Game 6

Bucs  (3-2) at Slimy Saints (2-3) 

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: FOX (WTVT-TV Channel 13 locally) with Adam Amin, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver.

Streaming: Sunday Ticket, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game also will be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 381 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed).

Weather: While the game is played in a giant version of Lincoln’s Tomb (if anyone has ever visited Lincoln’s crypt and been to a Saints game in the Superdome, you know what Joe is talking about), there may be no better tailgate place in America than New Orleans. Bourbon Street is an easy walk away from the dome and five-star restaurants are around every corner. And the weather in New Orleans has been just about perfect the last two days. That is expected to continue today. Per AccuWeather.com, Bucs fans can roam Bourbon Street and mock slimy Saints fans under clear skies, low humidity and temperatures in the 70’s. After the game, the temperature is expected to be in the mid-80s again under clear skies and low humidity.

Odds: Per BetMGM, as of midnight, Bucs -3.5 (+105); over/under 42.

Referees: Clete Blakeman and his gang are pretty even, per Joe Gibbs of Sharp Football Analysis. In division games, the home team is 24-22 since 2016. We need more folks named “Clete.”

Injuries: Bucs —  Out: C Graham Barton (hamstring), Earnest Brown IV (DL) ribs, DB Christian Izien (elbow/groin), WR Kameron Johnson (ankle), WR Trey Palmer (concussion). Doubtful: RB Rachaad White (foot). Questionable: RT Luke Goedeke (concussion), DT Calijah Kancey (calf), WR Jalen McMillan (hamstring), S Jordan Whitehead (groin), S Antoine Winfield (foot).  Slimy Saints —  Out: QB Derek Carr (oblique), S Will Harris (hamstring), QB/TE Taysom Hill (rib), OL Cesar Ruiz (knee), LB Pete Werner (hamstring). Questionable: DE Payton Turner (knee), RB Kendre Miller (hamstring), OL Lucas Patrick (chest).

Outlook: Joe was of the belief this game wasn’t a must-win but a can’t-lose game. Joe has since changed his stance. Not team that has opened a season 0-2 in division play has won its division since the NFL re-aligned divisions 20-plus years ago. So a loss today likely would kill the Bucs’ chances of four-peating as NFC South champs, if you believe in the numbers. The embarrassment of choking away a division win last week at Atlanta still grates at Joe. The Bucs simply cannot lose to Spencer Rattler today, who is making his NFL debut in place of injured Derek Carr. The Bucs would not or could not be taken seriously as a playoff contender if they, in a span of a few weeks, had their arses handed two them by Bo Nix and Spencer Rattler. If the Bucs lose, then this team isn’t as good as what Joe thought it was. Let’s put this nonsense talk to bed and get the job done and hang 40 on the slimy Saints. With Calijah Kancey returning to the lineup and the slimy Saints using a struggling guard at center, Joe expects Vea to feast on Rattler.

Fun facts: Bucs QB Baker Mayfield can’t be blamed for the choking loss last week. He was 19 of 24 with three touchdowns against the Dixie Chicks. …  … RB Bucky Irving is looking for his fourth straight game of 50 or more scrimmage yards.  … WR Mike Evans needs one touchdown to reach 100 regular season touchdown catches. Currently, only 10 players in NFL history have that many. … WR Chris Godwin is the only NFL player who has had five or more catches in each game this season. …  ILB Lavonte David has never had less than five tackles in any game against the slimy Saints. … CB Zyon McCollum is tied with slimy Saints Paulson Adebo for the league in passes defended with eight. Last week McCollum had a career-high 10 tackles. … Slimy Saints QB Spencer Rattler makes his NFL debut today as he gets the fifth-round draft pick to start in place of injured Derek Carr. … RB Alvin Kamara has had a rebirth this year. He is tied for second in NFL with 602 scrimmage yards this season. Kamara eads all running backs with 23 catches this season. Kamara looks for his fourth straight home game with at least 110 yards from scrimmage. … WR Chris Olave had 80 or more scrimmage yards in three of his last four games. He also has three touchdowns in his last four home games. … LB Demario Davis had a season-high 11 tackles in Week 5. Davis also has 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his past five home games. … DT Khalen Saunders had 7 tackles his first career pick last week.

Pregame with the Ira Kaufman Podcast.