The New Orleans Saints begin their 52nd NFL season by opening with a divisional foe, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this Sunday at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The Saints are coming off an 11-5 NFC South championship season a year ago, but one that ended in heartbreak with a last second loss to Minnesota in the playoffs. The Buccaneers came into 2017 as a playoff hopeful, but came crashing down to earth with a 5-11 record. The Buccaneers went 2-2 during the preseason, and struggled on the defensive side of the ball, where many predict their downfall to be in 2018, and will also be without starting quarterback Jameis Winston at the beginning of the season.
Saints vs. Buccaneers matchups: New Orleans offense vs. Tampa Bay defense
