Tom Brady has been incredible for the Bucs. Under his leadership Tampa has a 25-8 record over the past two seasons. He is firmly in the MVP discussion and is on the brink of bringing the Bucs back to the playoffs for the second straight year. However the division rival New Orleans Saints have been a bit of a thorn in his side.

Brady has just a 1-3 record against the Saints as a Buc. Tampa Bay was swept during the regular season last year and dropped their game in New Orleans this season as well. Sure, they won the biggest game when it counted most, but the Bucs are looking to win the division and only the Saints stand in their way. With a victory, Tampa will capture their first division title since 2007. For that to happen, Brady will need to play better than he has in the past.

In four meetings, Brady has thrown for 1,022 yards and eight touchdowns. He also thrown seven interceptions, including two pick-sixes. Granted, several of those interceptions have not been his fault. In fact, Brady played well in the two teams’ most recent meeting. Of course, he also had an opportunity to capture victory on a game-winning drive, but a pick-six by P.J. Williams dashed Brady’s hopes. It’s a play Brady still thinks about.

Saints DE Tanoh Kpassagnon and Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

“We’re going to try to get to 11-3 against a team that’s obviously given us a lot of problems,” Brady said on Thursday. “Always a tough team to play. For as long as I can remember playing football, this is a team that is prepared. They’re tough, physical, they’ve got a lot of threats on the defensive side of the ball, a lot of veteran players. They’ve got a good rush, great linebackers. Demario Davis is one of the great linebackers in the NFL. It’s unbelievable how he plays the game.

“And in the secondary, Marshon [Lattimore] and Marcus [Williams] and Malcolm [Jenkins]. [Bradley] Roby’s a phenomenal player. [Paulson] Adebo’s a great player. They’ve got players all over the field. P.J. Williams picked me off there in the last game. That still kind of pisses me off, probably six weeks later.”

The Bucs are coming together at the right time, while also starting to get healthy. Brady and head coach Bruce Arians constantly preach how important December football is. This game is especially important. A “t-shirt-and-hat game” as Arians calls it is with the NFC South title on the line. But for the Bucs it’s more so about beating the Saints again in the regular season. Although banged up, New Orleans still boasts a very good defense. It will take everyone being on their A-game, including Brady, to win.