New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 - Mercedes-Benz Superdome - Saints Postgame Notes

• With the loss, the Saints start the regular season 0-1. The last time the Saints won a home opener was on Sept. 8, 2013 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints return to action on Sunday, Sept. 16 when they play the Cleveland Browns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kickoff is set for noon CST. The game will be aired on Fox (WVUE-FOX 8 in the New Orleans area).
• Sunday's score marks the most points scored on opening weekend in NFL history with a total of 88 points, the previous record was 87, when the Eagles defeated the Redskins 45-42 on September 28, 1947.
• The Saints loss moves New Orleans' all-time record against the Buccaneers to 32-21.
• The Saints currently have a streak of 257 regular season games without having been shut out, dating to a 26-20 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 6, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium, the longest running streak in the National Football League.
• Tampa Bay out gained New Orleans 529-475.
• Tackle Terron Armstead, quarterback Drew Brees, linebacker Demario Davis, defensive end Cameron Jordan, linebacker Craig Robertson and center Max Unger served as team captains, voted upon by their teammates.
• Eight players made their Saints playing debuts and three rookies made their NFL debuts.
• Quarterback Drew Brees completed 37 of 45 passes for 439 yards, three touchdowns and a 129.5 passer rating. Brees' 28-yard touchdown to Ted Ginn Jr. gives him the most touchdown passes in season-opening games in NFL history with 35, surpassing Peyton Manning (34). Brees played in his 250th career game. The only other quarterbacks in NFL history to play in 250 career games are George Blanda (340), Brett Favre (302), Peyton Manning (266), Earl Morrall (255) and Tom Brady (253). He became the 17th player to appear in 250 career regular season games. Sunday marks Brees' 249th career start. Only Favre (298), Manning (265) and Brady (251) have started more games.
• It was Brees' 100th regular season contest with at least a 100.0 passer rating since 2006, the most in the NFL during that time frame.
• The passing yardage total was Brees' NFL-record 16th career 400-yard passing game, his league-best 58th 350-yard passing game and his NFL-best 110th 300-yard passing game.
• Running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 29 yards on eight carries, with two rushing touchdowns, successful run for a two-point conversion and through the air added nine catches for a career-high 112 yards and one touchdown. It was his first career-three touchdown game.
• Wide receiver Michael Thomas finished with franchise-record 16 catches for a team-high 180 receiving yards, marking his fourth 100-yard game of his career and his single-game career high in receiving yards. Thomas also reeled in a six-yard touchdown catch. Thomas now has 2,562 career receiving yards, becoming the 16th Saint with 2,500 receiving yards. Thomas also broke the Saints single game receptions record previously held by Tony Galbreath (14 vs. Green Bay on Sept. 10, 1978). The 180-yard receiving total is tied for fourth in club record books.
• As Kamara and Thomas each had 100-yards receiving, it was the 18th dual 100-yards receiving game in franchise history.
• Ginn's 28-yard touchdown marked his 30th career touchdown catch. Ginn finished with five receptions for 68 yards and a two-point conversion reception.
• Tight end Benjamin Watson recorded four catches for 44 yards, surpassing Steve Jordan, the father of Cameron Jordan, moving into a tie with Ben Coates and Todd Heap for 14th all-time in career receptions for a tight end (499).
• Guard Josh LeRibeus started at left guard, making his first start as a Saint.
• Linebacker Demario Davis made his debut as a Saint. Davis led the Saints defense with eight total tackles (five solo).
• Defensive end Cameron Jordan played in his 113th consecutive game and overall, the second longest games played streak for defensive ends behind Carolina's Julius Peppers. Jordan finished with six tackles and one pass defensed.
• Safety Kurt Coleman made his debut as a Saint, recording three tackles, to reach 500 career stops for his career.
• Kicker Wil Lutz completed a 36-yard field goal.
• Punter Thomas Morstead punted three times for 156 total yards (52.0 gross avg. and 45.7 net avg.) with a long of 58 yards. Morstead played in his 143rd career game, putting him in a tie for 16th place on the club's all-time games played list with wide receiver Eric Martin (1985-93).
• Safety Chris Banjo and defensive back Justin Hardee tied for the team lead with two special teams stops each.