Advertisement

Buccaneers look to open season 2-0 on the road with NFC South tilt at New Orleans

luke easterling
·4 min read
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) prepares to throw a pass as running back Leonard Fournette (7) helps against pressure from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, second from right, in the second half of a NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) prepares to throw a pass as running back Leonard Fournette (7) helps against pressure from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, second from right, in the second half of a NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain on the road for the second straight week to open up their 2022 regular season, heading to New Orleans for a Week 2 date with the Saints.

Here’s everything you need to know about this NFC South rivalry match:

Top Storylines

Stop the sweep

Tom Brady has done plenty for the Bucs over the past two seasons, but one thing he hasn’t checked off his list is beating the Saints in the regular season.

Brady and the Bucs got the only one that mattered so far, a road win in the divisional round of the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl LV win, but they’d love to stop all the chatter that they just can’t knock off the Saints in the regular season.

Tampa Bay has struggled against their division rivals regardless of home or away, and winning this one would be a huge mental boost heading into their home opener.

Jameis revenge game?

The Bucs will be facing off against their all-time leading passer in this one, as Jameis Winston leads the Saints as their starting quarterback.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) works in the pocket against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) works in the pocket against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

That was the case in New Orleans last year, as well, but Winston suffered a season-ending injury on an awkward tackle from Bucs linebacker Devin White.

Winston is back to full strength this time around, and sure to be gunning for some payback against the team that gave up on him as their franchise quarterback, and ended his 2021 season prematurely.

Injury Updates

Both teams are plenty banged up heading into this game, with big names on both sides of the ball littering the injury report all week.

The Bucs haven’t ruled anyone out completely, but WR Chris Godwin and LT Donovan Smith feel like longshots after missing practice all week. WRs Mike Evans and Julio Jones didn’t practice Thursday, but returned Friday, which bodes well for their availability.

Saints star RB Alvin Kamara has been limited all week with an injury to his ribs, while Winston has been dealing with a back injury.

Matchups to Watch

Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Saints CB Marshon Lattimore

This is always the most anticipation individual matchup every time these two teams tangle.

Evans and Lattimore have quite a history against one another, with both players getting their respective wins and making big plays against the other.

Both are highly competitive players with a physical style of play, so whoever keeps their cool might end up winning the day.

Saints DE Cameron Jordan vs. Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs

The Saints would be wise to line up their best pass rusher against backup OT Josh Wells, if he indeed has to replace Smith in the starting lineup.

That said, we’re hoping to see plenty of snaps with Jordan facing off against Wirfs, Tampa Bay’s best blocker, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in just his second NFL season last year.

Both are among the league’s best at their respective positions, and Tom Brady’s comfort in the pocket will be a huge part of both teams’ winning strategies.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III vs. Saints WR Michael Thomas

Much like Evans and Lattimore, these two have talked their share of trash to one another over the years.

Thomas has missed most of the action due to injury over the past two seasons, and will want to prove he’s back to the elite level of play he showed when healthy in prior years.

Davis just got a new three-year contract extension in the offseason, and he’ll want to prove he’s worth it by shutting down Winston’s favorite target, especially in the red zone.

Prediction

Regardless of Tampa Bay’s overall success during the last two seasons, they just haven’t been able to figure the Saints out.

They’ve lost at home and on the road, they’ve lost blowouts and shutouts and close games. Both teams technically have new head coaches, but they promoted their defensive coordinators, so there’s still plenty of continuity.

The Bucs proved last week that they can run the ball more effectively this year, which should be key to keeping the offense balanced, and keeping Brady from being in harm’s way behind a beat-up offensive line.

This one should be close, but the Bucs are a better team, and they’ll be motivated to end the streak of regular-season losses.

Bucs 23, Saints 20

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Brady, Buccaneers head to New Orleans to take on Jameis Winston, Saints