Tampa Bay (9-4) at New England (8-5)

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• EA Sports Preview: Bucs vs. Patriots

SCOUTING REPORT

Simms must meet sizable challenge Week 15 kicks off with this special Saturday presentation of the Buccaneers visiting the Patriots. Jon Gruden's warm-weathered team will bundle up and head north to take on the two-time defending champs in an inter-conference matchup that has huge playoff implications for both teams. Bill Belichick's squad can clinch its third consecutive AFC East title with one more win or one more Dolphins loss. There is much less wiggle room for the Bucs, who are currently tied atop the ultra-competitive NFC South. Tampa Bay WRs Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard and Michael Clayton will challenge the Patriots' injury-riddled secondary, while DE Simeon Rice and DT Anthony McFarland will do the same versus the Pats' patchwork offensive line. But if the Bucs are to pull off the road upset inside frozen Gillette Stadium, QB Chris Simms may need to outplay QB Tom Brady -- a daunting task to say the least.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
TAM	11-5	300	274	6-2	5-3	5-1	9-3
NWE	10-6	379	338	5-3	5-3	5-1	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Tampa Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Johnso... 50.4 685 4 8 Leftwi... 54.2 594 4 3

New England Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Brady 66.4 3049 20 6 Hoyer 81.8 52 0 0

Tampa Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 117 450 3.8 3 Ward 66 243 3.7 1

New England Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Marone... 116 455 3.9 6 Taylor 45 201 4.5 2

Tampa Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Winslo... 47 483 10.3 5 Bryant 19 269 14.2 2

New England Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Moss 63 925 14.7 8 Welker 79 854 10.8 4

Full Player Stats: Tampa Bay | New England

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	TAM	295.0
	NWE	352.0
Yards Passing	TAM	180.6
	NWE	257.5
Yards Rushing	TAM	114.1
	NWE	94.5
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	TAM	277.8
	NWE	330.2
Pass Yds Allowed	TAM	183.1
	NWE	231.4
Rush Yds Allowed	TAM	94.7
	NWE	98.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)

New England leads 1-0

Tampa Bay (9-4) at New England (8-5) Saturday 1:30 pm EST

FOXBORO, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Bill Belichick has won three of the last four Super Bowls. Jon Gruden won the other in that span.

The coaches face each other on Saturday when the New England Patriots host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an interconference battle of first-place teams.

The two-time defending champion Patriots can clinch their third straight AFC East title and fourth in five years under Belichick with a win on Saturday or a loss by the Miami Dolphins, who host the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Buccaneers, who won the first Super Bowl title in franchise history in 2002 under Gruden, share first place in the NFC South with Carolina, but hold the tiebreaker advantage due to a better division record.

The Patriots are riding the arm of Tom Brady and the legs of Corey Dillon and Deion Branch. The Bucs are relying on quarterback Chris Simms, rookie running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and veteran Joey Galloway.

Brady threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score in a 35-7 win at Buffalo last week. He has four 300-yard games this season.

However, Brady, who has a 65-19 record as a starter, including playoffs, has never faced the Buccaneers, who have allowed just 209 points in 13 games. Only Chicago and Indianapolis have yielded fewer points.

Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber is stating quite a case for the Pro Bowl with four interceptions in his last two games. He is the only cornerback in NFL history to record more than 20 career interceptions and 20 sacks.

On Saturday, Barber will match up against Branch, the Super Bowl XXXIX Most Valuable Player who leads the Patriots with 70 catches for 883 yards.

Look for Brady to work the middle of the field with his tight ends Daniel Graham, Ben Watson and Christian Fauria against safeties Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen.

Dillon, who has been bothered by injuries this season, rushed for 102 yards on 22 carries in the win at Buffalo.

But the Buccaneers stuffed Carolina's running game last week, holding DeShaun Foster to 46 yards on 14 carries in a 20-10 win.

Meanwhile, Williams rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns for Tampa Bay, raising his season total to 924 yards.

The Bucs have won four of their last five games with Simms as the starter. Simms' favorite target has been Galloway, who has 67 catches for 1,114 yards this season.

On Saturday, Galloway will match up against rookie Ellis Hobbs, unless Belichick elects to shadow Galloway with Asante Samuel. However, Hobbs has three interceptions in five career starts.

The Patriots intercepted J.P. Losman three times last week, including one that was returned 39 yards for a touchdown by rookie safety James Sanders.

Matchup to watch: Buccaneers right end Simeon Rice, who has nine sacks, faces rookie left tackle Nick Kazcur.

Series: The Patriots lead, 3-2, but the Buccaneers won the last meeting, 21-16, here in September 2000.

Next week: Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta, December 24 New England visits NY Jets, December 26

Vikings-Cards Dec. 6 game flexed to nighttime

The NFL has moved the Minnesota at Arizona game to the night slot on Dec. 6 under its flexible scheduling policy.

Patriots Mailbag: Early thoughts on Pats-Saints

This week's Pats mailbag takes and early look at Monday's huge Pats-Saints game.

Sources: Bucs demote Bates, give Morris D

Continuing a tumultous year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed defensive coordinators Monday night, demoting Jim Bates and handing over their defense to head coach Raheem Morris, according to sources close to the situation.

Patriots have one last chance for signature win

Monday's meeting with Saints gives Patriots last shot at signature win.

Bucs' Zuttah apparently ahead of Sears at left guard

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are undergoing a changing of their left guard, and it definitely appears as though the key figure in that change is second-year pro Jeremy Zuttah.

Jackson needs swagger

If Amarri Jackson wants to make sure he gets to training camp and through the preseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receiver Antonio Bryant has some veteran advice for the Sarasota native.

Receiver Kelly Campbell savors his chance to make Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Each time Bucs receiver Kelly Campbell reads a headline about an NFL player who has been arrested or otherwise gotten into trouble, he can't help but immediately think about the potential consequences.

Dungy is moving forward

It had been a busy Thursday morning but now Tony Dungy was heading back across the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Tampa after a couple of meetings in a campaign to increase parental involvement in Florida public schools.

Mangurian looking for discipline on Bucs' OL

Two months before the start of training camp, Tampa Bay's new offensive line coach has a chilling message for his minions: If you're not planning on being smart and disciplined, don't bother showing up.

Rodney Harrison set to tackle NBC gig

Rodney Harrison [ stats ] is ready to begin the next phase of his life. One of the most storied players in Patriots [ team stats ] history, Harrison will be introduced as the newest member of NBC's broadcast team during a conference call tomorrow, according to a source with knowledge of Harrison's plans.

Jim Donaldson: It's okay to to be optimistic about the 2009 Pats' offense, but let's be realistic

They are more than merely workouts, these sessions in which the Patriots are participating on the grass field in the southern shadow of Gillette Stadium.

Vince Wilfork a no-show again

Patriots [ team stats ] nose tackle Vince Wilfork [ stats ] is scheduled to appear at an event in support of his diabetes charity tomorrow.

Patriots.com News Blitz

Maroney talks about being healthy and Crable and Springs reflect on being back in action.

Patriots re-sign punter Tom Malone

The Patriots announced that they have re-signed punter Tom Malone today. Malone joins veteran Chris Hanson on the roster at the punter spot.