Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Buccaneers aren’t officially eliminated from the playoffs, but they’re backs are against the wall. Even a win in New Orleans on Sunday doesn’t mean they will stay alive as the Bucs playoff dreams are officially out of their hands and they do no control their destiny. That being said, there is still a game on Sunday and it’s a big one against the Saints.

We sat down with Saints writer Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune and NOLA.com to find out how the recent bountygate rulings are effecting New Orleans, if Drew Brees status as a legend has been hurt by this season and if the Bucs can pull one out on the road.

Bountygate is going dominate the game day news cycle since both the Bucs and Saints are basically out of the playoff hunt. Before we dig into things, what side were you on when this all started: were you with the players or did you side with the NFL trying to protect other players. Or were you an undecided voter, so to speak? 

Katherine Terrell: As a reporter, I just try to look at all the facts, so I really didn’t take a side. I did think that the NFL overstepped their reach in the way the punishments were conducted and the whole thing was drawn out. You can point to Scott Fujita as an example. The NFL first suspended him for three games, then for one, but chided him for not telling the coaches to stop the bounty program. Then they cleared him completely. A lot of things in this whole drawn out process haven’t been handled correctly. I don’t think both sides or completely innocent or guilty in all of this though.

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What’s the feeling in New Orleans after the ruling by Paul Tagliague? Did it erode whatever little favorability there was for Roger Goodell, or was that gone well before Tagliabue came into the picture?

Terrell: People are very excited, I think a lot of fans, and the players obviously, feel vindicated right now. Honestly, I don’t think Goodell had any favorability left in New Orleans, so it didn’t make much of a difference. More than anything I think it’s a little comfort to the fans that at least something went right for them, after the way the season has gone.

To say this has been a tumultuous season for the Saints would be to understate things greatly. Has Sean Payton’s absence really had that great an effect, or has that been a crutch to lean on as to avoid saying the Saints just had an off year this season? 

Terrell: Oh it definitely had an effect. You can’t take away a team’s leader and expect things to go on as usual. You could point to some games and say “this would have happened with or without Sean Payton,” but I really think it just changed the entire season. Not only that, the position groups lost two long-time assistant coaches for some time—Vitt for several games obviously and Kromer in a way, because he had to turn his attention to head coaching duties. I think a lot of fans were still expecting Super Bowl despite all of it, and it was just too much to overcome.

Does this “lost” season do anything to harm Drew Brees status as an untouchable legend in New Orleans? Many of his critics are citing this season and Payton’s absence as proof Brees isn’t the leader in New Orleans we thought he was. Are those people looking into stats too much and overlooking how Brees may have held this team together, or are they on to something in their critique? 

Terrell: Not at all. Drew Brees will always be a popular figure in New Orleans, and a few bad games won’t change that. You’ll always find someone who wants to grumble about the contract situation and how it may have affected the season, but I really think as a whole, this season isn’t going to change Saints fans reception of Brees. I think people understand there were just too many extenuating circumstances for this season to end the way they wanted. When all is said and done, particularly if next season is successful, people won’t dwell on it too much. 

Both of the secondaries on Sunday are bad, and that’s a pleasant and politically correct way of putting it. How confident are you that this Saints defense can rattle Josh Freeman enough to keep him a step behind Drew Brees? 

Terrell: They are definitely capable of it. Last week’s score aside, this defense keeps getting better every week. Last week the penalties, turnovers and kickoff coverage put the defense on a short field much of the game, so you really have to throw that out. They forced Manning into throwing two interceptions last week. It really just comes down to how they bounce back from that performance. 

How afraid of Doug Martin are you? Last time the Saints played the Bucs, Martin had yet to breakout. Now that he has, and New Orleans is a week removed from being gashed by another rookie running back, do you think Martin plays a more fatal role this time around against the Saints defense or will New Orleans hold their own? 

Terrell: The Saints definitely won’t be overlooking Martin. He’s on the verge of one of the best seasons in Buccaneers’ history. I think he’s going to make some big plays today. It’ll be hard for him not to, just considering the Saints have only had one game where they allowed less than 100 yards rushing this season. But I think they’re willing to accept that if they can just play good red zone defense. I think he’ll play a big role.

If there’s one way the Saints can lose this game, what is it and will it happen?

Terrell: Turnovers. The Saints have been bleeding turnovers lately. If they continue to be their own worst enemy, they’re not going to win.

Alright, money is on the line. Who wins on Sunday in the Superdome? Is it a one horse race, or do we get more of a photo finish? 

Terrell: These are two desperate teams right now. You can throw conventional logic out the window. I think it’s going to be a close one similar to their last meeting, but ultimately the Saints win.

You can follow Josh Hill on Twitter and  you can also’Like’ us on our new Facebook page. 

Follow @ThePewterPlank for the latest Buccaneers news. 

Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Time: 1:00pm ET/Noon CT

Nat’l TV: N/A

Bucs TV: FOX

Away TV: FOX

Announcers: Thom Brennaman/Brian Billick

Live Stream: NFL Live Stream

Radio: WDAE 620AM (Tampa), WWL 870AM (New Orleans)

Satellite Radio: Sirius 829 (Bucs Feed), Sirius 819 (Saints feed Feed)

Weather: Dome

Line: Saints -4.0

Last Week: Buccaneers lost to Eagles 23-21, Saints lost to Giants 52-27

Last Meeting: October 21, 2012 – Buccaneers 28, Saints 35

Series History (Since 2001): Series tied 11-11

Key Bucs Storyline: Will the Bucs get revenge on the Saints and get back to .500 in the process?

Opposing View: Can the Saints bounce back from a brutal loss last week against the Giants?

Prediction: Bucs 24, Saints 31

You can follow Josh Hill on Twitter and  you can also’Like’ us on our new Facebook page. 

Follow @ThePewterPlank for the latest Buccaneers news. 

Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Yes, we all hate the Saints. But we do have to revel in Drew Brees and his epic awesomeness at doing what he does. The man Bucs fans love to hate has broken one of the most illustrious records in NFL history, and we need to pause and recognize and acknowledge that.

Heck, the Saints are 0-4 so it’s not the worst thing in the world if we pat Bree on the back to congratulate him.

It was almost bound to happen, the only question was when and to who. Drew Brees entered tonight’s game with 47 straight games in which he’s thrown a touchdown, tying a record held by legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas.

The when was on the Saints second drive and the who was Devery Hendersron.

This latest record that now belongs to Brees is just one of a slew of accomplishments he’s racked up over his illustrious and eventual Hall of Fame career. Brees has come along way since he was cut almost a decade ago by the very team he was going up against tonight. Not only is he an MVP, but he’s a Super Bowl champion and a hero to the city of New Orleans.

Lots of people forget that Brees began his career back in 2001 with the San Diego Chargers but was cut when the team traded on draft day for Phillip Rivers. It’s a story coming full circle in a way with Brees breaking one of his most impressive records against the team that could have reaped the benefits of his greatness had they given him a chance.

But instead, Brees has spent the last decade turning in the greatest era of Saints football in the franchises history. Just 12 years ago the franchise was celebrating it’s first ever playoff berth and since then they’re a staple in the postseason with Brees binging home the franchises first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XLV.

Relatives of the late, great Johnny Unitas were on hand to watch and congratulate Brees for breaking the record of the guy many consider to be the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Brees head coach Sean Payton was also granted permission and access to the game and cheer on a guy he’s watch throw every single one of his 48 touchdown passes.

“He’s every bit a part of this record.” Brees said before the game. He said the same of Assistant head coach Joey Vitt and owner Mickey Loomis who both declined to appear as a protest to the NFL.

Drew Brees has rarely been off in his career with the Saints and even with an 0-4 record, Brees has looked impressive in every game he’s played in this season. It’s only a matter of time before we consider Brees the best quarterback to ever play the game as he’s really come out of nowhere to slash the record books and splatter his name all over them. From Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and all the popular names from the past decade, Brees has been abel to accomplish most of his statistics in the last half decade, making his accomplishments even more impressive.

Going 48 straight games throwing at least one touchdown pass is amazing, and with Brees most of those games featured more than one touchdown. This may be arecord that never gets broken, but if it ever does, whenever it does, we will be speaking as highly of Brees as we are of Unitas tonight.

And that right there puts into perspective not only this record but Drew Brees career up to this point, a career that looks far from over.