The spectacle that is this year’s Bucs-Saints opener just had another wrinkle added to it as the Saints have announced that they will not have fans present in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for their first game of this season due to the number of COVID-19 illnesses in the area.

As the NFL navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic, each franchise has to come up with a decision on whether to allow fans. While teams such as the Falcons and Ravens have made plans to let in a limited number of people and the Bucs hope for a 25 percent capacity after modifications to Raymond James Stadium, teams like the Jets, Giants and Raiders are playing without any in attendance. You can now add the Saints to that list for one game.

This opening game for the Bucs and Saints has been viewed as a marquee matchup in Week 1 considering they are the two favorites in the NFC South, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski make their Bucs debut and it’s Tom Brady against Drew Brees.

When it was first announced that there would be no preseason games in this training camp, many gave an edge to the Saints since their entire offense was remaining intact and have chemistry together. The Bucs on the other hand would have a lot less time for Brady and his offensive teammates to get on the same page. But with no fans in attendance, it does even the playing field ever so slightly.

Click the link to check out the latest NFL player prop bets, including one on Gronkowski, Tampa Bay’s newest tight end.