This game concludes the NFL Divisional Round.

NFL Divisional Playoff Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Both these teams surely will be rooting hard for the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday because if L.A. goes to Green Bay and upsets the Packers, the winner of this matchup would host the NFC title game. Also remember that Super Bowl 55 is held in Tampa next month. The Saints are +250 to win the conference title and +600 to win the Super Bowl, while the Bucs are +270 and +725, respectively.

This should easily the be the highest-rated and most-wagered game of the weekend simply as it’s in the marquee slot on Sunday evening but also because of the Brady vs. Brees star power. They are arguably the best regular-season quarterbacks ever and Brees is widely expected to retire after this season. He’s chasing a second career ring, while Brady is chasing a seventh. Brees is No. 1 all-time in regular-season passing yards and No. 2 in TD throws. Brady leads in touchdown passes and is No. 2 in yards.

Brady has never lost to one opponent three times in a season and looks to avoid that here. His Bucs debut was in New Orleans Week 1 and the Saints prevailed 34-23 as Brady was picked off twice, one returned for a touchdown. In Week 9, Brady played one of the worst games of his career in a 38-3 home loss to the Saints. He threw three picks without a touchdown, while Brees had four TD throws. Tampa set an NFL record for fewest rush attempts with five.

New Orleans is 5-0 against the spread in the past five meetings.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brady now has 31 playoff wins as a starting QB in his career, by far the most of any player and probably an unbreakable mark. In fact, Brady beaten 17 different teams in the playoffs and no other QB even has 17 playoff victories overall. Tampa Bay was a 31-23 winner at Washington last Saturday as Brady threw for 381 yards and two scores. The yardage was a career high for the GOAT in a road playoff game and the most in a single playoff game in franchise history. Brady also became the oldest player (43 years, 159 days old) to throw a TD pass in a playoff game. The win was Tampa’s first in the playoffs since following the 2002 season when the franchise won its only Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay lost right guard Alex Cappa to a fractured ankle in the win over Washington. Top running back Ronald Jones missed the game with a quad injury and is questionable for this week. Stellar young linebacker Devin White and defensive lineman Steve McLendon missed the game on the COVID-19 list but both have been activated. The Bucs are 2-5 ATS in their past seven after a win.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints got back two of the NFL’s best offensive players for their home Wild-Card game vs. Chicago on Sunday in running back Alvin Kamara (led league with 21 TDs; was on COVID list) and receiver Michael Thomas (2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year; was on injured reserve) and had little trouble in a 21-9 win. Brees threw for two scores, Kamara rushed for one and Thomas caught one – his first TD of an injury-plagued season. The New Orleans defence dominated; the Saints never previously allowed fewer than 14 points in a playoff game.

If there’s one concern for the Saints, it’s that usually reliable kicker Will Lutz missed a field goal and has missed four of his past seven. The team did sign veteran kicker Blair Walsh to the practice squad Monday, but that’s most likely simply as potential COVID insurance for Lutz. The Saints are 7-1 ATS in their past eight as favourites.

NFL Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Bucs vs. Saints?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Buccaneers Team Leaders

TB

Touchdowns	Mike Evans 13
Rushing	Ronald Jones II 978
Passing	Tom Brady 4633
Receiving	Mike Evans 70
Sacks	Jason Pierre-Paul 9.5
Interceptions	Carlton Davis 4

NO

Touchdowns	Alvin Kamara 21
Rushing	Alvin Kamara 932
Passing	Drew Brees 2942
Receiving	Alvin Kamara 83
Sacks	Trey Hendrickson 13.5
Interceptions	Malcolm Jenkins 3

TB

Touchdowns	Leonard Fournette 4
Rushing	Leonard Fournette 300
Passing	Tom Brady 1061
Receiving	Leonard Fournette 18
Sacks	Shaquil Barrett 4
Interceptions	Sean Murphy-Bunting 3

NO

Touchdowns	Tre'quan Smith 2
Rushing	Alvin Kamara 184
Passing	Drew Brees 399
Receiving	Jared Cook 9
Sacks	Sheldon Rankins 1
Interceptions	Alex Anzalone 0

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Saints Team Leaders

TB

Touchdowns	Mike Evans 13
Rushing	Ronald Jones II 978
Passing	Tom Brady 4633
Receiving	Mike Evans 70
Sacks	Jason Pierre-Paul 9.5
Interceptions	Carlton Davis 4

NO

Touchdowns	Alvin Kamara 21
Rushing	Alvin Kamara 932
Passing	Drew Brees 2942
Receiving	Alvin Kamara 83
Sacks	Trey Hendrickson 13.5
Interceptions	Malcolm Jenkins 3

TB

Touchdowns	Leonard Fournette 4
Rushing	Leonard Fournette 300
Passing	Tom Brady 1061
Receiving	Leonard Fournette 18
Sacks	Shaquil Barrett 4
Interceptions	Sean Murphy-Bunting 3

NO

Touchdowns	Tre'quan Smith 2
Rushing	Alvin Kamara 184
Passing	Drew Brees 399
Receiving	Jared Cook 9
Sacks	Sheldon Rankins 1
Interceptions	Alex Anzalone 0

Weather

temp	60
condition	dome

Injuries

Tampa Bay

Cameron Brate (TE)

Prob Sun Back - 05 / 02 / 21

Lavonte David (LB)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 28 / 01 / 21

Mike Evans (WR)

Prob Sun Knee - 28 / 01 / 21

Vita Vea (DL)

Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 01 / 21

Jordan Whitehead (S)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 28 / 01 / 21

Antoine Winfield Jr. (S)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 01 / 21

Mike Evans (WR)

Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 01 / 21

Chris Godwin (WR)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 20 / 01 / 21

Ronald Jones II (RB)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 20 / 01 / 21

Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)

Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 01 / 21

New Orleans

Will Clapp (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 17 / 01 / 21

Jared Cook (TE)

Prob Sun Back - 13 / 01 / 21

Taysom Hill (QB)

Ques Sun Knee - 13 / 01 / 21

Latavius Murray (RB)

Ques Sun Quadricep - 13 / 01 / 21

Patrick Robinson (CB)

Out Sun Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 21

Nick Easton (C)

Out indefinitely Concussion - 06 / 01 / 21

J.T. Gray (DB)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 06 / 01 / 21

Trey Hendrickson (DE)

Prob Sun Neck - 06 / 01 / 21

Taysom Hill (QB)

Prob Sun Concussion - 06 / 01 / 21

D.J. Swearinger (DB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 02 / 01 / 21

Injuries

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cameron Brate (TE)	Prob Sun	Back - 05 / 02 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Brate is dealing with a back injury, but he is likely to suit up against the Chiefs in the 2021 Super Bowl.
Lavonte David (LB)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 28 / 01 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
David is tending to a hamstring injury, but it is likely that he will take the field against the Chiefs in the 2021 Super Bowl.
Mike Evans (WR)	Prob Sun	Knee - 28 / 01 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Evans is hampered by a knee injury, but he is expected to line up for the 2021 Super Bowl against the Chiefs.
Vita Vea (DL)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 28 / 01 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Vea is bothered by an ankle injury, leaving his availability against the Chiefs in the 2021 Super Bowl hazy.
Jordan Whitehead (S)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 28 / 01 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Whitehead is managing shoulder and knee injuries, but he is expected to dress for the 2021 Super Bowl against the Chiefs.
Antoine Winfield Jr. (S)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 01 / 21	2-0	1-1	+ -
Winfield Jr. is hobbled by an ankle injury, but it is projected that he will dress for the 2021 Super Bowl against the Chiefs.
Mike Evans (WR)	Prob Sun	Knee - 20 / 01 / 21	2-0	1-1	+ -
Evans is bothered by a knee injury, but he is likely to line up against the Packers in the NFC Championship game.
Chris Godwin (WR)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 20 / 01 / 21	2-0	1-1	+ -
Godwin is nursing a quad injury, but he is expected to take part in the NFC Championship game against the Packers.
Ronald Jones II (RB)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 20 / 01 / 21	2-0	1-1	+ -
Jones II is tending to a quad injury, but he is expected to be active against the Packers in the NFC Championship game.
Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 20 / 01 / 21	2-0	1-1	+ -
Murphy-Bunting has injuries to his ankle and quad, but it is projected that he will partake in the NFC Championship game versus the Packers.

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Will Clapp (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 17 / 01 / 21	1-0	0-1	+ -
Clapp will be away from the team for an unknown length of time while he is on the Injured Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Jared Cook (TE)	Prob Sun	Back - 13 / 01 / 21	1-0	0-1	+ -
Cook is tending to a back injury, but he is likely to line up against the Buccaneers in the NFC divisional round.
Taysom Hill (QB)	Ques Sun	Knee - 13 / 01 / 21	1-0	0-1	+ -
Hill is dealing with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will line up against the Buccaneers in the NFC divisional round.
Latavius Murray (RB)	Ques Sun	Quadricep - 13 / 01 / 21	1-0	0-1	+ -
Murray is managing a quad injury, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Buccaneers in NFC divisional round.
Patrick Robinson (CB)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 21	1-0	0-1	+ -
Robinson is nursing a hamstring injury, and he will not be active in the NFC divisional round versus the Buccaneers.
Nick Easton (C)	Out indefinitely	Concussion - 06 / 01 / 21	2-0	0-2	+ -
Easton has wound up on the injured reserve list with a concussion, and it is unknown how long he will be debilitated.
J.T. Gray (DB)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 01 / 21	2-0	0-2	+ -
Gray is idle with a shoulder injury, and it is unknown if he will take the field in the NFC Wild Card game versus the Bears.
Trey Hendrickson (DE)	Prob Sun	Neck - 06 / 01 / 21	2-0	0-2	+ -
Hendrickson is managing a neck injury, but he is expected to line up against the Buccaneers in the NFC divisional round.
Taysom Hill (QB)	Prob Sun	Concussion - 06 / 01 / 21	2-0	0-2	+ -
Hill is battling a concussion, but it is anticipated that he will pass protocol prior to the NFC Wild Card game versus the Bears.
D.J. Swearinger (DB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 02 / 01 / 21	3-0	1-2	+ -
Swearinger is on the Injured Reserve/COVID-19 list and there is currently no timetable for his return.