First, a confession about the omission.

Yes, the Bucs’ first-ever win came in New Orleans on Dec. 11, 1977, when they beat Archie Manning and the Saints 33-14 to snap a 26-game losing streak to begin the franchise.

But the Bucs hit so many sour notes in those days, we wanted to focus on some of the teams’ best games in the birthplace of jazz.

From the voodoo of “Fitzmagic” to putting a wrap on Drew Brees’ career and a recurring bout between Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore that suspends belief, here are the three top Bucs-Saints games in New Orleans.

Could Sunday’s game top this?

3. Saints 30, Bucs 10

Nov. 5, 2017

It’s always a battle when Bucs receiver Evans and Saints cornerback Lattimore match up on a football field.

Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowl player who thrives in man coverage. Of course, Evans already has a Pro Football Hall of Fame-worthy career with 10 straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving.

But this game was significant for another reason.

The Bucs were having a frustrating game on offense. Evans had been held to one catch for 13 yards on six targets.

Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston wasn’t even in the game when he provoked Lattimore near the Tampa Bay sideline in the second half. Evans saw the confrontation and charged at Lattimore from behind with a vicious blindside hit that drew a penalty and an ejection. He later would be fined and suspended for one game.

You would like to think that Evans learned his lesson. But he and Lattimore tangled again after the whistle in a game the Bucs won 20-10 in New Orleans in 2022, resulting in another one-game suspension for Evans.

In that game, Evans was headed to the sideline after a play when he saw Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and running back Leonard Fournette engaged in an altercation with Lattimore. Without hesitation, Evans raced back on the field and shoved Lattimore to the ground, inciting a bit of a brawl.

2. Bucs 48, Saints 40

Season opener, Sept. 9, 2018

Winston was suspended the first three games of the 2018 season after an NFL investigation concluded that the former No. 1 overall pick touched a female Uber driver “in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent” in Scottsdale, Arizona, in March 2016.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, an NFL journeyman who already had played for the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans and Jets, prepared as the starter during training camp.

He had established good chemistry with veteran receiver DeSean Jackson that offseason, and the two hooked up for a 58-yard touchdown bomb on Fitzpatrick’s second pass of the game.

Fitzpatrick finished with 417 yards passing and four touchdowns, and rushed for another score in matching the club record for points in a 48-40 victory.

Brees led a furious comeback with two TD passes, and New Orleans added a pair of two-point conversions to make it a one-score game with three minutes remaining. But Fitzpatrick scrambled for 12 yards on third and 11 just before the two-minute warning, allowing the Bucs to run out the clock.

“He played phenomenal, so I hope people had him on their fantasy teams, because he went crazy today,” Evans said after the game. “And he ran and made plays with his legs and his arm. Awesome game from him. One of the most complete games I’ve seen from a quarterback.”

The next week, Fitzpatrick passed for 402 yard and four TDs in a 27-21 upset win over the Eagles.

That’s when “Fitzmagic” showed up, wearing Jackson’s jewelry and unzipped black jacket to his postgame press conference.

1. Bucs 30, Saints 20

NFC division round, Jan. 17, 2021

The Bucs had lost twice to the Saints during the 2020 regular season: 34-23 in Brady’s first game with Tampa Bay in New Orleans and 38-3 Nov. 8 in Tampa.

But in what would be Brees’ final NFL game, the Bucs beat the first of three Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks (including the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers and Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes) that postseason.

Tampa Bay was trailing until the defense took over. Interceptions by cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and linebacker Devin White, coupled with a critical recovery by White of a fumble caused by safety Antoine Winfield Jr. led the comeback.

The Bucs were behind by a touchdown and the Saints were driving into Tampa Bay territory to make it a two-score game late in the third quarter when Winfield stripped Saints tight end Jared Cook of the football and White recovered.

The Saints had taken the lead midway through the second quarter on a trick play that involved Winston, the former Bucs QB. After a handoff and lateral, Winston threw a 56-yard TD pass to receiver Tre’Quan Smith.

Meanwhile, the Bucs held Saints receiver Michael Thomas without a catch in the game for the first time in his career.

Brady passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns. His night wasn’t over, however. After the game, he met with Brees in one end zone and threw a football to the quarterback’s sons. It was a poignant moment for the two future Pro Football Hall of Famers.

• • •

Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.