Saints deal blow to Bucs’ playoff hopes

The Saints (5-8) converted 12 third downs, including two key conversions on their final drive to eat up clock with the lead. The Saints are also 3-1 against the spread inside the division this year.

Having already matched their win total from the past two seasons, Tampa Bay appears to be trending up and marching for a playoff berth this season. Quarterback Jameis Winston finished the game 18 for 27 passing with 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception. On the ground, Doug Martin rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown in 25 attempts while Charles Sims added 56 yards in seven carries.

Two NFC South teams face off against one another on Sunday in Week 14 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New Orleans Saints. The offense, after struggling much of the first half, began to find its rhythm in the second half, with Brees leading the offense on three scoring drives. They have four games left and a win against the Buccaneers would keep them alive in the postseason race.

The Saints, predictably, came out completely flat, and looked as if they were totally unprepared – as if they EXPECTED to win simply just by showing up.

And while New Orleans’ injury-depleted defense ranks at the bottom of the league statistically and is on pace to set a record for TD passes allowed in a season, the Brees-led offense is averaging over 300 yards per game through the air.

ABOUT THE SAINTS (4-8): Running back Mark Ingram was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending shoulder injury and questions abound over wideout Brandin Cooks, who is missed Thursday’s practice with a concussion.

On another bright note, the defense started hot with three straight three and outs, then stifled Winston and the Bucs enough for Brees’ passing onslaught (31-41, 312 yards, 2 TD’s) to put the game away.

A first-round pick (No. 9 overall) out of Oklahoma State’s Les Miles era, Williams played his first eleven seasons for the Minnesota Vikings from 2003-2013, missing just five games and becoming a staple on one of the better defensive lines in the game at the time.