Buccaneers vs. Saints: Franchise connections The Saints are set to play their NFC South rivals http://www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.c … -authentic , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for the 53rd time on Sunday. The Saints currently have the bragging rights, as they lead the series 32-20. As always, coaches and players will see familiar faces on the opposing sideline, and today we take a look at some of the notable ones.PlayersLB Alex Anzalone, Bucs LS Drew Ferris and CB Vernon Hargreaves played at Florida together in 2014. Buccaneers QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Saints LB Demario Davis played together with the New York Jets in 2015, Davis then spent the 2017 season with Tampa Bay K Chandler Catanzaro. Tampa Bay CB De`Vante Harris spent his first two NFL seasons with New Orleans from 2016-17 and his father Rod, played for the Saints in 1989.TE Josh Hill and OL Evan Smith were college teammates at Idaho State in 2009. Saints T Ryan Ramcyzk played with Bucs LB Jack Cichy in 2016 at Wisconsin.DE Cameron Jordan was at California in 2010 with Bucs P Bryan Anger and S Chris Conte, while Jordan, Conte and DeSean Jackson played together in 2007. New Orleans S Vonn Bell, CB Marshon Lattimore Youth Ryan Ramczyk Jersey , WR Michael Thomas and Tampa Bay DE Noah Spence were college teammates at Ohio State.Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate had a 2015 stint on the Saints practice squad. CoachingSaints Head Coach Sean Payton and Tampa Bay Offensive Line Coach George Warhop served on the same staff with Dallas from 2003-04. Saints Linebackers Coach Mike Nolan and Tampa Bay Head Coach Dirk Koetter were both coordinators for Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator Mike Smith when he was Falcons head coach during a period spanning from 2012-14 when Nolan first arrived in Atlanta as defensive coordinator, also serving on the same Atlanta staff with Tampa Bay Assistant Wide Receivers/ Game Management Andrew Weidinger. Tampa Bay Def. Backs Coach Brett Maxie played safety for New Orleans from 1985-93 and also served on the same coaching staff with Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen in Atlanta from 2004-05. Saints Director of Player Engagement Fred McAfee played for Tampa Bay in 1999, where he was a teammate of Buccaneers Dir. of Football Operations Shelton Quarles. No miraculous play was needed for New Orleans to win this game in Minnesota, no where-were-you moment that instantly went viral.Drew Brees and the Saints simply scored some revenge for their last-second loss in the playoffs last season by taking advantage of two key turnovers, including a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by P.J. Williams, in a 30-20 victory over the Vikings on Sunday night."This one had a little extra special meaning," Brees said, flashing a slight smile after he went 18 for 23 to maintain his league-leading 77.4 completion percentage.Alvin Kamara scored twice, Wil Lutz made three field goals and Sheldon Rankins had two of the four sacks by the Saints (6-1), who needed only 120 passing yards by Brees to beat the Vikings (4-3-1) this time with far less tension down the final stretch and stay undefeated in four road games this year."It's everything we wanted it to be," Rankins said.Stefon Diggs had 119 receiving yards and a score in his curtain call after the "Minneapolis Miracle" catch in the NFC divisional round here in January http://www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.c … -authentic , but he stopped his drag route in a miscommunication with quarterback Kirk Cousins right before Williams picked the ball off for the pivotal third-quarter touchdown.Adam Thielen had another record-setting performance for the Vikings with 103 yards and a score, but he lost a fumble that was returned 54 yards by Marshon Lattimore to set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Saints."We're a really good football team, but you can't make mistakes in this league and win, especially on critical situations when you have the ball in the red zone," Thielen said. "Obviously I'm going to think about that one for a while, and I'm definitely disappointed in myself."The Vikings had the edge on both sides of the ball during the first half. Harrison Smith handed Brees his first interception of the season after 231 attempts without one, putting the Vikings in position to stretch a 13-10 lead.Late in the second quarter, Thielen drove forward for extra yards after a short completion and had the ball pried loose by Williams and Alex Anzalone at the 14. Lattimore scooped it up and raced the other way, before Laquon Treadwell took him down. Treadwell then slammed his helmet on the turf in frustration, drawing a devastating 15-yard penalty to give the Saints the ball at the 18 with 57 seconds remaining before halftime. Kamara soared into the end zone two plays later."I was giving up a few plays," Williams said http://www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.c … -authentic , "but a turnover always turns the game around."The Vikings started the second half with the ball and went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 45. With an empty backfield, Cousins had Treadwell open over the middle, but Lattimore broke up the pass to change possession and set up Lutz's second field goal."I told the team I was going to be aggressive," coach Mike Zimmer said. "Every fourth down that was close, we were going to go for it."SIZZLING STARTThe first evening kickoff of the season at U.S. Bank Stadium created an extra-energetic atmosphere, and the pregame hype video montage with replays of the last-snap catch and run by Diggs for the winning touchdown in the playoffs against the Saints only enhanced it.Defensive end Everson Griffen, returning from a five-game absence for mental health treatment, led the sprint out of the replica Vikings ship for introductions. Diggs was saved for last. Then the action came fast and furious.Kamara capped the opening touchdown drive by catching a forward flip on a jet sweep play with both backup quarterbacks, Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill, lined up as wide receivers. Hill had taken a turn at quarterback earlier and threw a 44-yard pass to Michael Thomas, his second highlight-reel reception during that drive.Thielen climbed over the neck of Williams for a tricky third-down catch on the ensuing possession for the Vikings Youth Michael Thomas Jersey , who kept on attacking the third-year nickel cornerback. Diggs beat him with a back-shoulder grab at the goal line and again four plays later on a toe-tap touchdown at the edge of the end zone on fourth down.Williams had a pass interference penalty on the next drive for the Vikings. That set up a short scoring run by Latavius Murray, who tossed the ball back to Cousins earlier on that possession for a 28-yard flea-flicker throw to Thielen.THIELEN ITThielen tied Calvin Johnson's all-time NFL record of eight straight 100-yard receiving games, set in 2012 with Detroit. He also matched Patrick Jeffers with a fifth consecutive game with 100-plus yards and at least one touchdown, a mark set in 1999 for Carolina.INJURY REPORTSaints: CB Eli Apple, acquired in a trade with the New York Giants, made his debut in place of Ken Crawley, who was inactive but not on the injury report.Vikings: CB Xavier Rhodes (foot) was one of six starters held out with injuries. ... Backup RB Roc Thomas left with a hamstring injury.UP NEXTSaints: Return home to host the Los Angeles Rams (8-0) next Sunday.Vikings: Stay home to face the Detroit Lions (3-4) next Sunday. www.nflshopoutlet.com/cincinnati-bengals