National Football League

Buccaneers closing disappointing season against Saints at home

Published Dec. 27, 2014 1:30 p.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. -- Down is up, wrong is right, a loss is a win.

That's it. End of story. No arguments allowed.

A Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat in the season finale against the New Orleans Saints is the lone acceptable outcome. A loss will clinch the NFL draft's No. 1 pick next spring. A loss will provide the first crack at Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston or another potential franchise-changing name. A loss is what the franchise needs.

Who said there's nothing to play for when the Bucs and Saints meet at 1 p.m. Sunday at Raymond James Stadium?

A 2-14 record would never look so fine.  

All the disappointment, all the messes against the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions, all the failed offense and the not-good-enough defense has led to this: A prime chance for the Bucs to snatch the top pick for the fifth time in franchise history, which would be the first occasion since 1987, when Vinny Testaverde was tapped as Mr. Hope.

Take a bow, Bucs. 

They have worked hard to earn this position. It's not easy going 0-7 at home. It's not easy going winless in the NFL's flat-tire division. It's not easy going in full nose-dive mode after a rise under coach Lovie Smith was expected before Week 1.

The Bucs are on the verge of claiming sweet infamy as their own.

Sunday, victory is spelled L-O-S-E.

Here's a closer look at the Bucs' Week 17 matchup against the Saints ...

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Drew Brees vs. Bucs' defense

Coach Sean Payton vows Brees will appear behind center. So Tampa Bay, if it's truly trying to win on the scoreboard, won't get off easy with New Orleans playing out the string Sunday. The Saints rank first in the NFL in total offense (416.3 yards per game), third in passing (299.7 ypg) and 10th in scoring (25.2 points per game). Brees hasn't been as prolific as past seasons -- if he goes without a touchdown pass Sunday, the 32 thrown this year will be his fewest since the 28 he had in 2007 -- but the future Hall of Fame quarterback still presents a formidable threat. Despite allowing gaudy numbers against Aaron Rodgers last Sunday, the Bucs' defense kept Tampa Bay within seven points after three quarters in an eventual 20-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers. A similar bend-but-try-not-to-break strategy should be in play Sunday. The matchup will be intriguing.

TRENDING UP

Saints: Each soul in black and gold should be encouraged that the Gulf of Mexico will separate them from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at kickoff. Who would have guessed that the Saints would own five home losses this season? The development is puzzling, and what was one of the most intimidating home-field advantages in the NFL has become much less so. Sure, New Orleans' 3-4 road record isn't anything to glorify. But the Saints should like their chances at RayJay.

Buccaneers: There's something to be said for how Tampa Bay has preserved its draft standing in recent weeks. There have been no meaningless upsets. There have been no surprise rallies against the Cincinnati Bengals, Lions, Carolina Panthers or Packers. There have been no empty victories that would have done more harm than good. The Bucs have taken care of business and absorbed their paddle jobs, as expected. They're so close to snatching the top slot, it would be a shame to blow the ultimate prize now.  

TRENDING DOWN

Saints: Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's seat should be as toasty as mid-afternoon sand on Clearwater Beach. New Orleans' defense has tumbled off a cliff this season, with the Saints ranking 31st in the NFL in yards allowed (390.9 per game) and 29th in points given up (26.9 per game), passing (261.5 yards per game) and rushing (129.5 ypg). This is a stunning failure after he helped make last year's version of the Saints' defense an aggressive and efficient attack during an 11-5 campaign. Fortunately for him, the Bucs' offense wobbles at the knees often. What happens when a stoppable force meets a movable object?

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay's chances to win the coveted top pick took a hit when New Orleans was eliminated from playoff contention in the dreadful NFC South last Sunday with a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It would have been much simpler to hang an "L" on the Bucs before Sunday with the Saints in desperation mode to reach the postseason for the fifth time in six years. But since there's little meaning outside draft positioning for both teams Sunday, it will be curious to see how New Orleans responds. The Bucs need Brees to be on top of his game, and the Saints' porous defense must be in full form to have this afternoon go Tampa Bay's way. The fewer surprises in this one, the better chance for Bucs' long-term gain.

DID YOU KNOW?

Warren Sapp (seven) and Lee Roy Selmon (six) were the only Bucs defensive linemen to earn at least three Pro Bowl berths before tackle Gerald McCoy joined them Tuesday.

QUOTEBOARD

"We're going to make decisions that will give us the best chance to win by being able to look at players that we haven't seen, that may come into the equation a little bit, but we're going to do everything that we possibly can to try and win the game and let everything else take care of itself." -- Smith, when speaking Monday about the Bucs trying to close the season with a victory. A win over the Saints and a loss by the Tennessee Titans to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday would deny Tampa Bay the draft's No. 1 pick.

"No reaction at all. I talk about guys on my staff right now and I would never talk about somebody on another staff. No comment at all. All comments are about our staff we have now." -- Smith, when speaking Monday about former offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford's recent health comments. After being hired to coach the CFL's Vancouver Lions, Tedford said he had been healthy for the past couple months following a heart procedure in late August.

"You know what, you try to approach every one of them that way, just so that you get the value, you enjoy the moment, get everything out of every game. I'll treat this one no different. I don't know if it's at that point yet. Obviously right now, at this point in the season, your body's tired and all those things, but once you get away from it and kind of reassess things -- I feel good and my plan right now is to keep playing, yeah." -- Quarterback Josh McCown, when speaking Tuesday about the possibility that the game against the Saints will be the final one of his career. He has completed 170 of 304 passes for 2,091 yards and 10 touchdowns to 13 interceptions this season.

"It's an honor to once again be named among the best at my position by the players, coaches, and, of course, the fans. The ultimate goal is to bring a championship back to Tampa Bay, and this organization made a commitment in me to help accomplish that. It's my job to bring my best, day-in and day-out, and I'll continue to do that." -- McCoy, in a statement released Tuesday after he was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. He became the first Bucs player to earn Pro Bowl honors in three consecutive seasons since Ronde Barber (2004 to 2006) and Derrick Brooks (1997 to 2006) achieved the feat.

LOOKING AHEAD

The offseason begins Monday. The Bucs will miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.  

You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.

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