Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 13, 2013 http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20130915027&home=27&vis=18 (AP) -- Perhaps it's a coincidence that Drew Brees began his record-setting streak of games with a touchdown pass after his lone matchup against Darelle Revis. Now these superstars will meet twice a season on a yearly basis. Revis should face a stiff challenge in his home debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Brees threw for eight touchdowns and 684 yards with a 69.7 completion percentage while getting sacked once as New Orleans (1-0) swept Tampa Bay a year ago. "He's an elite quarterback, not only in this time but in the history of the league," Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano said. "This guy is special. You're not going to stop him, no one does. Can you contain him? That's more of the challenge, that's what we need to do." It's clear that Tampa Bay (0-1) upgraded its secondary in the offseason with Brees and fellow NFC South foe Matt Ryan of Atlanta in mind by adding Revis from the Jets and safety Dashon Goldson from San Francisco. Revis said he felt no complications in last Sunday's 18-17 loss to the Jets in his first action since suffering a torn knee ligament Sept. 23 in his final game for New York. "It felt good, getting back out there and doing what I love to do," Revis said. "I was just excited to be out there with my teammates, they've been anxious, I've been anxious. So it was a great feeling." The only time Revis and Brees were on the field together was the Saints' 24-10 victory over the Jets on Oct. 4, 2009. Brees completed 20 of 32 passes with no touchdowns or interceptions before starting his record streak of 54 straight regular-season games with a TD pass in his next contest. The New Orleans signal-caller realizes it won't be easy to put up gaudy numbers against Tampa Bay this week. "Obviously, Revis and his reputation - he's one of the best corners in the league, and you've got two young corners on the other side too that play very well," Brees said. "So, all in all, it's an extremely solid secondary and one that you've got to be able to prepare for." Brees started 2013 in strong fashion last Sunday by completing 26 of 35 passes for 357 yards with touchdowns to Marques Colston and tight end Jimmy Graham in a 23-17 home win over Atlanta. It marked coach Sean Payton's return to the sideline after sitting out 2012 due to the bounty scandal. The Saints went to work in practice this week on improving a running game that produced 78 yards on 29 carries. "It needs to be better," Payton said. "We were close in some areas and yet we still have to work on and clean up a number of things to improve it." The Bucs were looking for improvement in the same area after Doug Martin carried 24 times for 65 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Martin was limited to a career-low 16 yards the last time he faced the Saints in a 41-0 loss Dec. 16. Tampa Bay knows that teams will continue to stack the line of scrimmage to stop Martin if Josh Freeman turns in efforts like last week, when he was 15 of 31 for 210 yards with one score and one interception. "You have to make people pay when they're going to try to take away Doug Martin," Schiano said. "You can't always pound your head into a wall. You've got to make them pay." New Orleans allowed a league-worst 6.3 yards per carry in Week 1 after ranking last in that category last season at 5.2. The Bucs' running game also could benefit from having a healthy Carl Nicks on the offensive line, but the former Saints guard's status is unclear although he practiced Wednesday for the first time in a month. Nicks' return from toe surgery was delayed when he was diagnosed as having an MRSA infection during the preseason. Nicks was cautious about returning, but added: "I'm going to do everything in my power to play." The Saints are wary of Freeman, who totaled nine TDs and no interceptions in a five-start stretch against New Orleans before being picked off four times in the shutout loss last December. "One of the things with Josh has always been his ability to extend plays," Payton said. "It's been tough for us." Schiano and the Bucs are doing their best to move on from last week's loss in which Lavonte David's personal foul for a hit out of bounds on Geno Smith led to the Jets' game-winning field goal. Tampa Bay was flagged a total of 13 times for 102 yards - both league highs in Week 1. Goldson and Mark Barron also drew penalties for big hits. "We've got to be smart about it. The strike zone is decreasing in the National Football League, and we've got to make sure we stay within the rules," Schiano said. Lose to the Jets; beat the Saints. It'd be awesome to see, but I don't think it's gonna happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted September 13, 2013 Don't expect much from the Bucs until they show me something. Plus I believe the Saints return to contending form. 28 20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 14, 2013 40 0 Might as well not even watch. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NFL-Lady 1 Posted September 14, 2013 SAINTS win this one... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted September 14, 2013 This game has the potential to become very ugly. In our last meeting, the Saints shut us out 41-0 and that was without Payton. The Saints looked very good against the Falcons in week 1, while the Bucs are in complete disarray. I'm praying we flip the switch and start playing like we should be, but I'm not sure. There's way too much talent on this team to be losing to teams like the Jets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glanvilles Grits 142 Posted September 14, 2013 The Bucs defense can keep this close, it will come down to Josh Freeman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BucD+ 648 Posted September 14, 2013 Until proven otherwise, it'll probably be more of the same... the Bucs suckin'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bucman 891 Posted September 14, 2013 (edited) SAINTS win this one... Must be nice knowing 16 of your favorite teams are gonna win a game this week. Anyways 28 10 Edited September 14, 2013 by Bucman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted September 14, 2013 The Bucs defense can keep this close, it will come down to Josh Freeman. Not so sure about this. I don't trust our pass rush to pressure Brees. And if you give Brees all day to throw, it doesn't matter who you have in the secondary, he's gonna beat it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Milla4Prez63 678 Posted September 15, 2013 28-17 Saints. Bucs keep it close in first half, even lead for a while. But Brees gets some plays in the 2nd half and Freeman crumbles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 15, 2013 Bucs declared RB Peyton Hillis inactive for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Saints. Hillis is a healthy scratch as he's behind Brian Leonard. Carl Nicks (toe) hasn't gotten enough practice time yet and is inactive as well. The rest of the Bucs inactives: QB Dan Orlovsky, TE Michael Crabtree, DE Steven Means, DE William Gholston and CB Michael Adams. Saints declared WR Nick Toon inactive for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Bucs. Toon is a healthy scratch. DT Brodrick Bunkley (calf) is inactive, upgrading the matchup slightly for Doug Martin. The rest of the Saints inactives: RB Khiry Robinson, S Isa Abdul-Quddus, T Terron Armstead, DE Tyrunn Walker and DE Glenn Foster. Robert Meachem is active, but he'll play behind Kenny Stills. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glanvilles Grits 142 Posted September 16, 2013 Josh Freeman is playing like garbage. Best to just keep running the ball for the Bucs. Just another note, Mason Foster! Everyone was down on him all week because of the huge penalty (media wise) but man, the kid is just amazing. He's done it again and returned an interception 80+ yards for a touchdown. What a play. They said he was a running back in high school and he certainly showed it there, bowling over defenders like nothing. Awesome play. Really want to see the Saints lose this one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted September 16, 2013 Feel so bad for the D. They played their asses off. Fuck Schiano and the offense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BucsAndHorns 0 Posted September 16, 2013 Im a 15 year old bucs fan and i dont even remember out last playoff game. its bad enough that Tampa has the least attentive and loyal fans out there ( no offense guys). But this the putrid to watch. We are probably going to get Manziel with our top 15 pick in the draft and after the Vikings sign Freeman. WE FUCKING NEED A QUARTERBACK!! we have douggernaut and Jackson and a hell of a defense. but freeman cant get the job done. Fuck Rian Lindell too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted September 16, 2013 The Bucs have an extremely good defense, might be one of the best in the NFL. Their offense has to get it together though, and it's obvious that Freeman deserves a large portion of the blame for that. He made some good throws in the end to put them in position to win, but they still only put up 7 points. Not gonna win games when you only score 7 points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Milla4Prez63 678 Posted September 16, 2013 Greg Schiano and Rian Lindell are pissing me off so much right now. I'm not even pissed at Freeman for another dogshit performance. I expected it. These are two of the more brutal losses I can remember and we're sitting at 0-2 with Tom Brady next.At least the defense is looking like it may be legit. The offense did absolutely NOTHING. NADA, ZILCH, NOT A DAMN THING. Despite that we were about to beat freakin' Drew Brees and the high octane New Orleans Saints. We have problems covering guys in the middle of the field and with TEs but they're really getting the job done anyways. Our blitzes are getting home and we're getting sacks, our secondary has tight coverage now and we still are good defending the run though we won't put up the same stats as last year. I don't think the team is hopeless, but it's probably too late for this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blotsfan 2,112 Posted September 16, 2013 Damn, sucks that Lindell blew it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted September 16, 2013 The thing that pissed me off the most about yesterday was Schiano calling a run on 3rd and 6. He's done this SAME EXACT THING multiple times and it has resulted in us losing every single time. Grow some fucking balls and stop being so stubborn, Schiano, or you won't be in this league too much longer. Oh yea, and get this team disciplined like you're supposed to do. Penalties have killed us in both games. I do want to give major props to the defense though. This unit is legit. They're playing hard, forcing turnovers and are lightyears ahead of where they were last year. If the offense could do a damn thing, we would easily be 2-0 right now. The defense held Brees and the Saints offense to 16 points AND scored a TD, and we still lost. Completely inexcusable. Freeman better get his act together quickly or he's gonna be toast as a Buc as well. So annoying that we are literally 2 plays (Lindell making FG, David not touching Geno) from being 2-0 instead of 0-2, heading into Foxboro next week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 17, 2013 Nice coverage... Just need to get your head around LJ... Tsk tsk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted September 17, 2013 Schiano had Revis on Kenny Stills instead of Colston on that play... Fucking moron. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted September 17, 2013 Schiano had Revis on Kenny Stills instead of Colston on that play... Fucking moron. Lol... Mismanaging the best CB in the game is a huge fail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
