New Orleans @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 16, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 0, New Orleans 41

Sean Payton is back on the sidelines and the New Orleans Saints are already well ahead of last season’s pace in the win column. The visiting Saints look to open up a gap on the rest of the NFC South when they face a second straight division foe in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. New Orleans dropped its first four games in 2012 with Payton serving a yearlong suspension but quickly announced its candidacy to contend in 2013 by dropping the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.

Foolish penalties doomed the Buccaneers in a Week 1 loss to the New York Jets and could be even more costly against a Saints offense that can strike quickly. New Orleans brought in new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in the offseason and the early returns were strong, as the unit held a strong Atlanta offense in check for most of the afternoon. Ryan’s exotic blitz packages will take aim at Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman, who had a rough opening week.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Saints -3. O/U: 47.5

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (0-1): Tampa Bay was called for five penalties that led to first downs against the Jets, including a personal foul call on linebacker Lavonte David that set up the winning field goal with two seconds left. Freeman completed less than 50 percent of his passes (15-for-31), threw an interception and fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety in the contest. He has a bad history against the Saints, throwing four interceptions in a 41-0 loss to New Orleans on Dec. 16, 2012, just as the Saints were close to wrapping up one of the worst defensive seasons in league history.

ABOUT THE SAINTS (1-0): Ryan and the defense were able to take Roddy White mostly out of the game and limit fellow wideout Julio Jones in the 23-17 triumph over Atlanta. Rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro had a strong debut and is one of two newcomers along with former Steeler Keenan Lewis giving the secondary a new look. The biggest test for that secondary this week will be against wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who is the best playmaker on Bucs' offense. Drew Brees passed for 357 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Week 1 and torched Tampa Bay for 307 yards and four scores in that Dec. 16 meeting last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Bucs G and former Saint Carl Nicks (staph infection) is doing light work in practice but is unlikely to play Sunday.

2. Tampa Bay signed FB Spencer Larsen and released DT Chris Jones on Tuesday.

3. New Orleans starting DT Brodrick Bunkley (calf) is expected to miss the game.

PREDICTION: Saints 35, Buccaneers 17