The PewterReport.com staff shares its thoughts on the upcoming Bucs game and pick who we think we win, including a score prediction and a pick-to-click – a Tampa Bay player we think will play really well. Let us know you thoughts and add your prediction in the comment section.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-2) at New Orleans Saints (3-1)
WHEN: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1:00 P.M. ET
WHERE: MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME (74, 295)
TELEVISION: FOX
PLAY-BY-PLAY: CHRIS MYERS
ANALYSTS: DARYL JOHNSTON
SIDELINE: LAURA OKMIN
BUCS RADIO: 98ROCK, FLAGSHIP STATION (WXTB-97.9 FM)
PLAY-BY-PLAY: GENE DECKERHOFF
ANALYST: DAVE MOORE
SIDELINE: T.J. RIVES

PewterReport.com Publisher/Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds

The Saints are 3-1 and are winning with defense while starting quarterback and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees continues to miss time with a thumb injury. Teddy Bridgewater has been a serviceable starter in the interim, but he doesn’t have Brees’ quick release and the opportunity for some sacks should be there for Shaq Barrett and Tampa Bay’s defense on Sunday in New Orleans.

The Saints offense used to have a lot of variety with several weapons getting involved. This year with Mark Ingram’s departure to Baltimore via free agency and Brees’ thumb injury, it seems like New Orleans has been reduced to running Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, and throwing to him out of the backfield, and hitting Pro Bowl receiver Michael Thomas early and often in the passing game. Those aren’t bad options at all, but without tight end Jared Cook or receiver Ted Ginn Jr. stepping up, it makes the Saints easier for Todd Bowles to game plan for and defend against. Ginn had a good day against cornerback Carlton Davis last year with six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, and that can’t happen again.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Bucs receiver Chris Godwin exploded for 12 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 55-40 win in Los Angles the way that Mike Evans did against New York the previous week with eight catches for 190 yards and three scores. I expect one of them to go off again in New Orleans, likely Godwin working in the slot as Marcus Lattimore will be guarding Evans outside. I also foresee Ronald Jones II having the hot hand again this week and getting his first 100-yard rushing day as the Saints are allowing an average of 112 yards per game.

Tampa Bay has a chance to take over the lead for the NFC South with a win in New Orleans – a place where the Bucs have won twice in the last four years, including the season opener in 2018. The Bucs also have a chance to go 3-0 on the road and win back-to-back games for the first time in the Bruce Arians era. Going on a winning streak is critical to any playoff run the team hopes to make. With so much at stake before the Bucs’ trip to London next week to play the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay takes care of business in a close road win.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Saints 20
Reynolds’ Pick-To-Click: RB Ronald Jones II
Reynolds’ Record: 1-3

PewterReport.com Editor/Bucs Beat Reporter Mark Cook

Here we go Bucs fans. This one should be fun.

After winning two games not many predicted they would, and losing two games they shouldn’t have, Tampa Bay goes on the road to the hostile SuperDome to take a Drew Brees-less Saints football team. That doesn’t make this an automatic win. Besides the fact the Saints are still one of most talented teams in the NFL, the Buccaneers have a history of losing to unheralded or backup quarterbacks.

Harold Goodwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But this team seems different. Bruce Arians knows how to win, and win in tough buildings. Todd Bowles knows how to shut down top-tier running backs. Ask Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley. And the Bucs offense showed what it can be in last week’s win at L.A.

It starts up front for the Bucs. On both sides of the ball. Protect Jameis Winston and give running back some creases, then stop Alvin Kamara and make Teddy Bridgewater uncomfortable and the Bucs win this game. It’s not rocket science. Block better and tackle better than the other team and you will win a lot of football games. Tampa Bay has done that twice this year and won. They failed to do it twice this year and lost.

This game will be gritty and hard fought and could come down to late in the fourth quarter. But if the Buccaneers can duplicate what they did last week against the Rams they will fly home 3-2 and a team with a lot of momentum heading to London next week.

Cook’s Score Prediction: Bucs 27, Saints 21
Cook’s Pick-To-Click: OLB Carl Nassib
Cook’s Season Record: 0-4

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Reporter Trevor Sikkema

Am I crazy enough to pick the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win back-to-back games against the two teams that played for the NFC Championship last year?

The short answer is: yes.

The long answer is also: yes.

If you asked me whether or not the Buccaneers would go 2-0 against the Rams and the Saints a month ago, I would have told you no way. I would have said that the Rams game was the more winnable one, because a regression from what the Rams were compared to last year was bound to happen, especially given the fact that the Patriots taught the league how to expose them. But I would have said this Saints game was a for sure loss.

Saints QB Drew Brees – Photo by: Getty Images

And then Drew Brees got hurt.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Teddy Bridgewater. But there is no denying that he is no Brees. Even in Brees’ older age, he can still push the ball down the field thanks to impeccable pre-snap recognition and equally as good timing with his wide receivers. Bridgewater does not have that, nor does he have the mental makeup to consistently take shots down the field. If the Buccaneers offense doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot, they should be able to out score New Orleans. They won’t need 55 points. Just not getting in their own way will be enough.

The x-factor in this matchup for me is Saints running back Alvin Kamara going up against the Bucs defense, specifically with tackling. The Bucs have already faced great backs like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley, and yet here they stand with the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL. But I think Alvin Kamara is the toughest running back to tackle in the national football league — and he’s shown it versus the Bucs for years. If Tampa Bay can make sure the missed tackle are at a minimum, the rest should fall into place.

Tampa used safety Jordan Whitehead as their go-to mismatch neutralizer against San Fran and Carolina. I wonder if they’ll do the same this week and tell him to spy Kamara. If they do, they’ll need him to be the show stopper.

Sikkema’s Score Prediction: Bucs 27, Saints 24
Sikkema’s Pick-To-Click: S Jordan Whitehead
Sikkema’s Record: 1-3

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Writer Matt Matera

We’ve seen this before where the Bucs have an impressive win and we all think that Tampa Bay has taken the next step forward, only to end up taking two steps back the following week. The Bucs have enough talent to defeat perhaps anyone in the league, but they’ve found ways to shoot themselves in the foot. Last week they proved that they can be mentally tough by not surrendering their 21-0 lead to the Rams, now let’s see if they can pull of the upset again.

One of the biggest reasons for the Bucs’ victory over the Rams was the job done by the offensive line. The line was excellent in stopping Aaron Donald and keeping Jameis Winston upright. So the question will be whether they are content with one good week, or if they’ll build upon that game. I think the Saints’ front will give much tougher and exotic looks than the Rams did previously.

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If you’ll recall, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was celebrating when he heard that the Bucs re-signed Donovan Smith in the offseason. Smith, Alex Cappa, and the rest of the offensive line have a chance this week to make Jordan eat his words. You know that if the linemen can keep the pocket clean for Winston that he’ll get to the ball to either Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, with one of them going off like they have each week.

The Bucs’ secondary was shredded by Jared Goff a week ago, and I fear the same may continue for Tampa Bay this Sunday. Sure, it’s Teddy Brdigewater and not Drew Brees, but Michael Thomas is the best receiver that the Bucs are facing this year, and if the secondary has gotten torched two weeks in a row, it can get easily get torched by Thomas.

Once again the Bucs will continue to stop the run, but the Saints will involve Alvin Kamara in the passing game. The Bucs defense has made teams one-dimensional, but that hasn’t stopped opponents from scoring on them. Even with Shaq Barret’s incredible start, the Bucs haven’t gotten much production from the rest of the front seven, as Barrett is responsible for nine of Tampa Bay’s 11 sacks.

I think this will be a very hard fought game, as it should be with two divisional opponents and first place on the line. But I don’t think the Bucs prove just yet that they are ready to take the next step. The Superdome is a difficult place to play but the Bucs will be in the game late before ultimately losing.

Matera’s Score Prediction: Saints 27, Buccaneers 24
Matera’s Pick-To-Click: QB Jameis Winston 
Matera’s Record: 1-3

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Writer Taylor Jenkins

The Bucs’ head to New Orleans for a divisional matchup against the Saints in Week 5.

A mix of two brilliant offensive minds at the helm and two passing defenses that rank in the bottom-third of the league could lead to a high-scoring affair on Sunday, and if it’s going to be a shootout I’m taking the Bucs every day of the week after their Week 4 showing against the Rams.

The offensive line was great against Los Angeles, both when tasked with opening running lanes for Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber and protecting quarterback Jameis Winston from the reigning Defensive Player of the Year winner, Aaron Donald. The Saints will attack the pass rush differently than the Rams did, but if the unit can continue that stretch of play and give Winston a clean pocket to survey the defense and make a good throw, I’ve got confidence in the offense.

Because it must always be mentioned, Winston must play mistake-free football. He’s done a solid job of that over the past two weeks, sans a lone interception in both. The Saints may be without future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, but they’re also in the capable hands of Teddy Bridgewater and 2-0 in Brees’ absence with narrow wins over the previously unbeaten Seahawks and Cowboys.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara – Photo by: Getty Images

On the other side of the ball, the front seven will again be tasked with shutting down an elite ball-carrier in Alvin Kamara, something they’ve done very well so far. Tampa Bay ranks first in the league in rushing defense, allowing just 59.2 yards per game on the ground despite facing Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Todd Gurley over the past three weeks.

Despite their obvious talent, the trio combined for just 63 rushing yards on 29 carries.

The biggest struggle for the Bucs will be stopping Michael Thomas. The Bucs’ defense, despite forcing Jared Goff into four turnovers, allowed him to pass for 517 yards and keep the Rams in the game until the game’s final minute and as shown against the Giants in Week 3, teams that are allowed hang around will always give themselves a shot to win it late.

Expect the offense to keep their foot down and heavy blitzes to come often from defensive coordinator Todd Bowles if Tampa Bay can get out to an early lead.

Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Saints 23
Jenkins’ Pick-To-Click: QB Jameis Winston
Jenkins’ Record: 0-4