Bucs at Saints: Pewter Predictions For Week 4

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BUCS at SAINTS

WHEN: Sunday, October 1, 2023 | WHERE: Caesars Superdome | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: FOX

Recreation day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report workers to make its weekly sport predictions and provide up our sport preview of this week’s matchup. Tell us what you suppose within the article feedback part and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs’ Move Rush Will get To Jameis Winston

All eyes will probably be on Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore as they enter Spherical 7 of their heavyweight battle – the 2 have been going toe-to-toe since 2017. However the true rumble will probably be within the trenches between the Saints offensive line and the Bucs defensive entrance. Each items are licking their wounds. New Orleans’ offensive line has surrendered 12 sacks in three video games, together with one final week that knocked quarterback Derek Carr out.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Picture by: USA In the present day

After recording six sacks in opposition to Justin Fields in Week 2 the Bucs protection hardly obtained to Jalen Hurts on Monday evening. Tampa Bay’s lone sack got here after Hurts tripped on a play. They’ll need to make amends and atone for Monday’s lack of stress. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka wants to point out he can dominate left sort out Trevor Penning, who just isn’t superb.

The Bucs ought to have the ability to benefit from the Saints’ porous offensive line and sack Jameis Winton and stress him into his interceptions. That’s the important thing to this week’s sport. However Tampa Bay’s move rush needs to be good, as New Orleans has a lethal display sport that options Alvin Kamara, who returns after a suspension. Being too desirous to get to Winston may depart the Bucs protection susceptible to an enormous sport from Kamara. Having Devin White and Vita Vea at lower than full power doesn’t assist up entrance.

Offensively, Evans must proceed to dominate, however use his palms to catch touchdowns and never throw punches. Evans can’t let Lattimore get underneath his pores and skin and get penalized and probably ejected from the sport once more. Baker Mayfield must be turnover-free once more and Rachaad White and the offensive line want to provide within the operating sport. One other excellent outing from Chase McLaughlin ought to give the Bucs a detailed, three-point win, a 3-1 document heading into the bye week and a 1-0 begin within the NFC South.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Saints 17
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Matt Matera: By Profitable The Turnover Battle, Bucs Win The Recreation

This sport isn’t even being performed in Tampa on Sunday and but you possibly can nonetheless really feel the stress build up inside the metropolis for the Bucs vs. Saints matchup. There’s nothing like an enormous battle really feel in boxing or the UFC. We’re getting that in soccer as effectively on this bitter rivalry. No throw Jameis Winston again into the combination together with the all the time fiery Baker Mayfield in his first foray in a divisional battle and there could possibly be much more fireworks.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Though the 2 former Heisman Trophy winners and No. 1 general picks gained’t be face one another on the sphere on the similar time, their skills to manage the turnover battle is likely to be most necessary. Each have a tendency to play “hero ball,” that means they generally try and do an excessive amount of to get their crew again within the sport after trailing. Which means they’re extra more likely to flip the ball over, which Bucs followers are very aware of in relation to Winston.

If Mayfield can play turnover-free soccer, the Bucs ought to win. They’re already 2-0 when profitable the turnover battle this season. Establishing the run hasn’t been the best for Tampa Bay, however the Bucs will not be taking part in the Eagles anymore. I’m not saying they’re going to run for 175 yards, however I imagine they’re going to be a lot improved on the bottom.

Whereas the move rush wasn’t capable of get dwelling on Monday, the Bucs nonetheless have a good 9 sacks on the season. The Saints offensive line isn’t as formidable because it as soon as was, permitting 12 sacks via three video games, which led to Derek Carr’s harm. The Bucs must benefit from this and get to the quarterback with their defensive entrance on Sunday.

Todd Bowles will blitz when he must, however I like the concept of the Bucs having extra defensive backs in several seems to alter the protection. I’m in search of Zyon McCollum to make his first interception of the season after coming shut in his first begin. It’s by no means simple within the Massive Simple, however I’m choosing the Bucs to win on the street.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Saints 18
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 2-1

Bailey Adams: Bucs Win A Third Straight Over Saints

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Picture by: USA In the present day

The shortage of readability on the quarterback place for the Saints ought to make this a tough sport to name, shouldn’t it? However all week, I simply haven’t gotten that feeling. I’ve assumed it’ll be Jameis Winston underneath heart for New Orleans, and I feel the Bucs can power him into some errors and do sufficient offensively to flee with a win. After which, I’ve thought, even when Derek Carr fits up, I can’t think about he’ll be close to 100% after spraining the AC joint in his throwing shoulder simply seven days in the past.

I feel the Bucs have it inside themselves to beat both Saints quarterback, get to 3-1 and head into their early bye week with at the very least a share of the NFC South lead. And it’s not simply the turnover-prone nature of Winston or the iffy well being of Carr that provides me confidence on this Tampa Bay crew this week.

The Bucs have rushed the passer fairly effectively this 12 months. They’ve a deep rotation of edge rushers and a few linebackers and safeties with elite blitzing skill. And if Vita Vea is wholesome and capable of play, he’ll trigger bother up the center. New Orleans’ offensive line definitely isn’t Philly’s. The Saints have surrendered 12 sacks in three video games, and that’s one thing Todd Bowles’ protection wants to show.

Offensively, I just like the Bucs to run the ball higher this week. The Saints have a top-10 run protection, but it surely’s not the highest unit within the league that the Eagles delivered to city final week. Between a greater day from Rachaad White, extra explosive performs from Baker Mayfield and extra involvement from Chris Godwin, I feel Dave Canales’ offense does sufficient on this sport to win it.

It’ll be one other complementary soccer sort of win for the Bucs, who must preserve getting takeaways whereas limiting their very own giveaways. In the event that they do this and include the returning Alvin Kamara, chalk up a 3rd straight win over the Saints.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Saints 20
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Josh Queipo: Bucs Lose Shut One To Begin A Shedding Streak

Bucs WR Mike Evans and Saints S Marcus Maye – Picture by: USA In the present day

Three weeks into the 2023 season and it isn’t time to have tough conversations concerning the Bucs … but. However it’s time to begin posing some uncomfortable questions. Offensive coordinator Dave Canales stated on Thursday he was nonetheless going to be cussed about operating the ball. The uncomfortable query that must be requested is will he at the very least change up the spots the place he runs the ball?

Later that evening the Lions ran David Montgomery 32 occasions for 121 yards, averaging lower than 4 yards per carry. For a lot of the sport that common was nearer to a few. Nobody complained about their technique not yielding outcomes as a result of Montgomery was usually choosing up three yards when solely two have been wanted. Can Canales comply with this mannequin to fabricate larger success out of a struggling run sport? I’ve my doubts.

The second uncomfortable query needs to be concerning the Bucs skinny depth on protection. The Eagles uncovered it. The Saints have the power to do likewise.

At this level I’m very involved with what the solutions to those questions most definitely are. The Saints are with out their beginning quarterback, Derek Carr, which can give the Bucs a puncher’s likelihood. However with the weapons the Saints will make the most of (operating again Alvin Kamara and receivers Michael Thomas and Chris Olave) matched up a banged-up Bucs again seven I feel the Saints will clear the 20-point hurdle the Bucs offense has but to do that season.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Saints 23, Bucs 20
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Adam Slivon: Bucs Survive Superdome, Defeat Saints

Heading into Week 4, the Bucs are primed to face the primary of their many NFC South rivals within the Saints.

Bucs ILB Devin White – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

They line up with them maybe at an opportune time as Derek Carr is formally questionable with a proper shoulder harm. If he does play, he’s unlikely to be 100%, and if he doesn’t, the Bucs’ protection would face Jameis Winston.

No matter who’s underneath heart, it serves as a good opponent for the protection to proceed getting takeaways regardless of their very own accidents. Jamel Dean and Calijah Kancey are each out and Carlton Davis III, Vita Vea, and Devin White are questionable. If the latter trio does swimsuit up, they need to do sufficient chip to in and trigger issues.

Alvin Kamara returns at operating again, however he hasn’t averaged greater than 4 yards a carry since 2020. The Saints offensive line has not gotten higher, and the Bucs’ entrance seven is much more more likely to generate stress than they did in opposition to the Eagles.

Correspondingly, that solely would give Baker Mayfield and the offense extra probabilities to string collectively scoring drives. Chris Godwin is the X-Issue on this one as New Orleans’ secondary lacks depth behind Marshon Lattimore. Godwin has but to seek out the top zone however I imagine he does so this week.

Up entrance, New Orleans lacks expertise exterior of Cam Jordan, who has been quiet this season. If Luke Goedeke can neutralize him, loads of lanes must be clear for Rachaad White to have the sort of success the crew (and followers) have lengthy been ready for.

This sport serves as an opportunity for the Bucs to have momentum heading into their early bye week. On paper, they’ve the sting in expertise, and with the Saints uncertainty at quarterback, Tampa Bay seems primed to come back out on prime and begin the season 3-1.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Saints 13
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 3-0

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