National Football League

Bucs within striking distance atop NFC South heading into Saints matchup

Published Oct. 4, 2014 11:30 a.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. -- A new week, a huge difference.

Yes, you heard right. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just one game out of first place in the NFC South after upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. It's rather amazing.

A week ago, the narrative was much different, much darker. The Bucs were coming off a 42-point embarrassment at Atlanta. Their reception in the Steel City figured to be as warm as a mid-winter blizzard.

Then the NFL's biggest surprise of Week 4 happened. Mike Glennon, starting in place of the injured (and criticized) Josh McCown, rallied the Bucs to a last-minute victory. The effort wasn't faultless. Sometimes, the visual was messy.

Bottom line: Tampa Bay jetted from town with the first triumph of the Lovie Smith era. How about that?

"To validate what we're doing and how we're doing it, you need to get a win," Smith said Monday. "So we got that, and we have something to really build on from here."

If they do more building Sunday, there's a chance to move up. Believe it or not, the Bucs can own a share of first place in the NFC South after Sunday with a victory at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It would take some help beyond beating the New Orleans Saints. The New York Giants must top the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears must best the Carolina Panthers, too. But the possibility is there. Yes, it's rather amazing.

What a difference a week makes.

Here's a closer look at Tampa Bay's Week 5 matchup against the Saints...

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Glennon vs. Saints' secondary

The potential for points is there. New Orleans is dreadful against the pass, and it's clear that Rob Ryan has lost whatever mojo that made him one of the league's best defensive coordinators last year. Glennon wasn't perfect in the Bucs' surprise victory over the Steelers in Week 4, but he has a chance to surpass the 302 yards passing he produced in the win at Heinz Field. This will be a difficult test for the second-year quarterback, and he knows the Mercedes-Benz Superdome well after the Saints blitzed the Bucs in the final game of the Greg Schiano era last year. A victory here would represent a large step forward for Glennon.

TRENDING UP

Saints: As much as New Orleans has struggled this season, its passing game remains one of the league's best. The Saints rank third in the NFL in the category by averaging 294.5 yards per game. Only the Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck (1,305 yards) and the Falcons' Matt Ryan (1,263) have totaled more than Drew Brees' 1,203. The Saints should have opportunities to find tight end Jimmy Graham against a Bucs defense that has struggled to cover tight ends. Brees has the potential for a big day. With New Orleans' problems on defense, a large offensive output is imperative.

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay did a solid job against the Steelers' elite rushing attack in Week 4, limiting Le'Veon Bell to 63 yards on 19 carries and LeGarrette Blount to 25 yards on four carries. This containment was a huge reason why the Bucs were able to spring the upset. They should aim to do the same against the Saints. New Orleans ranks 10th in the league in rushing by averaging 131.2 yards per game, so the challenge will be formidable. Khiry Robinson paces the Saints with 215 yards on 40 carries, and he had a season-high 87 yards rushing on eight carries in a Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

TRENDING DOWN

Saints: New Orleans' pass defense has been suspect all season by allowing an average of 272.5 yards per game through the air (29th in the league). News that safety Jairus Byrd was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday because of a tear in the lateral meniscus in his knee won't help matters. Byrd, signed as a free agent to a six-year deal worth an average of $9 million per season, sustained the injury in Thursday's practice. Rafael Bush is expected to start in Byrd's place, but this is another blow to the Saints in a season filled with setbacks so far. An interception from someone, anyone, would help. The Saints join the New York Jets as the only teams in the league not to have an interception this season.

Buccaneers: Tight end Heath Miller tormented Tampa Bay with 85 yards receiving on 10 catches in Week 4. That doesn't bode well with a matchup looming against Graham, who stands as one of the most lethal pass-catching tight ends in the league. Graham leads the Saints in receiving with 340 yards on 32 catches with three touchdowns. He had a season-high 179 yards on 10 catches with a touchdown in New Orleans' Week 2 victory over Tampa Bay last year. The Bucs know how dangerous he can be.

INJURY REPORT

Saints: Probable -- OT Terron Armstead (concussion), S Marcus Bell (hamstring), C Johnathan Goodwin (neck), LB David Hawthorne (ankle), LB Curtis Lofton (shoulder), CB Patrick Robinson (thigh), TE Benjamin Watson (groin), CB Corey White (foot); Out -- S Jairus Byrd (knee), RB Mark Ingram (hand); FB Erik Lorig (ankle)

Buccaneers: Probable -- CB Johnthan Banks (non-injury related); Questionable -- S Mark Barron (abdomen), LB Mason Foster (shoulder), DE Michael Johnson (ankle), QB Josh McCown (right thumb), DT Gerald McCoy (hand), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ankle); Out -- DE Larry English (hamstring), WR Mike Evans (groin), S Dashon Goldson (ankle)

DID YOU KNOW?

Twenty-five games between the Bucs and Saints have been decided by seven points or fewer.

QUOTEBOARD

"It's not going to be about what they're giving up or what they're ranked. We have to do things right or bad things can happen. It's a short ride from being successful against the good teams or great teams and being bad against the teams that we think sometimes we're going to go ahead. That's a good team and they're a good defense and they have a great coordinator, and they know how to do things right." -- Quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, when speaking about the Saints' defense Wednesday. New Orleans ranks 27th in scoring defense by allowing an average of 27.5 points per game.

"Yeah, it's wide open. Whoever wins our game could possibly be tied for first place in the division, so it's a big game for us. The NFC South is wide open and it's a long season. We just need to continue to build and continue to get better as a team and let everything play out." -- Glennon, when addressing the opportunity for the Bucs in the NFC South on Wednesday. At 1-3, Tampa Bay trails Atlanta and Carolina by one game for the division lead.

"We definitely do need to get better in the running game. We watched film and we've actually dissected what we need to do to have a better running game and us just focusing on the details and everybody just doing their job on a consistent basis. If we do that, we'll be more successful going forward." -- Running back Doug Martin, when talking about the Bucs' rushing game Wednesday. The Bucs rank 24th in the NFL by averaging 96.5 yards per game.

"Hand feels good. It's definitely still broken, but hey, it's the NFL. One thing I will say is the fans, after the Atlanta game, the fans was like, 'Man, we really need Gerald back.' And then after playing Pittsburgh, the fans was like, 'We really appreciate his effort out there with one hand. So nobody was like, 'We don't feel bad for you. Just play.' The fans actually had some type of feelings. But yeah, it's definitely healing. It's just a day-to-day process." -- Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, when discussing the progress of his broken left hand Thursday. He returned to the field in the victory over the Steelers after missing the Week 3 loss to the Falcons.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bucs host the Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay is 2-2 all-time against Baltimore, the most recent meeting a 17-10 victory by the Ravens on Nov. 28, 2010, at M&T Bank Stadium.

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

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