon with highs peaking at 80 just before kickoff. It is expected to be 78 at kickoff dropping to 72 by game’s end. Pretty solid weather.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Bucs -2.
Outlook Well, the Bucs are now among the top dozen teams in the NFL. Therefore, if they are one of the better teams in the NFL, they should beat lesser teams. Thus, the Bucs should take care of business today against the Saints. They better. If the Bucs can beat the Chiefs on the road, manhandle the Seahawks and rally to be the dangerous Chargers on the west coast, then the Bucs better take care of business against the Saints. Granted, New Orleans is playing for its playoff life. A loss to the Bucs today and they are toast. Drew Brees scares the hell out of Joe, but you take Brees away and this is a garbage Saints team. Still, the way the Bucs played against Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers gives Joe confidence the defense can at least keep Brees contained enough to give the Bucs offense of the Bucs a chance. The Bucs currently allow an average of 250 yards a game (249.9 to be exact) through the air. In the past six weeks, Brees had only thrown for over 325 yards once, that was for 326 yards last week against the Lions. In the last two weeks, the Bucs have held Wilson to 151 yards passing and Rivers to 225 yards passing. It will be interesting to Joe how the pass defense of the Bucs fares. Now can the Bucs offense keep up with the Saints’ No.-ranked offense? The Bucs are beat to hell offensively, especially at wide receiver. It sure would be nice if everyone’s favorite Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin, snaps out of the worst rushing slump of his NFL life and improves on his career-worst 3.0 yards a carry. If the Bucs can somehow keep Brees south of 325 yards, the Bucs should have a good shot of winning. If the Bucs can hold Brees to their season average of 250 yards allowed, or less, Brees is a pedestrian 17-17 in his career with that level of production.
Trinkets: The Saints have the most potent offense in the NFL racking up 428 yards a game. … New Orleans has the most powerful passing offense in the NFL throwing for 319.4 yards a game. … New Orleans has one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL at No. 31, giving up 276.8 passing yards a game. … The craziest team stat for the Bucs? Their best current NFL ranking in any major category is sacks (29) at No. 11. … This is the first time Tampa Bay has been tied for the division lead through 13 games since Chucky last coached the Bucs (2008). … The Bucs are 15th in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game at 249.9. … The Bucs are in the bottom third in the NFL in rush defense ranked No. 25, 116.1 yards a game. … When Saints RB Mark Ingram rushes for 100 yards the Saints are 7-1 including 2-0 this season. … Since signing with the Saints in 2006, QB Drew Brees is 28-23 on natural grass fields. … CB Sterling Moore is tied for the New Orleans team lead in picks (two). … S Roman Harper leads all current defensive backs in career sacks (11). … Bucs TE Cameron Brate is two touchdown catches from tying the franchise season record for tight ends held by Jimmie Giles (eight) set in 1985. … With two touchdowns on the ground, RB Doug Martin will be tied with Errict Rhett (24) for third-most career rushing TDs in franchise history. … QB Jameis Winston needs 975 yards passing in the next four games to set an NFL record for most yards passing in a quarterback’s first two seasons. He currently has 7,222. Andrew Luck holds the record with 8,196 yards. … WR Mike Evans is tied for second with Jordy Nelson in touchdown catches (10) this season. Antonio Brown leads the NFL with 11.
December 11th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Nice!
December 11th, 2016 at 10:06 am
more pictures, less football
December 11th, 2016 at 10:07 am
This will be the first time I can remember pulling for the Eagles to win. Also if we
take care of business today and the Cowboys beat the Giants, I think we would move up to the 5th seed. I am not sure where that would put us in regards to the NFC South since we would have the same overall record, Division record and conference records as Atlanta, assuming we win and Atlanta wins today. I do not see the Rams beating the Falcons.
December 11th, 2016 at 10:07 am
“Would kill them guts.”
December 11th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Let’s get it, boys!!!
December 11th, 2016 at 10:54 am
Not a lot of people are talking about that something was wrong with Brees last week, was he dinged up??? is he old and have dead arm???? If I am Coach Smitty, bring the house in the beginning!!! Even if you give up the booty early!!!! get brees to the ground is the biggest key to success!!!!! defend the short throws and play the underneath as his passes/ducks will fall short, just like last week!!!!! Then have your way with the Saints defense for the rest of the game!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!
Go Bucs fans in the stadium being loud and proud!!!!
Go bighogheinous being loud and proud means dressing like RuPaul!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 11th, 2016 at 11:04 am
Big game can’t wait to go, going to be rocking again like the Seahawks game. Need this desperately to keep on with that playoff push.
Lol with Joe and the SAN Diego weather still, our lows are their highs. It’s in the 50’s and 60’s their all week again look it up!
December 11th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Wow- now that’s a Saint that I’d like to come marching in on….
December 11th, 2016 at 11:56 am
Who do I need root for today outside of this and the falcons game?
December 11th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Speak softly….
December 11th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
@Buc1987
I want to hear after the game that NS57 after sacking drew brees for the second time tell him ” Go to sleep old man, or I will put you to sleep”!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!
December 11th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
@Indy
The teams we want to pull for today that would be the best scenario for the Bucs is as follows:
Bucs over Saints
Rams over Falcons
Eagles over Redskins
Jaguars over Vikings
Seahawks over Packers
Cowboys over Giants
December 11th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
8-5 Bucs sure would be sweet. I’m ready for dessert.
December 11th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
They should hand out “big mf’n sticks” at the game today. Imagine the whole crowd waving 2X4’s around. I can imagine a lawsuit or two, also! Lol
December 11th, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Now that’s yummy!
December 11th, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Julio is out for the failclowns today as well. How the Rams can find some offence this week
December 11th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
The Saints haven’t played us with Robert Beasting Ayers. Optimus Grimes, Dig Hardgraves and JE heartbreak have the right size and speed to keep up with them speedy receivers. Commander Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David the Giant slayer can man the middle. With the 2 Mack Trucks McCoy/McDonald in the Trenches to stop the run and the prince of pass rush Noah coming off the edge. Bring Akeem the Dream and Double R in rotations to help steam roll the aints. Top our defense off with Brad and just like Tandy. Bag’em and Tag’em!
Joe tell the Oline don’t get intimidated PUNCH the bull in the mouth again. All Famous need to know is Down Big Mike Freddie Shep Huff Hike! When all else fails jus make Cameron Brate again. Go Bucs!