METAIRIE, La. -- Three months have passed this season, and the New Orleans Saints have yet to face NFC South rival Tampa Bay.

That will change in a hurry, with New Orleans (5-7) visiting the Buccaneers (7-5) on Sunday, followed by Tampa Bay visiting the Saints two weeks later.

"Well, I mean, I guess you make it good," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said when asked about the unusual schedule quirk. "I guess everything stays pretty fresh from one week to the following week. I guess it makes it kind of interesting, because you play them one time and then when you play them again, since it’s only two weeks later, there’s probably some quick adjustments and then you’re on to that next game.

"But we’ll worry about this one first."

The most positive spin the Saints can put on it is that it will give them a chance to catch up in the NFC South and make up for everything that has gone wrong in the first three months.

The Saints will also travel to face the other division leader -- Atlanta -- in Week 17. So if they could somehow find the consistency that has eluded them all season, they could still flip the standings.

However, they will have to cool off one of the NFL’s hottest teams. The Buccaneers have won four straight.

"I’d say especially the last four weeks they’re probably playing about as good as any defense in football," Brees said. "Not only the turnovers they are generating (11 in four games), but just limiting teams to a low number of points and opportunities.

"They’re playing exceptionally well, really in all phases. Their front four, their linebacker core, those guys fly around and make a ton of tackles. Their secondary are all guys with very good ball skills. So they’ve just been very opportunistic and have made a lot of plays on the ball in the secondary and strip-fumbles, that kind of stuff. You turn on the tape and see a lot of that stuff."

Saints coach Sean Payton mentioned those turnovers right away, too. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Tampa Bay’s turnover margin of plus-6 is tied for the best in the NFL over the past four weeks.

"The last six or seven weeks, this team has taken away the ball at a record pace," Payton said. "It’s a combination of three or four things. They’re getting (opponents) in third-and-long situations. They’re playing really good third-down defense."

And, of course, Payton mentioned the play of second-year quarterback Jameis Winston, who continues to be a rising star in the NFL along with third-year receiver Mike Evans.

"You’re seeing him longer with his progression, his confidence, climbing in the pocket, throwing off the right foot instead of the left. He’ll climb and make a throw, check it down, he’s very patient," Payton said. "I think you’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth."