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Bucs' Tom Brady vs. Saints' Drew Brees is QB matchup for the ages

Buccaneers at Saints

4:25 p.m. ET | FOX

Matchup rating:
76.2 | Spread: NO -3.5 (49)

What to watch for: It's a matchup for the ages in Tom Brady against Drew Brees. This will be the first game in NFL history with two starting QBs over 40 years old, and both teams are decidedly "Super Bowl or bust" because of it. Brees has not officially declared this as his last season but acknowledged this week, "I'm on borrowed time. I've got nothing to lose, so I'm turning it loose." -- Mike Triplett

Bold prediction: Brady and Brees will combine for 600-plus passing yards and five touchdowns, as both continue to defy father time. Perhaps this is a sneak peak of the NFC Championship Game. -- Jenna Laine

 

Stat to know: Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski has caught 78 touchdown passes from Brady, the fifth-most by any quarterback-receiver combo in NFL history and just two shy of passing Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for fourth on the list.

Injuries: Buccaneers | Saints

What to know for fantasy: Brees' last two home games against the Bucs have resulted in 50.3 fantasy points, a 81.9% completion percentage, five touchdown tosses and zero interceptions. See Week 1 rankings.

Betting nugget: Brady is an underdog for the first time in his last 75 regular-season games, ending the longest active streak of being favored. Read more.

Laine's pick: Buccaneers 27, Saints 24

Triplett's pick: Saints 26, Buccaneers 23

FPI prediction: NO, 59.3% (by an average of 3.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Battle of the GOATs? Why Brady-Brees matchup is like nothing we've seen before ... Brees says he's 'on borrowed time' as Saints enter 'Super Bowl or bust' season ... Evans uncertain for opener vs. Saints ... Sources: Saints, Kamara 'extremely close' to lucrative extension ... Fournette: For 1st time, I really have a QB

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