Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers-Saints Capsule

Published Sep. 6, 2018 2:41 p.m. ET

TAMPA BAY (5-11) at NEW ORLEANS (12-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Saints by 7

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Buccaneers 6-9-1, Saints 8-9

SERIES RECORD - Saints lead 32-20

LAST MEETING - Buccaneers beat Saints 31-24, Dec. 31, 2017

AP PRO32 RANKING - Buccaneers No. 29, Saints No. 6

BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (9), RUSH (27), PASS (4).

BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (31), PASS (7).

SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (2), RUSH (5), PASS (5).

SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (32), RUSH (23), PASS (32).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Teams split two meetings in 2017, with each winning at home. ... With incumbent starting QB Jameis Winston suspended, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick starts his 13th pro season. Fitzpatrick passed for 1,103 yards, seven TDs, three INTs with Bucs last season. ... Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones set to make NFL debut, selected in second round of 2018 draft. Jones rushed for 3,619 yards with 39 TDs at USC. ... WR Mike Evans had 1,001 yards receiving last season, joined Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss and A.J. Green as only players in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin career. ... TE O.J. Howard had six TD catches last season, tied for first among rookies. He ranked third with 432 yards receiving. ... Bucs DT Gerald McCoy had team-high six sacks last season, has 44 ½ sacks since 2012. ... DE Jason Pierre-Paul makes Bucs debut. He had 8 ½ sacks with New York Giants in 2017. ... LB Lavonte David forced five fumbles last season, tied for second most in NFL, and led Bucs with 101 tackles. ... Saints have not won regular-season opener since 2013. ... Saints have won past two at home vs. Buccaneers and six of past seven meetings in New Orleans. ... Saints are defending NFC South champs ... QB Drew Brees begins season with 70,445 career yards passing, only active player and one of only three in NFL history, along with Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, with more than 70,000 yards. Last season Brees set single-season record with 72 percent completion rate. He ranked fourth in 2017 in yards passing with 4,334. ... RB Alvin Kamara was 2017 Offensive Rookie of Year. ... CB Marshon Lattimore was Defensive Rookie of Year in 2017 and led all rookies with five INTs. He tied for first among rookies with 18 passes defensed. ... DE Cameron Jordan had career high 13 sacks in 2017 and made All-Pro for first time since joining NFL in 2011. Jordan also broke up 11 passes, had one INT for TD and two forced fumbles. ... LB Demario Davis makes Saints debut. Davis ranked sixth in NFL with 135 tackles in 2017 with Jets. ... Fantasy Tip: Kamara led NFL rookies and ranked second in NFL with 14 total TDs and with Mark Ingram suspended for first four games, Kamara surely will get more touches.