All you can ask for is an opportunity, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 
that today in the SuperDome in New Orleans. With the Panthers hosting the Chicago Bears and Atlanta taking on the NY Giants in New York, a Bucs win could create a 2-3 logjam for first place among all the teams in the NFC South, a division that could be won with an 8-8 or 9-7 record.
Of course if Tampa Bay does it it will be the first win over the Saints where no starters are being rested since 2007 when Luke McCown, Josh’s brother, led the Bucs to an upset win in a game that was critical to that teams division playoff race.
In order to upset New Orleans, Tampa Bay must continue what it did well against Pittsburgh; Good pass blocking, key passes to wide receivers, and pressure on the QB. With Mason Foster possibly returning today to QB the defense, it could be the key.
Tampa Bay has been improving since their first game, but the running game needs the biggest boost, and Doug Martin or Bobby Rainey need to get going to get the Bucs out of the cellar of NFL rushing teams (24th).
What will a bad game mean for Mike Glennon? Will that put the ball back into the hands of Josh McCown when Bucs play the Ravens at home?
WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY..
LB Lavonte David
• David has 8.0 career sacks, and needs two more to pass Hardy Nickerson (9.0 from 1993-99) for eighth, three more to pass Winston Moss (10.5 from 1987-90) for seventh and five more to pass Kevin Murphy (12.0 from 1986-91) and Hugh Green (12.4 from 1981-85) for the fourth-most
sacks by a linebacker in franchise history.
• David has six career interceptions, and needs two more to pass Hardy Nickerson (seven from 1993-99) for sixth, three more to pass Scot Brantley (eight from 1980-87), four more to pass Cecil Johnson (nine from 1977- 85) and Richard Wood (nine from 1976-84) for third and five more to pass Dave Lewis (10 from 1977-81) for the second-most interceptions by a linebacker in franchise history.
LB Mason Foster
• Foster has two career interceptions returned for a touchdown and, with one more, can tie CB Wayne Haddix (three from 1990-91), CB Aqib Talib (three from 2008-12) and CB Mike Washington (three from 1976-1984) for the third-most interceptions returned for a touchdown in franchise history.
QB Mike Glennon
• Glennon threw for 302 yards at Pittsburgh (9/28). If he throws for 300 yards at New Orleans (10/5), he will be the first Buccaneers quarterback to post consecutive 300-yard passing games since Josh Freeman in 2012 (10/14/12 vs. Kansas City-10/21/12 vs. New Orleans).
WR Vincent Jackson
• Jackson has nine 100-yard receiving games as a Buccaneer, the fifth- most in franchise history. He needs three more to tie Joey Galloway (11 from 2004-08) for fourth-most, four more to tie Keyshawn Johnson (12 from 2000-03 – one in postseason) for third-most 100-yard receiving games in franchise history.
• Jackson has 17 receiving touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to pass Reidel one more to pass Gerald Carter (17 from 1981-87) and Keyshawn Johnson (17 from 2000-03) for eighth-most in franchise history. • Jackson has caught a touchdown in each of the past two games and with a touchdown reception at New Orleans (10/5), he will be the first Buccaneers wide receiver to record a scoring grab in three straight games since Mike Williams (12/23/12 vs. St. Louis, 12/30/12, at Atlanta, 9/8/13 at N.Y. Jets).
P Michael Koenen
• Koenen has 70 punts inside the 20 with the Buccaneers and needs three more to pass Frank Garcia (71 from 1983-87) for the third-most punts inside the 20 in franchise history.
RB Doug Martin
• Martin has 1,959 rushing yards as a Buccaneer and needs 89 more to pass Earnest Graham (2,047 from 2004-11) for ninth-most rushing yards in team history.
• Martin has six 100-yard rushing games as a Buccaneer and needs one more to tie Mike Alstott (seven from 1996-06), LeGarrette Blount (seven from 2010-12) and Reggie Cobb (seven from 1990-93) for seventh-most 100-yard rushing games in franchise history.
• Martin has 13 rushing touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to pass Doug Williams (13 from 1978-1982) and LeGarrette Blount (13 from 2010-12) for 10th-most, two more to tie Earnest Graham (15 from 2004-11) and Lars Tate (15 from 1988-89) for eighth-most in franchise history.
DT Gerald McCoy
• McCoy has four career multi-sack games and needs one more to tie Chidi Ahanatou (five from 1993-2004) for the sixth-most, two more to tie David Logan (six from 1979-86) for fifth-most and three more to tie Broderick Thomas (seven from 1989-93) for fourth-most multi-sack games in franchise history.
• McCoy has 20.5 career sacks and needs three more to pass Santana Dotson (23.0 from 1992-1995) for the third-most sacks by a defensive tackle in team history.
Team
• A win against New Orleans would mark Tampa Bay’s first victory against New Orleans since 2011 (10/16/11) and the team’s first at the Superdome since the last game of the 2010 season (1/2/11).
• The Buccaneers have recovered a fumble in three straight games and with a fumble recovery at New Orleans, it would mark the team’s first streak of four games with a fumble recovery since 2011 (Five games from 9/18/11 at Minnesota-10/16/11 vs. New Orleans).
LAST MEETING
New Orleans 42, Tampa Bay 17, (December 29, 2013)
TAMPA – In the 2013 season finale, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to New Orleans to face the Saints. With New Orleans needing a win to help secure a playoff spot, the two teams battled back and forth early in the game, but the Saints took over the game and overcame the Buccaneers, 42-17. Tampa Bay elected to defer to the second half, giving quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints offense the field first. The Buccaneers stopped the Saints on third-and-1 at the Tampa Bay 46 on the drive, but the Saints opted to attempt to convert and did so successfully. On the next play, Brees connected with tight end Lance Moore on a 44-yard pass for the 7-0 lead. However, the Buccaneers answered immediately, scoring with a 48-yard flea flicker pass from quarterback Mike Glennon to wide receiver Tiquan Underwood. New Orleans took the lead back, 14-7, after marching 80 yards down the field to end with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brees to tight end Jimmy Graham. In the second quarter, the Saints brought the score to 21-7 on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Brees to wide receiver Robert Meachem, but the Buccaneers responded with a score of their own, cutting into New Orleans’ lead following a one-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to tight end Tim Wright. On the ensuing drive, however, Brees connected with wide receiver Kenny Stills on third-and-6 for a 76-yard touchdown, giving New Orleans a 28-14 advantage at the end of the first half. Though Tampa Bay added a 54-yard field goal by kicker Rian Lindell on its opening drive of the third quarter, New Orleans was able control the lead, adding another touchdown on an eight-yard rush by running back Pierre Thomas. Glennon was intercepted on the first play of the following drive, and the Saints were able to turn the pick into another score as Brees scrambled nine yards for the touchdown. The Buccaneers were unable to produce any additional scoring in the remainder of the final quarter, ending the game at 42-17.
NOTES FROM THE LAST GAME
– On the game’s opening drive, DT Gerald McCoy recorded his second sack of the season, 
dropping Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger for a six- yard loss. McCoy now has 20.5 career sacks, the fifth-most by a defensive tackle in team history. Since 2012, McCoy is tied for third in sacks among defensive tackles.
– On the play following McCoy’s sack, DE Michael Johnson recorded his first sack of the season, dropping Roethlisberger for a five-yard loss and forcing a fumble, which was recovered by DE Jacquies Smith. The fumble recovery was the first of Smith’s career. Johnson has 5.5 career sacks against the Steelers.
– Johnson recorded his second sack of the game in the second quarter, bringing Roethlisberger down for a three-yard loss. It was Johnson’s third career game with at least 2.0 sacks. He is the first Buccaneer to record two or more sacks in a game since DT Gerald McCoy recorded 3.0 last season against Atlanta (11/17/13).
– Following the fumble recovery, QB Mike Glennon – making his first start of the season – threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to WR Mike Evans. The touchdown reception was the first of Evans’ career and the touchdown pass was Glennon’s first of the year.
– Glennon threw his second touchdown of the day with seven seconds remaining in the game, connecting with WR Vincent Jackson from five yards out, giving the Buccaneers a 27-24 victory.
– Glennon finished the game with 302 yards passing, a career-high. Glennon is the first Buccaneers passer to eclipse 300 yards since Josh Freeman in 2012 (vs. St. Louis, 12/23/12)
– In the third quarter, Evans caught a career-long 40 yard pass. Evans finished the game with a career-high 65 receiving yards on four catches, with one touchdown.
– DE Scott Solomon recorded his first career sack in the game, dropping Roethlisberger for a six-yard loss.
– DE Da’Quan Bowers recorded his first sack of the season at the end of the first half, bringing Roethlisberger down for a six-yard loss. Bowers now has 6.5 career sacks.
– The Buccaneers recorded five sacks in the first half. Dating back to 1991, that is tied for the second-most first-half sacks the team has recorded.
– The Buccaneers opened the third quarter with an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, capped 
off by RB Doug Martin running in for the score. The 80-yard drive is tied for the longest touchdown drive of the season (80 yards at Atlanta, 9/18).
– The rushing touchdown is Martin’s first of the season and the 13th of his career, tying for the 10th-most in Buccaneers history.
– On the Buccaneers’ second drive, K Patrick Murray connected on a career-long 50-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Murray made a 27- yard field goal.
– On the first play of the fourth quarter, WR Solomon Patton notched his first career rush, taking a reverse and running for 19 yards.
– WR Louis Murphy made his Buccaneers debut at Pittsburgh, catching six passes for 99 yards. The six catches match a career-high, while the 99 receiving yards are the third-highest of his career.
– Murphy caught a 41-yard pass on the Buccaneers’ final drive of the game, setting up Vincent Jackson’s game-winning touchdown. The 41- yard reception is the Buccaneers longest pass completion of the season.
– WR Russell Shepard caught his first career pass in the fourth quarter of today’s game, a 22-yard reception on third down, converting the first down. He finished the game with two catches for 30 yards
– TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins had career highs in catches (3) and receiving yards (44).
– Tampa Bay’s victory marks the franchise’s first ever victory in Pittsburgh, and the team’s first win in the state of Pennsylvania since 2006 (10/22 at Philadelphia).
– The game against Pittsburgh marks the 600th regular season game in franchise history.
LOVIE SMITH vs SEAN PAYTON
– Head Coach Lovie Smith is 3-1 in against the New Orleans Sains, and – Payton is 8-6 all-time against the Buccaneers. Lovie is 2-1 against Saints Head Coach Sean Payton.
GET TO KNOW SEAN PAYTON
Since he was hired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Sean Payton has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the NFL. Since coming to New Orleans, Payton has led the Saints to five playoff berths, three NFC South division titles and the franchise’s first World Championship with a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
Payton has a 79-43 overall record (.648), including a 6-4 postseason mark (.600) after the franchise had won only one playoff game prior to his arrival. Throughout his tenure, Payton holds the franchise’s top winning percentage (.648) for a head coach and ranks fourth among current NFL head coaches (min. 50 games).
Payton is one of just seven active coaches to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory. The others are New England’s Bill Belichick, Seattle’s Pete Carroll, the New York Giants’ Tom Coughlin, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin.
Payton was hired as the 14th head coach in Saints history on Jan. 18, 2006 after serving as a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff from 2003-05 under 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Bill Parcells. Prior to his final season with the Cowboys, Payton was promoted to assistant head coach/passing game coordinator and was responsible for the team’s play-calling after serving as assistant head coach/ quarterbacks from 2003-04.
Payton went to Dallas following four years with the New York Giants (1999-2002), the last three as offensive coordinator after spending his first season as quarterbacks coach.
Payton wrapped two coaching stints at San Diego State University (1988- 89 and 1992-93) around a stop at Indiana State (1990-91). During his second stretch with the Aztecs, Payton was running backs coach, working with Heisman Trophy runner-up Marshall Faulk before becoming quarterbacks coach.
Following the 1993 season, Payton moved to Miami (Ohio) (1994-95) where he was quarterbacks coach. He spent 1996 as quarterbacks coach at Illinois before entering the NFL with Philadelphia.
Payton earned a bachelor’s degree in communications at Eastern Illinois, where as a quarterback he had 10,665 passing yards, then the third-highest total in NCAA Division I-AA history. The three-time AP All-American selection had professional stints with Chicago of the Arena Football League, Ottawa of the Canadian Football League and the Chicago Bears in 1987. Payton was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September of 2000 and had his jersey retired in a ceremony in September of 2010. He received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in 2013.
Payton was born Dec. 29, 1963 in San Mateo, Calif., and raised in Naperville, Ill., Payton has a daughter, Meghan and a son, Connor.
HISTORY OF THE SERIES!!
CB Mike Washington (45 yards), LB Richard Wood (10) and DE Greg Johnson (0) 
returned interceptions for scores in 33-14 Bucs win (12/11/77), the first in franchise history… Saints scored 42 unanswered points – all in the second half – en route to 42-14 win at Tampa Stadium (10/14/79)… New Orleans scored five of its six TDs on the ground, rushing for 234 yards on 48 carries… QB Doug Williams threw for 218 yards and two TDs in 31-14 road win (11/29/81)… Teams combined for 600 passing yards in 44-34 Saints win at the Superdome (12/6/87)… WR Mark Carrier caught five passes for 120 yards, helping the Bucs snap six-game series skid with a 20-10 win (9/24/89)… K Morten Andersen booted a 50-yard FG to lift New Orleans to a 23-21 victory (11/1/92)… Rookie FB Mike Alstott caught seven passes for 91 yards, including a 17-yard TD in 13-7 Bucs victory (11/24/96)… The Bucs snapped a nine-game road losing streak in the series with a 31-16 victory at New Orleans (11/7/99)… Tampa Bay tied the club’s single-game record for points scored in a 48-21 victory over New Orleans at Raymond James Stadium (12/23/01)… CB Ronde Barber set a club record (later tied) with three interceptions, including a 36-yard return for a touchdown on his final interception, as the Bucs picked off Saints QB Aaron Brooks four times… New Orleans LB James Allen intercepted a desperation pass from P Tom Tupa in the end zone on a botched punt to lead the Saints to a 26-20 overtime win in head coach Jon Gruden’s debut (9/8/02)… Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay posted a frantic 10-point comeback to send the game into overtime… WR Joe Jurevicius made a one-handed grab for an 11-yard TD with 2:41 on the clock and Gramatica nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired to force the extra period… TE Ken Dilger and DT Warren Sapp, who was playing tight end at the time, both caught touchdowns as the Bucs won 14-7 at New Orleans (12/7/03)… QB Chris Simms made his first career start in the NFL at New Orleans (10/10/04) and completed 5-of-8 pass attempts for 68 yards before leaving the game because of injury late in the first quarter… Backup QB Brian Griese relieved Simms and led the Buccaneers to a 20-17 win by completing 16-of-19 pass attempts for 194 yards and one touchdown… CB Ronde Barber recorded his second three-interception game of his career against the Saints in Baton Rouge (12/4/05)… Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South title with a 27-13 win vs. New Orleans (1/1/06)… WR Joey Galloway caught a pair of touchdown passes, his ninth and 10th of the season to set a new team record… Saints RB Reggie Bush scored his first career touchdown on a 65-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter to give New Orleans (10/8/06) a 24- 21 win in New Orleans…
After losing its first game of the season on the road, Tampa Bay was able to defeat New Orleans (9/16/07) 31-14 at home for their first of nine wins on the season en route to the 2007 NFC South division title… The Buccaneers all but sealed up the 2007 NFC South Championship after they were able to leave New Orleans (12/2/07) with 27-23 come from behind victory… Trailing 23-20 with 3:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, DT Jovan Haye was able to recover a RB Reggie Bush fumble on New Orleans 37-yard line… After marching down the field, QB Luke McCown found TE Jerramy Stevens in the end zone with just 14 seconds remaining in the game to give Tampa the win… The Buccaneers defense intercepted Saints QB Drew Brees three times in 23-20 defeat of the Saints to give Gruden his 100th career victory (11/30/08)… PR Micheal Spurlock return a punt 77 yards for a touchdown, as the Buccaneers erased a 17-3 halftime deficit to knock off the Saints 20-17 at Superdome … RB Carnell Williams rushed 24 times for 129 yards and a touchdown as K Connor Barth hit the game-winning 47-yard field goal in overtime (12/27/09)… WR Micheal Spurlock caught a two yard touchdown pass in the second half during a 31-6 loss to the Saints (10/17/10)… QB Josh Freeman went 21-of-26 for 255 yards and two touchdowns as the Buccaneers defeated the Saints at New Orleans, finishing the season 10-6 (1/2/11)…The Buccaneers forced four turnovers, including intercepting QB Drew Brees three times, en route to a 26-20 victory over the Saints at Raymond James Stadium (10/16/11)… QB Josh Freeman threw for 303 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, while RB Earnest Graham picked up 109 yards on the ground for Tampa Bay… The Saints never trailed in a 27-16 victory over the Buccaneers in New Orleans (11/6/11)…Saints QB Drew Brees led the way for New Orleans, completing 27-of-37 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and one interception…In a high-scoring affair, the Saints held on to beat the Buccaneers 35-28 in Tampa (10/21/12) on the strength of 337 passing yards and four touchdowns from QB Drew Brees… The Buccaneers staged a late comeback but fell short as WR Mike Williams apparent game-tying touchdown catch was nullified by a penalty as time expired…The Buccaneers fell to the Saints road 41-0 on the road (12/16/12)…Tampa Bay’s defense allowed 447 yards of total offense, while QB Josh Freeman threw four interceptions (12/16/12)… RB Doug Martin rushed for 144 yards on 29 attempts, but the Buccaneers lost in the final seconds, 16-14, on a Saints field goal (9/15/13)… LB Mason Foster returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the loss… The Saints topped the Buccaneers 42-17 in the 2013 season finale between the two teams (12/29/13)…
Get Inside Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David
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