Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs recreation with six quick-hitting matters. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what is going to result in a Tampa Bay victory or loss and a few key matchups to observe every week.
The Bucs had a tricky loss in extra time in Atlanta, 36-30, and fell to 3-2 on the season. Tampa Bay finishes a two-game divisional street journey in New Orleans towards a Saints crew that has misplaced three straight, together with a 26-13 defeat in Kansas Metropolis on Monday Evening Soccer.
What’s At Stake For The Bucs
Bucs ILBs Ok.J. Britt and Lavonte David – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
Tampa Bay must be offended over letting the sport at Atlanta slip via the crew’s fingers. The Bucs had probabilities to win that recreation on each offense and protection and enhance to 4-1. The final time the Bucs misplaced that they had a pleasant bounce-back win, and will probably be trying to do the identical this week. The crew escaped the trail of Hurricane Milton on Tuesday and headed as much as New Orleans to start preparations out of hurt’s means and with out the distraction of the storm.
The Bucs have been banged up and fatigued on Thursday night time after taking part in in a extremely popular and humid recreation towards the Eagles the earlier Sunday. The protection couldn’t get off the sector all night time, and the offense ran out of fuel within the second half, scoring simply two subject targets after placing 24 factors on the scoreboard within the second half. Now the Bucs have 10 days to relaxation, recuperate, rehab and put together for an important recreation at New Orleans.
There’s a probability that a number of Bucs gamers may very well be returning to motion this Sunday together with the likes of proper sort out Luke Goedeke, broad receiver Trey Palmer, defensive sort out Calijah Kancey and All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. Rookie broad receiver Jalen McMillan is perhaps in play too if his hamstring heals in time. These reinforcements can be a welcome sight on Sunday in New Orleans.
What’s At Stake For The Saints
Saints QB Derek Carr – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
New Orleans is reeling, coming off its third straight loss after a 2-0 begin through which the crew averaged 45.5 factors per recreation. In every of the final three video games the Saints’ scoring common has fallen to simply 16.3 factors per recreation. To make issues worse, the Saints should play a divisional recreation on a brief week, coming house from Arrowhead early Tuesday morning.
They usually should play towards the Bucs with out beginning quarterback Derek Carr, who injured his indirect muscle late within the loss to the Chiefs and was unable to return. Carr has thrown for 989 yards with eight touchdowns and 4 interceptions whereas finishing 70.3% of his passes. With Carr out, the Saints should play rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round decide on this 12 months’s draft or second-year quarterback Jake Haener, who has solely performed in spot obligation this season and has accomplished 2-of-8 passes for 17 yards with most of that scant manufacturing coming on the finish of the sport in Kansas Metropolis.
The Saints are a really banged up crew outdoors of simply Carr. Beginning heart Erik McCoy and backup heart Shane Lemieux are on injured reserve and guard Cesar Ruiz, proper sort out Ryan Ramcyzk, defensive finish Payton Turner and linebackers Pete Werner and Willie Homosexual all missed the Chiefs recreation on account of accidents. Security Will Harris pulled a hamstring towards Kansas Metropolis and didn’t return. New Orleans already has a divisional win towards Carolina and a divisional loss at Atlanta, however the Saints can’t actually afford to lose a fourth straight recreation for morale’s sack, and drop to 1-2 within the NFC South. It’s nonetheless early within the season, however this looks like a must-win recreation for the Saints and so they’ll come out determined and provides the Bucs their greatest effort.
The Bucs Win If…
Bucs DT Logan Corridor – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay should decelerate working again Alvin Kamara, who’s having a profession resurgence this season, and never let inexperienced quarterback Jake Haener or rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler beat the crew in his first NFL begin as he performs for the injured Derek Carr. Todd Bowles normally has his protection prepared t0 play towards rookie quarterbacks, however the crew got here out flat and unprepared for first-round decide Bo Nix is a 26-7 loss at house to Denver in Week 3. Bowles’ status would take an incredible blow if he lets Haener rise to the event and beat his protection.
Tampa Bay’s go rush has taken a giant step ahead during the last two weeks with a mixed 10 sacks and over 50 pressures. The protection must proceed to place strain on the both Haener or Rattler. Each have some mobility and can scramble when the chance presents itself. Tampa Bay wants to keep up its self-discipline and go rush lanes and definitely cowl higher than the protection did in Atlanta when Kirk Cousins ripped the Bucs for 509 passing yards, together with greater than 300 yards in the midst of the sector. Maybe extra importantly, the Bucs must play extra man and tighten up their protection.
Offensively, the Bucs discovered a worthwhile lesson concerning the perils of taking part in too conservatively and taking their foot off the fuel – particularly rookie offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Baker Mayfield must proceed to place touchdowns on the board and keep away from turnovers. The excellent news is that Tampa Bay is scoring 25 factors per recreation and has three video games with 30 factors or extra within the first 5 video games of the season. Even the crew’s as soon as lifeless floor recreation appears alive, averaging 111 yards per week, which ranks 18th. Coen must proceed to combine up the play-calling and preserve opponents guessing – and end the sport with touchdowns, not subject targets.
The Saints Win If…
Saints QB Jake Haener – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
The Saints want Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener to do his greatest Bo Nix efficiency and play extremely effectively towards Todd Bowles’ protection. If Bowles has his protection come out in mushy zone protection with nice regularity it may permit both the rookie Rattler or the inexperienced Haener to search out an early groove and play comfortably. The Saints passing recreation likes to take deep pictures to Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave. Which means the banged up Saints offensive line has to carry up in go safety and permit for these routes to develop downfield.
However this is perhaps a recreation the place new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak takes benefit of the blueprint on the right way to beat the Bucs protection that was laid out by Kirk Cousins in Atlanta and assault the center of the sector. Tight finish Juwan Johnson had a giant day the final time he performed the Bucs with eight catches for 90 yards and a landing. Fellow tight finish Foster Moreau additionally a had a landing in Kansas Metropolis, and Taysom Hill may return. Alvin Kamara seems like he turned again time and is lethal working the ball and catching it and has six complete touchdowns (5 dashing, one receiving) via 5 video games.
Defensively, New Orleans must create some turnovers and actually get after Baker Mayfield and make him uncomfortable within the pocket. The Saints secondary should even be as much as the problem of slowing down each Mike Evans outdoors and Chris Godwin within the slot. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore and nickelback Alontae Taylor will probably be charged with that accountability, respectively. Dennis Allen has achieved an important job of stifling the Bucs offense in years previous and he should as soon as once more dial up an important plan for the Saints to finish their three-game shedding streak.
Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense
Bucs WR Chris Godwin vs. Saints NCB Alontae Taylor
Bucs WR Chris Godwin and Saints NCB Alontae Taylor – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
With apologies to Bucs broad receiver Mike Evans and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, one of the best matchup on this recreation between a go catcher and a defensive again may very well be slot receiver Chris Godwin versus Saints nickelback Alontae Taylor. Whereas this matchup isn’t as emotionally charged as the continuing, chippy feud between Evans and Lattimore, it will nonetheless be a tricky, bodily affair in the midst of the sector.
Godwin is a bodily receiver each as a blocker and as a go catcher. He’s off to an important begin to his contract 12 months, main the crew with 32 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns after scoring solely two receiving TDs final 12 months. Godwin is the engine that makes this Bucs offense go. He’s taking part in the Cooper Kupp function in Liam Coen’s Rams-based offense, and taking part in it effectively.
Taylor is de facto coming into his personal in his third season. Like Godwin, Taylor is a really bodily participant who will convey the lumber when making hits in protection and in run assist. The previous second-round decide actually brings some perspective and extra toughness to the Saints secondary. He leads the crew with 3.5 sacks blitzing from the slot and already has 4 go breakups and two compelled fumbles. The winner of this matchup may resolve the end result of Sunday’s recreation.
Bucs’ Key Matchup On Protection
Bucs Cross Rush vs. Saints Offensive Line
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Derek Carr – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
New Orleans broad receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are a formidable one-two punch on account of their deep velocity. Tight finish Juwan Johnson has damage the Bucs throughout the center earlier than. Operating again Alvin Kamara at all times poses a risk working the ball and on screens out of the backfield. However this recreation will probably be gained within the trenches and certain on third down.
The Saints offensive line is banged up with out beginning proper sort out Ryan Ramcyzk, beginning heart Erik McCoy and presumably beginning guard Cesar Ruiz. But New Orleans offensive line solely allowed Derek Carr to be sacked simply as soon as on Monday night time and did an efficient job of double-teaming game-wrecker Chris Jones. Carr and Jake Haener have been pressured although, and Carr’s indirect harm occurred whereas getting hit on a blitz. Tampa Bay’s go rush is beginning to actually hum, and New Orleans will must be up for the problem.
Backup defensive sort out Logan Corridor has three sacks within the final two video games and leads the crew, adopted by defensive sort out Vita Vea, who has had a sack in every of the final two weeks. The Bucs want extra strain from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and for Yaya Diaby to transform a few of his pressures into sacks. Diaby has a team-high 24 pressures, which ranks within the High 10 across the league. Tampa Bay can’t let both Carr or Haener get comfy from the beginning. That’s what has occurred in losses to Kirk Cousins and Bo Nix.
