Sunday evening features a marquee matchup between Tom Brady and the Buccaneers and Drew Brees and the Saints, who are 3-point favourites on the NFL odds.
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?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 11 Jan 8:28am | TB | -3 -111 | O +51 -110 |
Closing 17 Jan 11:35pm | TB | -2.5 -113 | O +53.5 -110 |
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Buccaneers Team Leaders
Touchdowns |
13 |
Rushing |
978 |
Passing |
4633 |
Receiving |
70 |
Sacks |
9.5 |
Interceptions |
4 |
Touchdowns |
21 |
Rushing |
932 |
Passing |
2942 |
Receiving |
83 |
Sacks |
13.5 |
Interceptions |
3 |
Touchdowns |
4 |
Rushing |
300 |
Passing |
1061 |
Receiving |
18 |
Sacks |
4 |
Interceptions |
3 |
Touchdowns |
2 |
Rushing |
184 |
Passing |
399 |
Receiving |
9 |
Sacks |
1 |
Interceptions |
0 |
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Saints Team Leaders
Touchdowns |
13 |
Rushing |
978 |
Passing |
4633 |
Receiving |
70 |
Sacks |
9.5 |
Interceptions |
4 |
Touchdowns |
21 |
Rushing |
932 |
Passing |
2942 |
Receiving |
83 |
Sacks |
13.5 |
Interceptions |
3 |
Touchdowns |
4 |
Rushing |
300 |
Passing |
1061 |
Receiving |
18 |
Sacks |
4 |
Interceptions |
3 |
Touchdowns |
2 |
Rushing |
184 |
Passing |
399 |
Receiving |
9 |
Sacks |
1 |
Interceptions |
0 |
Weather

temp | 60 |
condition | dome |
Injuries
Cameron Brate (TE)
Lavonte David (LB)
Mike Evans (WR)
Vita Vea (DL)
Jordan Whitehead (S)
Antoine Winfield Jr. (S)
Mike Evans (WR)
Chris Godwin (WR)
Ronald Jones II (RB)
Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)
Will Clapp (C)
Jared Cook (TE)
Taysom Hill (QB)
Latavius Murray (RB)
Patrick Robinson (CB)
Nick Easton (C)
J.T. Gray (DB)
Trey Hendrickson (DE)
Taysom Hill (QB)
D.J. Swearinger (DB)
Injuries
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. |
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. |
-
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
24 -
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
27
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 11 Jan 8:28am TB -3 -111 O +51 -110 Closing 17 Jan 11:35pm TB -2.5 -113 O +53.5 -110 -
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Buccaneers Team Leaders
Touchdowns 13
Rushing 978
Passing 4633
Receiving 70
Sacks 9.5
Interceptions 4
Touchdowns 21
Rushing 932
Passing 2942
Receiving 83
Sacks 13.5
Interceptions 3
Touchdowns 4
Rushing 300
Passing 1061
Receiving 18
Sacks 4
Interceptions 3
Touchdowns 2
Rushing 184
Passing 399
Receiving 9
Sacks 1
Interceptions 0
-
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Saints Team Leaders
Touchdowns 13
Rushing 978
Passing 4633
Receiving 70
Sacks 9.5
Interceptions 4
Touchdowns 21
Rushing 932
Passing 2942
Receiving 83
Sacks 13.5
Interceptions 3
Touchdowns 4
Rushing 300
Passing 1061
Receiving 18
Sacks 4
Interceptions 3
Touchdowns 2
Rushing 184
Passing 399
Receiving 9
Sacks 1
Interceptions 0
-
Weather
temp 60 condition dome -
Injuries
Cameron Brate (TE)
Prob Sun Back - 05 / 02 / 21Lavonte David (LB)
Prob Sun Hamstring - 28 / 01 / 21Mike Evans (WR)
Prob Sun Knee - 28 / 01 / 21Vita Vea (DL)
Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 01 / 21Jordan Whitehead (S)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 28 / 01 / 21Antoine Winfield Jr. (S)
Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 01 / 21Mike Evans (WR)
Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 01 / 21Chris Godwin (WR)
Prob Sun Quadricep - 20 / 01 / 21Ronald Jones II (RB)
Prob Sun Quadricep - 20 / 01 / 21Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)
Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 01 / 21Will Clapp (C)
Out indefinitely Illness - 17 / 01 / 21Jared Cook (TE)
Prob Sun Back - 13 / 01 / 21Taysom Hill (QB)
Ques Sun Knee - 13 / 01 / 21Latavius Murray (RB)
Ques Sun Quadricep - 13 / 01 / 21Patrick Robinson (CB)
Out Sun Hamstring - 13 / 01 / 21Nick Easton (C)
Out indefinitely Concussion - 06 / 01 / 21J.T. Gray (DB)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 06 / 01 / 21Trey Hendrickson (DE)
Prob Sun Neck - 06 / 01 / 21Taysom Hill (QB)
Prob Sun Concussion - 06 / 01 / 21D.J. Swearinger (DB)
Out indefinitely Illness - 02 / 01 / 21Injuries
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.
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.