Ever since Tom Brady signed with Tampa Bay in 2020, the Buccaneers and Saints have been involved in some intense battles. However, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t consider it a rivalry.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs revealed what Bowles told the team this week.
Bowles told his players, “It’s not a rivalry unless there’s some give-and-take.” That message should inspire the team heading into Sunday’s matchup.
“Yeah, I think throughout the whole building, [we feel] it’s our time to give them one — to give it back to them,” Wirfs said, via ProFootballTalk. “Coach [Todd] Bowles said today, ‘It’s not a rivalry unless there’s some give-and-take.’ We definitely want to come out and put our best foot forward. I think that’s what it’s been — one game could be us shooting ourselves in the foot, penalties — next game, we get the penalties under control but then give the ball to them and turn it over. It’s [about] honing everything in, having good fundamentals and technique, good attitude, good effort and going out there and playing a tough game.”
The Buccaneers were swept by the Saints last year. They also lost both meetings during the 2020 season.
Tampa Bay enters this Sunday’s game as a slight favorite.
Kickoff for the Buccaneers-Saints game is at 1 p.m. ET.