(5) Buccaneers at (2) Saints

Sunday, 6:40 p.m. ET | FOX

Matchup rating: 97.0 | Spread: NO -3 (52)

What to watch for: You may have heard this game will feature a pair of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks named Tom Brady and Drew Brees. It's their first-ever playoff meeting, and it might be their last since Brees is contemplating retirement after the season. Brady is trying to reach a conference championship game for a staggering 14th time, while Brees is seeking his fourth. They're both flanked by top-six defenses, too. And while New Orleans dominated the regular-season series (winning 34-23 and 38-3), the Bucs have been one of the hottest teams in football during a current five-game win streak. -- Mike Triplett

Bold prediction: Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown will score two touchdowns. He has been a difference-maker on offense, lining up all over the field and really picking it up since the Bucs last faced the Saints -- when Brown still had just three practices with the team under his belt. Brown has scored in four straight games, including last week's win. -- Jenna Laine

Stat to know: New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore has lined up across from Bucs receiver Mike Evans on 72 routes over their last three games against each other, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Evans had zero receptions on six targets on those plays. But Tampa Bay has options even if Evans is again bottled up. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has 12 receiving TDs in the playoffs, tied with John Stallworth for the second most all-time (Jerry Rice, 22). And receivers Brown and Chris Godwin each have five receiving TD catches since Week 14 (including playoffs), tied for the most in the NFL over that span with Stefon Diggs and Davante Adams.

Injuries: Buccaneers | Saints

Bowen's matchup key: Pressure is a big part of the Tampa Bay defense's identity. I think we will see sim pressures from Tampa, working to speed up the process for Brees. Todd Bowles' defense had a blitz rate of 37.5% in the Week 9 head-to-head matchup with the Saints. Read more.

Betting nugget: Think the Saints cover? If so, it's worth noting that unders are 7-1 in the last eight New Orleans covers. Read more.

Laine's pick: Saints 27, Buccaneers 24

Triplett's pick: Saints 26, Buccaneers 23

FPI prediction: NO, 53.6% (by an average of 1.2 points)

Matchup must-reads: Brady's Bucs an improved team since last facing the Saints ... Latest round in Brees-Brady rivalry could be the most consequential ... Brady's Tampa timeline: Events that defined his first year as a Buc ... A beautiful mind: How Saints' Kamara stays 'two moves ahead'