30-year old Drew Brees is returning to the Pro Bowl unless the Saints are playing in the Super Bowl.  He has played in 15 games for the Saints this season and he has completed 363 of 514 passes (70.6%) for 4,388 yards with 34 TD passes and 11 INTs (109.6 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 22 times for 33 yards (1.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Brees could even take home the MVP this season for the Saints.  26-year old guard Jahri Evans and 30-year old tackle Jonathan Stinchcomb are also both going to the Pro Bowl.  They have both starting all 15 games for the Saints this season and they both do a solid job of blocking in both the running and passing games.  27-year old linebacker Jonathan Vilma has also been selected to go to Miami.  He has played in 15 games for the Saints this season and he has 110 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, defensed 8 passes and he has 3 interceptions.  34-year old free safety Darren Sharper has been incredible this season for the Saints.  He has played in 14 games this season for the Saints and he has 71 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1/2 a sack, 15 passes defensed and 9 interceptions (376 return yards, 41.8 avg) with 3 TD returns.  The Saints hope that none of these guys get to play in the Pro Bowl because they want to be in the Super Bowl.

The Saints are bringing back 28-year old Rodney Leslie as they have signed him to a contract.  Leslie has not played in the NFL since 2006 with the Saints.  He has played in 16 games and made 17 tackles in his NFL career (all with the Saints).  This was a depth signing for the Saints and little more.

The Saints laid an egg after playing decent football for the first three quarters.  The Bucs scored 14 points in the 4th quarter to tie the game yesterday and then Connor Barth whacked a 47-yard field goal to beat the Saints in OT.  Drew Brees was very efficient yesterday completing 32 of 37 passes for 258 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Pierre Thomas rushed for 60 yards on 6 carries (10.0 ypc) with a TD run before leaving the game due to injury.  Reggie Bush only carried the ball twice for 16 yards (8.0 ypc) but he also caught 6 passes for 37 yards (6.2 avg).  Marques Colston led the way in the passing game for the Saints yesterday with 8 grabs for 77 yards (9.6 avg).  Robert Meachem pitched in with 5 grabs for 66 yards (13.2 avg) with a TD grab.  The Saints finished up with 373 total yards on offense (124 rushing, 249 passing).

CB Malcolm Jenkins (10 tackles) and LB Johnthan Casillas (10 tackles, QB hit) led the way for the Saints on D yesterday.  Safety Darren Sharper also had a solid game with 7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  CB Tracy Porter pitched in with 6 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  The Buccaneers finished up with 439 total yards on offense (176 rushing, 263 passing) in this game.  But, as bad as the defense played the special teams really killed the Saints yesterday.  The Bucs’ Michael Spurlock scored on a 77-yard punt return for a TD with only 2:25 left in the football game.  Then Drew Brees took the team right down the field and Garrett Hartley missed a chip shot field goal sending the game into O.T. where the Saints lost the game.  The Saints are now 13-2 on the year.

26-year old WR Marques Colston just needed to get back healthy to get his role back as the #1 WR on the Saints and he is having a great year.  Colston has played in 14 games for the Saints this season and he has 61 catches for 994 yards (16.3 avg) with 9 TD grabs this year.  Colston is the complete package as he blends size, speed and an outstanding set of hands and that is why he is Drew Brees’ favorite target in the passing game.

27-year old linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been a tackling machine for the Saints this season.  He has played in 14 games for the Saints this season and he has 104 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defensed, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions.  Vilma has done a great job for the Saints and he will be the player the Saints continue to build their defense around.

The Saints beat the Buccaneers 38-7 in Tampa earlier this season and there is no reason to think the Bucs can put up a fight in this game.  The Saints want to run a balanced attack this week against a Bucs’ D that allows 158.9 yards rushing per game an 203.9 yards passing per contest.  They should be able to achieve that goal by splitting up carries between Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell.  The Bucs’ secondary is pretty weak so look for Drew Brees to get the ball to Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem down the field.

Defensively the Bucs are a sight for sore eyes for a Saints’ D that has struggled lately.  The Bucs probably want to run the ball with Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams but that doesn’t scare the Saints too much.  The Saints will likely double cover Antonio Bryant and keep close tabs on Kellen Winslow in the passing game.  Look for the secondary to follow Josh Freeman’s eyes as they almost always show where he is going with the football.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 38, BUCCANEERS 0

The Saints are putting their faith in 23-year old kicker Garrett Hartley after the release of John Carney.  Hartley has played in 3 games for the Saints this season and he has connected on 7 of 8 field goals (87.5%) and 7 of 8 extra points this season good for 28 points.  He has now played in 11 games in parts of two years for the Saints and he has made 20 of 21 field goals (95.2%) and 35 of 36 extra points good for 95 points.  Hartley is a good kicker so he will likely reward the Saints’ faith in him the rest of the year.

The Saints have released 45-year old kicker John Carney.  Carney played in 11 games for the Saints this season and he made 13 of 17 field goals (76.5%) and 50 of 52 extra points good for 89 points.  If  this is the end of Carney’s career he has had quite a good one.  He has played in 298 games in his NFL career and he has connected on 473 of 574 field goals (82.4%) and 625 of 635 extra points good for 2,044 career points. 

The Saints fell behind 24-3 in the first three quarters before they started to show life in the 4th quarter but it was too little too late to keep their perfect season alive.  Drew Brees completed 29 of 45 passes for 298 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  But, he also lost two fumbles which really hurt the Saints last night.  Reggie Bush led the Saints in rushing despite only getting 1 carry (29 yards).  He also caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg).  Pierre Thomas didn’t have his usual workload  either as he carried the ball 6 times for 20 yards (3.3 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 50 yards (10.0 avg).  Mike Bell pitched in with 8 yards rushing on 4 carries (2.0 ypc) with a TD run.  Marques Colston led the way in the passing game for the Saints last night with 5 grabs for 86 yards (17.2 avg).  TE David Thomas stepped up to grab 8 passes for 77 yards (9.6 avg) with Jeremy Shockey out due to injury.  The Saints finished up with 336 total  yards (65 rushing, 271 passing) on offense in this game as they only had possession of the ball for 23:34.

Jonathan Vilma led a poor effort by the Saints’ D with 14 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 pass defensed, 1 sack and 2 QB hits.  Fellow linebacker Scott Fujita pitched in with 10 tackles and 1 QB hit and safety Darren Sharper pitched in with 10 tackles.  The Cowboys finished up with 439 total yards on offense (145 rushing, 294 passing) in this game.  The Saints are now 13-1 on the season.

The Cowboys are a desperate team and they are the Saints’ biggest threat to a 16-0 regular season.  With OLB DeMarus Ware either out or gimpy with a neck injury that means that Drew Brees should have time to throw the ball against a Cowboys’ D that is allowing 229.2 yards passing per game.  Look for Brees to spread the ball around to Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush to keep the troops happy tomorrow.  The Saints will also run the ball ass they are averaging 138.6 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  Pierre Thomas could have a big game tomorrow for the Saints.

The Saints must get a good pass rush against the Cowboys tomorrow or they could be in some trouble.  Tony Romo is a great QB if he has time to throw the ball and Jason Witten, Roy Williams and Miles Austin could all have huge games if he gets the time he needs.  The Saints will also have to worry about Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice as the Cowboys have a great running game. 

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 33, COWBOYS 30