118.9 (14th) 96.1 (26th)
Projected starters
BUCS
OFFENSE
WR: Vincent Jackson
LT: Donald Penn
LG: Jeremy Zuttah
C: Ted Larsen
RG: Jamon Meredith
RT: Demar Dotson
TE: Dallas Clark
WR: Mike Williams
QB: Josh Freeman
RB: Doug Martin
FB: Erik Lorig
DEFENSE
LDE: Michael Bennett
DT: Gerald McCoy
DT: Roy Miller
RDE: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
SLB: Adam Hayward
MLB: Mason Foster
WLB: Lavonte David
CB: E.J. Biggers
CB: Leonard Johnson
SS: Mark Barron
FS: Ronde Barber
special teams
PR: Roscoe Parrish
KR: Tiquan Underwood
PK: Connor Barth
P/KO: Michael Koenen
SAINTS
OFFENSE
WR: Joe Morgan
LT: Jermon Bushrod
LG: Ben Grubbs
C: Brian De La Puente
RG: Jahri Evans
RT: William Robinson
WR: Marques Colston
WR: Devery Henderson
QB: Drew Brees
RB: Mark Ingram
FB: Jed Collins
DEFENSE
LDE: Cameron Jordan
DT: Brodrick Bunkley
DT: Sedrick Ellis
RDE: Will Smith
SLB: David Hawthorne
MLB: Curtis Lofton
WLB: Jonathan Vilma
CB: Jabari Greer
CB: Patrick Robinson
SS: Roman Harper
FS: Rafael Bush
SPECIAL TEAMS
PR: Darren Sproles
KR: Travaris Cadet
PK: Garrett Hartley
P/KO: Thomas Morstead
Stat pack
1 p.m., Superdome, New Orleans | TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 103.5-FM | Line, O/U: Saints by 4, 54
Rushing yards
passing yards
total yards
Rushing yards allowed
passing yards allowed
total yards allowed
Bucs
saints
78.2 (1st) 152.4 (32nd)
237.9 (13th) 298.1 (2nd)
311.6 (32nd) 284.5 (30th)
356.8 (13th) 394.2 (3rd)
389.8 (29th) 436.9 (32nd)
Injury report
BUCS — Questionable: DE Da'Quan Bowers (hamstring), CB LeQuan Lewis (knee). Probable: DE Michael Bennett (shoulder), CB Anthony Gaitor (hamstring), T Jamon Meredith (ankle), DT Roy Miller (head).
SAINTS — Out: T Charles Brown (knee), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), S Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), T Zach Strief (ankle), CB Corey White (knee). Questionable: RB Jed Collins (toe).
Prediction
Saints 28, Bucs 26
The teams have split their previous eight meetings dating to 2008 and have a heated rivalry. Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman excels against the Saints, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,259 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions over his past four games against them. But Saints quarterback Drew Brees has a 116 rating over his past two meetings against the Bucs.
Saints' top offensive player
Drew Brees, right, already has registered his seventh consecutive 4,000-yard passing season. Brees, the only Saint with even one 4,000-yard season, also leads the NFL with 32 touchdown passes.
Saints' top defensive player
End Cameron Jordan, left, is coming on strong and leads the Saints with seven sacks. He recorded a sack and forced fumble in this season's first meeting against the Bucs.
What the Saints do best
The Saints, even without suspended coach Sean Payton, continue to orchestrate a passing attack that is the envy of many. Brees leads the NFL with 4,028 passing yards.
How you beat the Saints
Take advantage of a defense ranked last in the NFL, 42.4 yards per game worse than the No. 31 Jags, and last at 6.4 yards per play. It's why the Bucs put up 513 yards in the teams' first meeting.
The Bucs must avoid …
Getting off schedule with miscues, penalties and short first-down plays making second and third down unmanageable.
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