NFC South rivals square off when the New Orleans Saints visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football to wind up Week 13. The 4-8 Saints need a win to maintain any chance for a division title, while the 5-6 Buccaneers could strengthen their hold on first place.Entering the year, it was thought that New Orleans would have one of the NFL's best defenses. Instead, the team has been plagued by poor tackling, injuries, and inconsistent performance.The Saints have given up an average of 326.4 yards per game to rank 12th in the league. Their run defense has plummeted after ranking at the top of the NFL for four seasons. Pa s defense has been better, but Vince Coleman Jersey still prone to crucial letdowns.They'll face a Tampa Bay team led by future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady that's had its own struggles on the offensive side. The Buccaneers rank 18th in total yardage, averaging 339 per game, but are at the bottom of the league in rushing production and points scored.New Orleans has dominated Brady since he joined Tampa Bay in 2020. Here's how they match up against his pa sing attack coming into this critical showdown.- 23.3 points per game (20th)- 197.3 pa sing yards/game (7th)- 62.2% completion percentage- 14 touchdowns (9th)- 2 interceptions (32nd)- 33 sacks/62 QB hits- 38.8% 3rd Down Percentage (12th)After a slow start, New Orleans has allowed only one 200-yard pa ser in their last six contests and have the league's most sacks since Week 3. However, the Saints have just one interception in their last eight games, rank dead last with just two total picks, and are 31st in turnovers forced.Saints coverage has not allowed a receiver to gain 70 yards or more in the last five games after some mid-season breakdowns. This even with elite CB Marshon Lattimore mi sing the last seven outings with serious abdomen injuries.Lattimore has returned to practice on a limited basis but is at best a game-time decision for Monday. The secondary may also be without CB Bradley Roby, who is in concu sion protocol.Without their two veterans, second-year CB Paulson Adebo and rookie second-round Brett Cecil Jersey pick Alontae Taylor have taken starting reps. Adebo is a physical player with fluid coverage who's working through a bit of a sophomore slump. He's allowed 72% completion rate when targeted this year, but has broken up six pa ses and played much better in recent weeks.Taylor has been one of the teams most pleasant surprises in 2022. He's tied with Adebo for the team-high in pa ses broken up and has yet to give up a touchdown pa s. Despite being targeted heavily, Taylor has surrendered just 48.7% completion percentage.The absences of Lattimore and Roby have allowed opponents to throw at the Saints with great succe s when they go to multiple defensive backs. Veterans Chris Harris Jr., Justin Evans, and Tyrann Mathieu have all been liabilities in slot coverage.Mathieu, who has the Saints only two interceptions, and Marcus Maye have been colo sal disappointments at safety. Maye has been in and out of the lineup with injuries and has made little impact. Mathieu has routinely been out of position in coverage support and tackle attempts all season to allow several big plays.Eleventh-year LB Demario Davis is having another strong year. Davis remains outstanding in coverage, able to lock onto backs or tight ends all over the field. He's also a devastating blitzer, adding in 10 pre sures and leading the defense with a career-high 6.5 sacks.Second-year LB Pete Werner will likely mi s his fourth straight game of a terrific season with an ankle injury. Without him, Kaden Elli s has stepped up and played spectacular football. Elli s doesn't have the Adam Wainwright Jersey open field skills of Davis or even Werner, but has improved his coverage skills. His strength is as a downhill defender, so the Saints will use him to disrupt opposing backfields. Elli s has a career-high 4.5 sacks and 6 QB hits this season, with 3.5 of those coming in the last four games.New Orleans has used their linebackers to bring additional inside pre sure on quarterbacks this season because of the inconsistencies of their defensive tackles. The unit has played much better lately, but looks in major need of an offseason upgrade.David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, Kentavius Street, and Malcolm Roach have a combined 7.5 sacks, 17 QB hits, and 8 tackles for lo s. Most of that has come in the last month, a disruption that must continue against Brady and the Buccaneers.Twelve-year DE Cameron Jordan leads a deep and ferocious rotation of edge rushers. Jordan has 5.5 sacks and a team-best 12 pre sures this season. He's complemented by the 26-year-old Davenport, who has just a half sack but 11 pre sures and six QB hits.Standout depth is provided by Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpa sagnon, though Payton Turner will mi s his fifth straight with an ankle injury. Granderson and Kpa sagnon have combined for 4 sacks and 13 pre sures. Backup LB Zack Baun also played well against the 49ers last week against the run and as a pa s rusher with Turner and Werner out of the lineup.- 18.2 points per game (27th)Scroll Junior Fernandez Jersey to Continue- 266 pa sing yards/game (5th)- 14 touchdowns (18th)- 3 interceptions (1st)- 17 sacks- 38% 3rd Down Percentage (23rd)Because of their abysmal running attack, the 45-year-old Brady has the most pa sing attempts in the NFL this season. He's remained efficient, completing over 66% of his throws with six outings of at least 270 yards and only two interceptions.While Brady has declined a little, his offensive line and receivers have betrayed him. Injuries and personnel lo ses caused the team to replace all three interior offensive line positions this offseason. Center Robert Hainsey has been a pleasant surprise, but guards Shaq Mason and Nick Leverett have been Giovanny Gallegos Jersey erratic and rookie G Luke Goedeke has struggled.Veteran LT Donovan Smith has had a rocky year as a run blocker and pa s protector. All-Pro RT Tristan Wirfs went down last week with an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined several games. He'll be replaced by journeyman Josh Wells on an offensive line that's allowed Brady to be sacked multiple times in five games and under constant dure s this season.Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are a pair of perennial 1,000-yard wideouts who have dealt with nagging injuries all year. Godwin leads the Bucs with 60 catches. However, he's averaged le s than ten yards per catch for 585 yards and has just two scores and two outings of over 90 yards.Evans has 51 receptions for a team-high 702 yards with 3 touchdowns and three games of over 90 yards. Both are physical route runners with enough speed to beat defenses over the top.Former Falcons WR Ru sell Gage has 29 catches for 231 yards, but has mi sed the last four games with a hamstring injury. Venerable WR Julio Jones mi sed significant time early in the year but has come on recently. He had 14 receptions and 218 yards in six games of action. Deep threat Scotty Miller, a Brady favorite, has pulled in 21 pa ses f