Buccaneers game day is approaching, and it’s time for the PewterReport.com staff to offer up its weekly game predictions. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-0) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-0)
WHEN: Sunday, September 13, 4:25 p.m. ET
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (73,000)
TELEVISION: Fox (WTVT)
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck
ANALYST: Troy Aikman
SIDELINE: Erin Andrews
RADIO: 98 Rock, Flagship Station (WXTB-97.9 FM)
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff
ANALYST: Dave Moore
SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Join PR’s Matt Matera on PewterReport.com’s Red Board to talk Bucs football for a live game day chat, starting at 4:00 p.m. all the way through to the final whistle. Click the link below to access the Game Day Thread on the Red Board.

***PR OFFICIAL GAME DAY THREAD: BUCS AT SAINTS

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Lose Valiant Fight On Opening Day

Tampa Bay fans won’t like reading this, but the Bucs drop the season opener to the Saints in New Orleans. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Tampa Bay ends up prevailing in the Big Easy in Week 1 because of the amount of talent on the upgraded roster assembled by general manager Jason Licht and head coach Bruce Arians this offseason. But the Saints are coming off back-to-back 13-3 seasons in which New Orleans won the NFC South and I don’t see them ready to give up the division title just yet.

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While the Bucs have enough firepower on offense to match Drew Brees and the Saints in a shootout, I suspect the score of this game will remain in the 20s because both teams have formidable defenses. The key things to watch for the Bucs will be how rookie right tackle Tristan Wirfs fares against five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan, who had 15.5 sacks last year, including three against Tampa Bay, and how disciplined rookie free safety Antoine Winfield will play against Brees, who is a master at looking off safeties. How Wirfs and Winfield play will go a long way in deciding this outcome.

Bucs fans shouldn’t fret over an opening day loss to the Saints for two reasons. First, Tampa Bay lost to New Orleans in overtime on opening day in 2002 at Raymond James Stadium and still went 12-4 and won Super Bowl XXXVII. Opening day is simply one of 16 games the Bucs will play. The other reason not to worry is because Tampa Bay hosts Carolina in Week 2 and should be able to right the ship next Sunday. For even more Bucs at Saints analysis, check out my 4 Match-ups To Watch in the latest SR’s Fab 5.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Saints 27, Bucs 24
Reynolds’ Season Record: 0-0

Mark Cook: The March To 12 Wins Starts On Sunday

Why not the Bucs? Why aren’t they as good as the Saints? Why aren’t they better? We will find out on Sunday but my money will be on the Buccaneers. Sure the Bucs haven’t had a chance to have any actual game time with Tom Brady and a few other newcomers, but neither have the Saints. And let’s face it – this ain’t Brady’s first rodeo. He been through this 20 times in his career and guess what? In a lot of those 20 games he was working with new receivers and players. Brady will be fine.

Tom Brady and Drew Brees – Photo by: Getty Images

The Bucs and Saints are as evenly matched as they can be – even without wide receiver Mike Evans – and both have something to prove. The Saints want to avenge their playoff exits the last two years, and the Bucs want to prove they belong in the conversation. Motivation for both teams won’t be lacking.

The Buccaneers lost both games last season in part due to a bad defense in the first match-up and turnovers in the second game. The defense will be better this year and the turnovers won’t be an issue. If the Buccaneers can protect Brady they win this football game. It should be close through three quarters then Tampa Bay breaks the Saints’ will in the fourth and pulls away for a statement win. The march to 12 wins begins on Sunday.

Cook’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 34, Saints 23
Cook’s Season Record: 0-0

Jon Ledyard: Bucs Show Promise, But Fall Short On Sunday

I think both the Saints and Bucs leave this game feeling pretty good about their chances to be a very competitive football team in 2020, but I’ll give the nod in this one to the Saints, as a team that simply has more cohesiveness to its attack right now. Almost New Orleans’ entire starting lineup has played together for a long time, and while that’s true for much of Tampa Bay, there will still be adjustments for Tom Brady and his receivers that Drew Brees has already worked through with wide receiver Michael Thomas, running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara – Photo by: Getty Images

Still, I expect the Bucs offense to put up points and find the end zone a few times, relying mostly on a big game from Chris Godwin, as he dices up whoever aligns across from him in the slot. On the other side, Thomas will still have his way with the Bucs cornerbacks, as a young, inexperienced unit continues to experience the growing pains of playing together.

Can the Bucs generate a pass rush and make Drew Brees uncomfortable? That could be a key to the game. The Saints have perhaps the NFL’s best offensive line, and Brees will pick the Bucs apart if he isn’t pressured. Todd Bowles’ blitz packages and games up front could save the day if the Bucs defensive line can find ways to make them count. First-round pick Cesar Ruiz was penciled in at right guard, but won’t play due to injury. Perhaps that’s the chink in the armor the Bucs need to pressure Brees up the middle.

Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Saints 33, Bucs 27
Ledyard’s Season Record: 0-0

Matt Matera: Bucs Make It Very Close, But No Cigar

It doesn’t get much better than a star-studded quarterback match-up like Tom Brady and Drew Brees, does it? The first game of the season is always a tough one to predict since neither team has played a meaningful game in a year, and we haven’t seen where each team has its advantages. That goes double for this year with a much shorter offseason and no preseason games. What we do know is that this starts the Brady and Rob Gronkowski era for the Bucs, who have had to gel quickly with their new teammates in what should be one of the best offenses in the league. The Saints are bringing back all of their core players, and shouldn’t miss too much of a beat in terms of being on the same page.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Getty Images

The Bucs do have a question mark with Mike Evans, who missed three straight days of practice with a hamstring injury, but did practice on Friday and is listed as doubtful. Tampa Bay would have a good match-up picking on the Saints’ second-string cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who Evans torched last season when Jenkins was on the Giants in a game where Evans had three touchdowns and over 100 receiving yards in the first half. Should Evans not be able to go, that means Scotty Miller would most likely be the next player to line up out wide and use his speed to go deep. I’m also intrigued to see how the tight ends will be used especially if Evans is out, considering they’ll get some work helping Tristan Wirfs block Cam Jordan. It might take a drive or two to really see the Bucs offense get in motion.

Getting to quarterback Drew Brees is going to be quite difficult for the Bucs defensive line. They have a talented group, but last season Tampa Bay did not sack Drew Brees or Teddy Bridgewater in either game. The lone sack they had came on a blitz from safety Mike Edwards, and it was Taysom Hill at quarterback. Brees gets the ball out so quickly that it will negate the pass rush from the outside. The Bucs will be counting on Vita Vea to improve on his pass rushing skills, and if guard Cesar Ruiz can’t go, there’s an opportunity for the Bucs to get in Brees’ face up the middle. It will be a back-and-forth game between the two best teams in the NFC South, but the Bucs drop this one in a 30-27 loss to New Orleans on the road.

Matera’s Score Prediction: Saints 30, Bucs 27
Matera’s Season Record: 0-0

Taylor Jenkins: Saints Narrowly Claim Victory In Week 1

We know what the Bucs’ offense provides – a bevy of weapons for Tom Brady, head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich to use at their disposal. But at the same time, despite the endless experience that Brady has in the league, it’s his first game with Arians and the Bucs after an abbreviated offseason and no preseason. I expect the Bucs’ offense to score, but can they keep up with Saints team led by the familiar trio of quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Michael Thomas and head coach Sean Payton?

Saints WR Michael Thomas and former Bucs CB Vernon Hargreaves III – Photo by: Getty Images

Well, that will largely rely on the Bucs’ defense. An overwhelmingly young side of the ball, even if the secondary plays as well as they did over the second half of 2019, they’re still going to have their hands full with Thomas, Emanuel Sanders and Alvin Kamara. Kamara was one of the most effective running backs against Tampa Bay’s elite front seven last year, and I think he will be a major factor in keeping that offense on schedule.

Look for a high-scoring, back-and-forth game in the Superdome where the Saints are able to squeak out a victory, putting them at an early advantage in the race for the NFC South. But fear not, Bucs fans, a season is never won or lost in the first week of the season.

Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Saints 30, Bucs 27
Jenkins’ Season Record: 0-0

Bucs fans, be sure to check out the latest edition of the Pewter Nation Podcast for even more Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans pre-game analysis before kickoff. Click the link below to listen.