- Admin
- #1
Offline
By Mike Detillier / Sports Correspondent
The New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers rivalry game in the NFC South has been an interesting matchup since Dirk Koetter became the head coach of the Buccaneers.
Koetter was the offensive coordinator under then-Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith, and when the Glazer family felt another NFL team might hire Koetter as its own head coach, they decided to fire Smith and elevate their offensive coordinator to head coach.
Koetter has gone head to head against Sean Payton five times since he was named the head coach in early 2016 and he has a 3-2 mark versus the Saints.
The Bucs defeated the Saints 16-11 in the opening game of 2016 and then lost to the Black and Gold 31-24 later in the year.
Last season the Saints thumped the Buccaneers 30-10 early in the season and then the Bucs won the regular season finale 31-24.
The Buccaneers overwhelmed the Saints defense in the 2018 season opener for a 48-40 win in a great performance by then-Buccaneers starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The wily veteran completed 21-of-28 throws for 417 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Fitzpatrick also rushed for 36 yards and a score as the Buccaneers offense got after the Saints secondary all day long.
But things have taken quite a turn since that opening season defeat to the Buccaneers.
Full Story - houmatoday.com
