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Buccaneers at Saints: TV schedule, Divisional Round notes, and staff picks

Predictions and game info from the NFL’s Divisional Round game capsule.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New Orleans Saints Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Broadcast Info

TV: FOX/FOX Deportes (6:40 PM ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (field reporter), Tom Rinaldi (field reporter)
NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One: Ryan Radtke, Tony Boselli
SIRIUS: 82 (TB), 83 (NO) | XM: 226 (TB), 225 (NO), 88 (National)

Buccaneers Notes

• BUCCANEERS earned 1st playoff win since 2002 (SB XXXVII). • TAMPA BAY had one player selected to 2021 Pro Bowl roster: LB JASON PIERRE PAUL.

• BUCCANEERS OFFENSE ranked 3rd in points per game (30.8) & allowed 4th-fewest sacks (22) in 2020.

• TAMPA BAY DEFENSE allowed fewest rush yards per game (80.6) & ranked tied-4th in sacks (48).

• QB TOM BRADY had postseason single-game franchise-record 381 pass yards in Wild Card round.

• QB TOM BRADY is postseason all-time leader in starts (42), completions (1,047), pass yards (11,769), pass TDs (75) & Super Bowl titles (6). Ranked tied-2nd in pass TDs (franchise-record 40) & 3rd in pass yards (4,633) in 2020 & became 5th QB in NFL history with 2+ seasons (2) of 40+ TD passes. Had postseason single-game franchise-record 381 pass yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 104.3 rating in NFC-WC at Was.

• RB RONALD JONES set career-highs in scrimmage yards (1,143), rush yards (978) & rush TDs (7) in 2020. RB LEONARD FOURNETTE has 418 scrimmage yards (104.5 per game) & 5 rush TDs in 4 career playoff games. Had 132 scrimmage yards (93 rush, 39 rec.) & rush TD in NFC-WC at Was.

• WR MIKE EVANS ranked 4th in NFL in rec. TDs (13) this season. Had 1,006 rec. yards in 2020 & is 1st player in NFL history with 1,000+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 7 seasons. Had 6 catches for postseason single-game franchise-record 119 rec. yards in NFC-WC at Was. WR CHRIS GODWIN has rec. TD in 5 of his past 6 on road, incl. playoffs. Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 at NO. WR ANTONIO BROWN has 53 receptions for 886 yards (80.5 per game) & 5 rec. TDs in 11 career playoff games. TE ROB GRONKOWSKI has 12 career postseason rec. TDs, tied-2nd most in NFL history.

• LB LAVONTE DAVID had 9 tackles & sack in postseason debut last week. Has 24 FFs since 2014, tied 2nd-most in NFL. LB DEVIN WHITE was 1st player since 2000 with 140+ tackles (140) & 9+ sacks (9). Aims for his 4th in row vs. NO with 10+ tackles. LB JASON PIERRE-PAUL has 5 TFL & 5 PD in 5 career postseason games. DT NDAMUKONG SUH had 1.5 sacks in his last playoff game vs. NO (1/20/19 - NFC-C w/ LAR).

New Orleans Notes

• SAINTS clinched 4th-consecutive NFC South division title, longest streak in franchise history.

• SEAN PAYTON led NO to SB XLIV title (2009 season).

• NEW ORLEANS 5 players selected to 2021 Pro Bowl roster: T TERRON ARMSTEAD, DE CAMERON JORDAN, RB ALVIN KAMARA, CB MARSHON LATTIMORE & G ANDRUS PEAT.

• SAINTS OFFENSE ranked 5th in points per game (30.1).

• SAINTS DEFENSE ranked 4th in total yards allowed per game (310.9) & 5th in points allowed per game (21.1).

• QB DREW BREES has 5,232 pass yards (307.8 per game) & 36 TDs vs. 12 INTs for 100 rating in 17 career postseason starts. Had 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 107.3 rating in NFC-WC vs. Chi. Had 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 135.2 rating in Week 9 meeting. Aims for his 4th in row vs. TB with 2+ TDs & 0 INTs.

• RB ALVIN KAMARA led NFL with 21 TDs (16 rush, 5 rec.) & ranked 3rd in scrimmage yards (1,688). Led all RBs with career-high 83 receptions. Had 116 scrimmage yards (99 rush, 17 rec.) & rush TD in NFC-WC vs. Chi. Has 850 scrimmage yards (106.3 per game) & 9 TDs (6 rush, 3 rec.) in 8 career games vs. TB. RB LATAVIUS MURRAY had rec. TD in NFC-WC vs. Chi. Is 1 of 2 RBs (TODD GURLEY) with 5+ TDs in each of past 6 seasons.

• WR MICHAEL THOMAS has 43 receptions for 566 yards (94.3 per game) & 4 rec. TDs in 6 career postseason games. Has 74 catches for 899 yards (99.9 per game) & 4 rec. TDs in 9 career games vs. TB. WR EMMANUEL SANDERS is 1 of 3 WRs (T.Y. HILTON & JULIO JONES) with 500+ rec. yards in each of past 9 seasons. Aims for his 4th in row vs. TB with TD catch. WR DEONTE HARRIS had career-highs in catches (7) & rec. yards (83) in NFC-WC vs. Chi. TE JARED COOK has 22 rec. TDs since 2018, 2nd-most among TEs.

• DE CAMERON JORDAN is only player with 7+ sacks in each of past 9 seasons. Has 5.5 sacks, 8 TFL & 4 PD in 10 career postseason games. Has TFL in 6 of his past 7 at home vs. TB. DE TREY HENDRICKSON tied-2nd in NFL with career-high 13.5 sacks. LB DEMARIO DAVIS has 10 PD & 6 TFL in 8 career games vs. TB. Had sack in last home meeting. Was 1 of 5 LBs with 100+ tackles (119) & 10+ TFL (10) in 2020. CB MARSHON LATTIMORE aims for his 8th in row with PD, incl. playoffs.

Regular Season Series History

LEADER: Saints lead all-time series, 37-21

STREAKS: Saints have won past 5

LAST GAME: 11/8/20: Saints 38 at Buccaneers 3

LAST GAME AT SITE: 9/13/20: Saints 34, Buccaneers 23

Playoff Series History

First time meeting in the playoffs.

Divisional Round Staff Picks

Latest line: Saints by 3, Over/Under 52

Gil (13-4): Saints, 36-24

James (12-5): Bucs, 30-28

Evan (15-2): Bucs, 31-28

David (12-5): Saints, 38-31

Bailey (13-4): Saints, 34-28

Jason (13-4): Saints, 27-24