subject: New Orleans Saints Expected To Bounce Back Against Tampa Bay Bucs [print this page] Familiarity breeds contemptFamiliarity breeds contempt. Two longtime division rivals, who have traded off division titles in recent years, are battling again for supremacy.
But New Orleans is a bit wobbly after suffering a surprising loss last week that tightened the NFC South race unexpectedly. Now, the Saints play host to Tampa Bay trying to avoid falling out of first place and prevent something that hasn't happened in four years.
These teams are tied in the loss column for the lead in the NFC South, but Tampa Bay won the first meeting, 25-20, at home three weeks ago, and has won three of the last four meetings in the series. Tampa last swept the season series in 2007.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are coming off a bye week, but has lost two of its last three games after a 24-18 loss at home to Chicago. This is only the Bucs' third road game this season, splitting the first two (win at Minnesota, loss at San Francisco).
The Tampa offense ranks 12th in the league in passing (240 yards per game) and 23rd in rushing (100 ypg). Josh Freeman completes 71 percent of his passes for 1,723 yards and seven touchdowns with 10 interceptions. The offensive line has allowed 10 sacks. Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow lead the team with 31 catches each for 599 combined yards with two TDs. LeGarrette Blount keys the running game with 328 yards and three scores (4.3 yards per carry).
Defensively, the Buccaneers rank 23rd against the run (123 ypg) and 26th against the pass (268 ypg). The unit has recorded 12 sacks and has forced 13 turnovers, with one returned for a TD (Aqib Talib, interception). Sean Jones has 44 tackles to lead the team, adding one sack, one forced fumble and one recovery. Geno Hayes has 40 stops with one forced fumble. Adrian Clayborn has three sacks, Tanard Jackson has two INTs, and Michael Bennett has two fumble recoveries.
New Orleans Saints
Like the Buccaneers, the Saints come into this game having lost two of their last three games, which includes the earlier 26-20 loss at Tampa Bay. Most recently, the Saints were upset by St. Louis, 31-21, giving the Rams their first win of the season. New Orleans is 3-0 at home, scoring 162 points in those games (54 ppg).
Offensively, the Saints are topes in the league in passing (327 ypg) and are 11th in rushing (117 ypg). Drew Brees keys the offense by completing 71 percent of his passes for 2,746 yards and 19 TDs with 10 INTs. He has been sacked 19 times. Jimmy Graham has 49 catches on the season for 713 yards and five TDs, while Marques Colston has 29 grabs for 424 yards and three scores/ Mark Ingram leads the running game with 329 yards and three TDs (3.9 ypc).
The Saints defense ranks 11th against the pass (222 ypg) and just 24th against the run (124 ypg). The Saints have recorded 19 sacks and forced eight turnovers, with two returned for TDs (INT by Leigh Torrence, fumble by Jonathan Vilma). Roman Harper leads the team with 47 tackles and shares the lead in sacks with Will Smith (4.5). Patrick Robinson has two INTs and Isa Abdul-Quddus has two forced fumbles.
Darren Sproles averages 26 yards per kickoff return and has a punt return for a TD this season. Thomas Morstead averages 45 net yards per punt.
