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.
WHEN: January 2021
KICKOFF: 6:40 p.m. ET
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
TV: FOX (Channel 13 locally)
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck
ANALYST: Troy Aikman
SIDELINE: Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff
ANALYST: Dave Moore
SIDLINE: T.J. Rives
SPANISH RADIO: 96.1 FM
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Carlos Bohorquez
ANALYST: Martin Gramatica
Join PR’s Matt Matera on PewterReport.com’s Red Board to talk Bucs football for a live game day chat, starting at noon. on Sunday all the way through to the final whistle. Click the link below to access the Game Day Thread on the Red Board.
JOIN THE GAME DAY THREAD BY CLICKING HERE AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION!
Scott Reynolds: Bucs Have To Be Near Perfect To Win
Table of Contents
This prediction will be disappointing for Buccaneers fans, but I see the Saints beating Tampa Bay for a third time this year and a sixth time over the last three seasons. It’s not like the Bucs can’t beat the Saints. This is a very talented Tampa Bay roster, and New Orleans’ home-field advantage in this game has been wiped out by COVID-19, which means that the Superdome will be nearly empty. The Saints have three distinct advantages over the Bucs – that if all things are equal – should still give them the nod over the Bucs.
Bucs Bruce Arians and DC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The first is the coaching staff, as Sean Payton and Dennis Allen have out-coached Bruce Arians, Byron Leftwich and Todd Bowles in the past. The Bucs coaches need to out-scheme their counterparts on the other sidelines for a change. Second, New Orleans has done a much better job protecting the football than Tampa Bay has over the last four meetings, winning the turnover battle, 11-2. Tom Brady has thrown five interceptions and just two touchdowns in his two games against the Saints this year, while Drew Brees has thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions in both wins over Tampa Bay. The third advantage the Saints have is continuity, especially between Payton and Brees offensively. There is just so much trust and innate chemistry in New Orleans compared to a Tampa Bay team that hasn’t been together nearly as long.
The advantage the Bucs have entering this game is that the team has won five straight since the bye week and has a lot of momentum, especially on offense. Tampa Bay averaged 30.8 points per game this year, and has averaged nearly 36 points per game since the bye week. Yet New Orleans’ defense has prevented the Bucs from scoring more than 24 points in any of the last four games. If the Bucs have any chance of winning, scoring at least 31 points probably has to happen, and Tampa Bay can’t afford to lose the turnover battle, either. Check out my SR’s Fab 5 column for more Bucs vs. Saints playoff preview, in addition to my 4 Match-ups To Watch.
Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Saints 31, Buccaneers 27
Reynolds’ Season Record: 14-3
Mark Cook: Bucs Buck Losing Trend To Saints
If you watched the ESPN series The Last Dance featuring Michael Jordan last spring, just replace Jordan with Bucs’ quarterback Tom Brady to put it in an NFL comparison. Elite athletes make their teams better and can often will them to winning, esoecially on the biggest stages like the playoffs. Jordan of course needed a good supporting cast, but his aura, passion, and desire to win helped him win six NBA titles. Brady also has that same good supporting cast, and Brady – like Jordan – is the X-factor. Brady doesn’t want to ever lose to any other quarterback, but three times to a quarterback that he trades NFL records back-and-forth with in Drew Brees? That is something that wouldn’t sit well with a competitor like Brady.
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
This is a different Bucs team that met the Saints on a Sunday night in a game that was dominated by New Orleans back in November. The pass protection that doomed the Bucs in their two losses to the Saints seems to have been figured out. Hopefully the trend of giving Brady a clean pocket continues, and if it does, the Buccaneers win on Sunday, even if it turns into a shootout. Besides the better protection, the Bucs have done a great job of not beating themselves with bad penalties and mental errors on offense. And with Antonio Brown now coming into form, watch out. Defensively it’s a crap shoot. We don’t know if we will see the same Bucs defense we saw against the Packers earlier this year, or the one that let a fourth-string, emergency COVID quarterback throw for over 300 yards like we saw last week. Getting pressure on Brees is crucial even if it doesn’t necessarily result in sacks.
Even if the Bucs defense doesn’t shut the Saints offense down, the Bucs offense has enough firepower to match New Orleans score for score and keep it close in the fourth quarter. At that point the “Brady factor” will take over and Tampa Bay makes a couple more plays down the stretch than the Saints and they leave the Superdome with a big upset and the chance to play for the NFC Championship game next week.
Cook’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 38, Saints 31
Cook’s Season Record: 12-5
Jon Ledyard: With Limited Mistakes, Bucs Win Close One
I’ve spent more time than I care to admit analyzing this game from every angle, going back and forth on who I believe will be victorious on Sunday night. Ultimately, the game will probably swing on a few plays. The Saints have largely maintained a consistently high level of play since the last time they played Tampa Bay in Week 9, while the Bucs are a far more formidable offense with some of the same ups-and-downs on defense. But less self-inflicted mistakes for the Bucs should offer at least a much more competitive game, if not a Tampa Bay victory.
In two meetings this season, the Bucs have been outscored 72-26, but 38 of those New Orleans’ points either came on a defensive touchdown or an offensive possession that started in Tampa Bay territory. The Bucs only had 17 turnovers all season, and six of them came against the Saints, three in each game. The pursuit of victory starts there for the Bucs, as their offense cannot continue to shoot themselves in the foot against this caliber of an opponent. New Orleans is too good to give extra opportunities to, so the fact that the Bucs have protected the ball so well of late is a good indicator that this game, unlike much of the last two meetings, will be competitive.
If Tampa Bay can stay away from those mistakes – turnovers, drops, penalties and blown coverages – I think they will win this game. They are better at the quarterback position, have better weapons and are one of the few teams that the Saints deep secondary doesn’t have several one-on-one advantages over. Tampa Bay’s offensive play-calling and designs have been at the level needed to match Sean Payton’s output against a Bucs defense that can bend but can’t break against Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook and company. I hope we finally get both of these loaded rosters playing at their absolute best when they face each other on Sunday night – with the Bucs prevailing on a last minute touchdown to take a one-point lead.
Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 35, Saints 34
Ledyard’s Season Record: 16-1
Matt Matera: Third Time’s A Charm For The Bucs
More than anything else on Sunday evening, the number one thing that could determine the outcome for this game comes down to personal pride. The Bucs were embarrassed 38-3 the last time these two teams met in a highly publicized game. It’s embarrassing to the Bucs that they were swept by Saints in the regular season and have ever beaten them with Bruce Arians. Calling the right plays and having the right schemes absolutely matters, but the desire to right previous wrongs should not be overlooked.
Do you really want to play against a motivated Tom Brady? He’s made a career of proving others wrong. It’s been two months since these teams last month and the Bucs have been a different team in that time, especially on offense. Brady truly looks as dialed in as he’s ever been in this offense. You’re also going to have Antonio Brown up to full speed in this offense, which is something New Orleans didn’t have to deal with last game when Brown made his Bucs’ debut. He’s scored five touchdowns in his last four games.
This definitely won’t be easy, but I can’t help but think of when the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round back in 2007 after losing to them twice in the regular season. Different situations, but the Bucs can have a similar result. I truly think if the Bucs play the right type of defense, which means implementing more press-man at the line of scrimmage, that they can get enough stops to keep the game close and let playoff Brady show that he’s the GOAT once again.
Matera’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 33, Saints 30
Matera’s Season Record: 13-4
Taylor Jenkins: Bucs Fall To Saints Yet Again
As much as I want to pick Tampa Bay to upset New Orleans and head to its NFC championship game since 2002 – the result that Bucs fans probably deserve after all of the years they’ve been through since then – I just can’t do it with confidence. In the Bucs’ two meetings against the Saints this season they’ve been outscored, 72-26, and through pressure and variable coverages New Orleans has forced quarterback Tom Brady to throw five of his 12 total interceptions on the season in those two games.
Bucs QB Tom Brady and Saints DE Trey Hendrickson – Photo by: USA Today
After a rough start, New Orleans’ defense has become a force, finishing third in the league with 20.4 points allowed per game, second with 306.6 yards allowed per game, seventh with 45 total sacks and fourth with 26 total turnovers forced. Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport and Trey Hendrickson highlight the front seven, while talented and versatile defensive backs in Janoris Jenkins, Malcolm Jenkins, Marshon Lattimore and nickel C.J. Gardner-Johnson have locked down the defensive secondary for New Orleans. So it will not only take a perfect game plan, but perfect execution offensively from the Bucs to best them on Sunday.
Offensively, we know the Saints are great unit in their own right, despite an aging Drew Brees under center, but even more importantly the Bucs’ defense remains a mystery with so many questions that need answers. With receivers like Michael Thomas and veteran Emmanuel Sanders, running back Alvin Kamara being an ever-dangerous present out of the backfield and Latavius Murray to back him up and one of the best offensive lines in the league, can Tampa Bay hold up? We can assume that the Bucs will slow the Saints’ run game down, but can they limit Kamara’s damage as a pass-catcher, will they jam New Orleans’ receivers at the line and force Brees to beat them over the top? Tampa Bay clearly has one of the most talented rosters in the league, but I’m just not sure they can beat such a complete, well-coached roster that typically limits mistakes and forces the Bucs to make too many of their own.
Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Saints 31, Buccaneers 26
Jenkins’ Season Record: 13-4
Watch the Bucs vs. Falcons Preview Pewter Report Podcast below – and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel – PewterReportTV, where you can watch all of our live broadcasts.
Share On Socials
About the Author: Mark Cook
Going to be a stressful game.. We HAVE to win this game, and send those smug-ass Saints and Payton home!
Scott and Taylor. I get you wanna be honest about a prediction, but this is do or die from here on out. What good does predicting a loss do? I hope you both are wrong, embarrassingly wrong 😂 The Saints will end up having to be near perfect themselves. I think our guys are ready… and hungry to beat these a**holes and retire them…
I hear you, but they have ot keep it real. If Pewter always predicts the Bucs to win, the site is just kinda worthless.
Jon Ledyard! LFG!
I hope we do it!!! Green Bay loses and it’s Bucs vs Rams NFC championship game #3
35 -14 Saints in a hard-fought game.
Yeah, sounds VERY hard fought
I watched The GOAT beat the chiefs in KC in the 2018 playoffs, with a mediocre at best Patriots team. He can do it again in Tampa, provided Bowles and the D are not terrible , which unfortunately may be a tall order.
I don’t get this consistent dissing of the Bucs defense.
The Bucs defense is very good – 8th in the league in points allowed, 6th in the league in total defense, 1st in the league in run defense.
The offense is also very good too.
But, they have NOT been good against the Saints. That is all that matters.
Our offense has been even worse against the Saints. 24 points and 3 points scored against them this season.
Again, quit dissing the defense.
No the defense has been worse. 38 and 34 points allowed. And if either game was competitive, and the Saints didn’t take their foot off the gas , it would have been 2- 40 burgers. Hard to blame the offense, when the defense allowed 21 points, just minutes into the 2nd quarter of the 2nd matchup. Kind of makes the offense predictable. The Saints could have named their score in the 2nd matchup.
I’m pretty sure the Saints will come into this game assuming victory is assured against, in their minds, the “lowly” Bucs. They are no doubt in their locker room yucking it up with Cam Jordan and Marshon Lattimore leading the way wondering why they even have to play this game, while thinking about how cold it might be next week in Green Bay. Confidence is great, cockiness can backfire. The only things I can predict are that Sean Payton will have that same smug-ass look on his face the whole game. He will complain about any official’s call that doesn’t… Read more »
Well as far as the betting line is concerned. I can say the Bucs have been getting very generous lines from Vegas all season. Most of their games, they’ve been a TD or greater favorite. And I think they were dogs only 4 times. The only dog higher than 3.5 points was week 1(6.5 pts)
I doubt in the extreme that the Saints consider the Bucs to be “lowly” in any way .. not with the third best offense in the league, and the 6th (total defense) or 8th (points allowed) defense. And a five game winning streak that has been outscoring not only our opponents but beat a very good WFT defense last week. Payton is no dummy. Neither is Drew Brees. They know this is their last shot at a ring together, and they know that this is the Divisional Round of the playoffs … and they know they’re playing the GOAT who… Read more »
You keep thinking that Naples.
Vegas odds are always aiming to get 50% of the money wagered on each team, so they can maximize the vig. If more people bet on one team, they move the line. Home favorite easily covered Saturday.
Smugness aside, the Saints and Brees have owned Arians, Brady and the Bucs for their careers, especially this year.
This notion that losing 38-3 in week 9 isn’t a factor this week, is plain silly. If the Bucs win, I am 100% CERTAIN fans will point to the 38-10 victory over Green Bay week 5 as proof.
I understand how betting works. Just seems to me most gamblers would think the Saints would win by a wider margin. Especially considering the two regular season contests.
They’re taking into account how the Bucs have played in December and January.
ESPN’s FPI predicts an even smaller margin in favor of the Saints for this game – just 1/12 points, effectively a tie.
Touche. I think the under is the play today and a Bucs victory outright. Or its the Saints to cover and the over. Lol.
I just hope the Bucs play to the best of their ability and the refs stay the hell out of the way with calls.
GO BUCS!!!
The notion that the Saints 38-3 victory IS a factor is what’s silly. Saying it’s a factor means that it’s in any way shape or form a predictor of future results. Seeing as down the bottom of the chat, you predicted the Bucs to win 17-13, that means you’re either talking out of your ass here, or in your predicted 17-13 Bucs win. Which one is it?
I think Brady and the offense do something they didn’t do the first 2 games, which is start out fast. Bucs end the 1st quarter up 7-3. And end the first half up 14-10. In the 3rd quarter, both defenses step up. Saints tie it up after 3, 17-17. 4th quarter, both teams exchange TD’s early, to make it a 24-24 game. After the Bucs punt, the Saints then score a TD to take the lead with 6 minutes left on the clock. Score is 30-24 because of a missed extra point. Bucs march down the field, but face a… Read more »
Lol that sounds like the BA thing to do. Haha 😂
Right ! I see this game going a very predictable way. 1)Brady goes off. 2) Defense lets us down in every big 3rd down. And 3) we’re out coached when it matters( in the 4th qtr)
Fantasy brains.
Kind of like 90% of your guarantees. But hey, who’s counting
My take is the game comes down to who prevails in the trenches, scheme on D and play calling . Right now the Saints look stronger on both sides of the ball up front. Losing Cappa hurts and JPP and Barrett just haven’t been effective getting to the QB. If Bowles plays the same soft zone like a college team, Brees will eat us alive. For us to win we need to get to Brees. When we’ve beaten these guys we’ve knocked him down and forced him into turnovers. Playmakers will have to show up – D White, Carlton Davis,… Read more »
Like every game this one will come down to match-ups. On paper the strengths vs weaknesses cancel each other out where the teams are evenly matched..So something has to give. Our offense needs to be patient with the run game and stick with it. Eventually you’ll catch the Saints defense slipping and hit the homerun. Our defense needs to be in press man coverage to disrupt timing routes & take away the short passes Brees like to throw. Need early constant pressure on Brees to knock him out of his rhythm. Once you get Brees in Sean Payton offense off… Read more »
If Brady has time we win imo. We have momentum and it is hard to beat a team 3 times in a season. Doesn’t happen very often. since we played them last in November think the play calling is better, chemistry with WR’s is better, run game better, AB is better, etc. the wild card on offense and one that worries me is can Donovan Smith keep playing without the big mistakes and lapses that seem to come in big games. The other thing that obviously has to be concerning all Bucs fans is will Stinnie be ok? If he… Read more »
I have to say that listening to the national sports pundits this has to be the most bizarre, divergent interpretation of facts ever used to justify a pick in one game. So far I’ve heard that the Saints are the worst possible team for the Bucs to have to play because their strengths counter the Bucs strengths but they’re picking the Bucs because of Brady. I’ve heard that they’re picking the Bucs because Brady has never lost 3 times in one season to any team. I’ve heard different national sports geeks alternatively sight the offense and the defense as the… Read more »
Your constant anti Brady rants come off as childish. Former great QB? Nnnnope. He’s very much STILL a great QB. 66%. 4600 yds. 43 total TD’s vs 13 total TO’s, 21 sacks, and a 103 QB rating. That’s great no matter who it Is, what league they’re in, how old they are, regardless of location, team around you, and schedule. If Brady was 28, those are great numbers. Now add in the fact that he’s 43, on a new team/ system, (for the first time in his 20 year career), with all new teammates/coaches, in a season where there was… Read more »
The thing that makes me cringe when I see “Dave” is I know whatever you say will be accompanied with judgmental taunts and insults before you go onto your points. Points that can be good from a Bucs fan standpoint but nonetheless it starts out as offensive. I raised a number of good points and it was by any objective judgement not a rant or anti Brady. If anything I, not you mentioned all the picks for the Bucs that were made counter to objective analysis simply based on Brady.The crux of the comment was pundit voodoo analysis that you… Read more »
Does your constant 7 paragraph Brady hating rants have anything to do with it? Or this notion that if we don’t win this year, our window is closed(even though Brady is here for 1 more year, and is showing ZERO signs of slowing down). Or you persistence that we took this “huge gamble”, by letting go of career bust Jameis Winston(who was asking for the same amount of money we paid Brady btw) for a QB with 6 rings. Or how about your knack of ignoring that the Saints, with their HOF coach, HOF QB, HOF WR, HOF RB, top… Read more »
“Right ! I see this game going a very predictable way. 1)Brady goes off. 2) Defense lets us down in every big 3rd down. And 3) we’re out coached when it matters( in the 4th qtr)” That’s you. And I’ve seen your comment about the Bucs playing with house money as well in this game. Always lowering expectations. I’ve seen this all before. The Brady affect and people like you that put the teams entire success on the guys back. Destroy him when he fails and give all the credit to him when they win. It was common with the… Read more »
If you think the Saints are not the better team, or should not win this game, than you’re severe or misinformed. That’s not lowering expectations. That’s literally calling it EXACTLY what it is. The Saints have a HOF coach, HOF QB, HOF WR, HOF RB, top 5 OLine, top 5 defense, and top 5 kicker. And have a top 3 roster(for about the 4th year in a row). Oh, and they have the most continuity, in a season where continuity matters most. Just because your bizzare fandom has you trying to convince people that the Bucs and Saints are equals,… Read more »
@Spruce – Great points about pundits and “Dave”(lol). I think the same people that are dismissing the 38-3 loss vs the Saints will turn around and argue dominance against Green Bay because the Bucs won 38-10.
This game may be close, or even a Bucs win, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Brady struggles. His history against the Saints shows he has a 11:8 TD/INT ratio and is 2-5. Most relevantly this season, Brady has a 2:5 TD/INT and 0-2 record.
So would you be surprised if the Saints struggle?
I would be surprised if the Saints have self inflicted wounds.
I think the Bucs have the chance to redeem themselves by playing great defense.
If it’s a shoot out, I hate the Bucs chances because the Arians offense is prone to sacks and turnovers when he opens it up. The Saints offense features high completion rates and a mezmerizing screen game.
Well my question was, would you be surprised if the Saints struggled. Self inflicted wounds could be many things. If the Saints go 3 and out 8 times, allow 400 yards on defense, but don’t turn the ball over, and lose 24-23, yeah they didn’t turn it over, but that loss was self inflicted by bad play. I asked the question for a reason. Because it would be shocking to me, if anyone would be surprised if the Saints struggle. Seeing as they’ve been doing it very consistently for the last decade in the playoffs. Many of those years with… Read more »
Great stats and it’s nice to see real analysis for a change. Just because you mention challenges to overcome doesn’t mean you’re a bad fan or hate anyone.
Speaking of Green Bay if the Bucs can get past this game they match up very well with Green Bay regardless of what happened in the last game.
I’ll be wearing my D.White jersey today and hoping for great defense! Agree that the Bucs have a chance against anyone that’s left.
Neither game outcome was the “norm” for both the Bucs and their opponents. Every team can, and in most years usually, have a big letdown game that simply doesn’t compute with the rest of the season’s performance. Prior head to head games also mean little in the playoffs. The Bucs clearly have played vastly better since their big second loss to the Saints. Everybody recognizes that – even you, maybe. Every single game color commentator has remarked over the previous 5 weeks that the Bucs offense has steadily gotten better since the Saints game … that it took the better… Read more »
Absolutely spot on. The Bucs by and large have beaten up on the bad teams, and have been neck and neck with all the playoff teams. 3 point loss to the Rams(final 8 team). 3 point loss to the Chiefs(final 8 team). The 2 outliers were the 28 point win against GB, and the 35 point loss to the Saints. Throw both of those games out. They weren’t as good as they played against GB, and not as bad as they played in the 2nd Saints game. This game will be neck and neck. Week 1 should have been the… Read more »
I will remain calm despite what is occurring? If we lose, I will reflect on our previous 12 wins and how happy we made it to the Playoffs; also got a playoff win. If we win, I will be happy and will focus on “keeping the dream alive”. Regardless, thank you Bucs for a breath of fresh air. Go Bucs!
Great comment and outlook Horse!
Go BUCS!!!
Me too Horse. We often see things through the same lens………usually a bit rose colored. We baby boomers are wise, albeit a little forgetful sometimes.
Bucs 35-Saints 28
I believe the Bucs are a better team than the Saints are today.
That wasn’t true a couple months ago. It’s true today.
The good news is that in spite of the point spread, in spite of the location, in spite of the two losses to the Saints this season, in spite of Brees 5-2 advantage in games over Brady, in spite of the fact most teams that have lost to a team twice in the season go on to lose the game to that same team in the playoffs…….in spite of all that and more the vast majority of pundits favor the Bucs. And even when they pick the Saints they’re almost guilty in doing it. Except Nick Wright of course who… Read more »
I agree 100% with your assessment on the outcome. I only see a Saints dominating performance or a high scoring close win for the Bucs.
One result I can’t see is a Bucs blowout, and that is telling when you consider the bevy of talent on offense and defense for the Bucs.
Well luckily for Bucs fans, your predictions are about as accurate as the rapid covid tests
I think you’re right BS. Most of the time when there is a lopsided victory the opponent contributed by having a lot of self-inflicted wounds and the game snowballs out of control as that 38-3 debacle. The Saints typically don’t beat themselves and are the benefactor of a few special plays and personnel match-ups that surprise.
Bucs need the defense today and the rest of the way in the biggest way. Time to turn up the heat!
At Saints, at Green Bay in January, then KC(presumably) in Tampa will be a murderer’s row of offenses.
Go BUCS!! Mission 1: Kick some Saints ASS TODAY!
Regardless of if you’re a Bucs, Saints or football fan in general this has to be one of the most intriguing playoff games in years. Sure there’s the obvious with the two QB’s. For me it’s not knowing if the Bucs really got better or not. It’s been a heck of a long time since they played a complete team. They have the weapons for sure and it ain’t just Brady. They’ve got pass rushers that could make life miserable for Brees but can they get to him? I have to say interest on this one is at a fever… Read more »
Couldnt agree more. Im off to the gym for a good workout and will be loose the rest of the day. WIn or lose, it’s been a fun season in a shitty year.
Here’s to hoping the Bucs keep the dream alive!
I comes down to the Bucs D line putting enough pressure on Brees to allow our less than great D backs to maintain coverage. Without that happening the Dbacks will get slammed again. The Bucs HAVE to score 35 to win this game.
It was fun while it lasted, but eventually, Brady was going to play in prime time vs a team with a winning record. Playcalling, coaching, rushing yards/attempts, offensive line injuries, defensive shortcomings and bad calls as excuses aside, I believe this game will come down to #12, but not the way you think. Tom Brady has been pedestrian all season when playing against winning teams. I can put a bunch of stats up, but it’s not necesary. When things haven’t gone his way, he has lost his composure and became erratic with decision making. I fully expect the Saints to… Read more »
The Saints have a HOF coach, HOF QB, future HOF WR, future HOF RB, top 5 OLine, top 5 defense, and a top 5 kicker. Yet choke every single year come January. I could give you a bunch of stats….but it’s not necessary. Fact remains. With the team the Saints have, along with the continuity they have, anything less than a SB appearance at this point is a complete FAIL. It’s hilarious to see your usual Bucs whiners/Brady haters saying that it’s a massive fail if we lose, or Brady wasn’t worth the “gamble” if we lose, and on and… Read more »
I’m not trolling. Brady has a history vs Drew Brees. He is simply 2-5. He has thrown lots of interceptions vs the Saints. He has also thrown less TD’s than he normally does. Everything is not a conspiracy pal. My brain is telling me Saints win by 17 in an ass whipping. My heart is telling me to believe the Bucs can keep it close and limit the scoring. My brain says the only way my heart can be right is if the Bucs coaches limit Brady from trying to do too much. If Brady tries to do too much,… Read more »
Yeah because Brady vs Brees matchups while he was a Patriot, a decade ago, has any relevance whatsoever to THIS game lol. The same as Brees/Payton’s annual playoff choke job has no relevance on this game. And I will bet any amount of money you want that the Saints don’t win by 17 or more. You name your price
And sure, I can appreciate you naming Rojo as the mvp, even if I don’t think he’ll be the mvp.
Also, I thought you’d be over the moon that I picked RoJo as MVP in a Bucs win. Oh well, I guess some folks just wanna debate and can’t find common ground.
I think you’re low on the score but otherwise terrific analysis. I watched the Pats win games over 30 years based on defense where Brady wasn’t at his best. They could do it here as well. Could very well be that Brady’s primary job is game management and don’t turn the ball over. One thing I would disagree on if it does come down to a last drive to tie or win or ever preserve the win that’s when you want all that experience calling signals. Then again he had pick sixes in his last two games last year with… Read more »
Call it a gut feeling. I vascillate between high scoring Saints win and low scoring Bucs win in a nail biter. I really hope the defense turns it up today. Bucs need that.
I completely agree why it’s hard to garner any degree of conviction on this game. There’s too many moving parts and the Bucs especially can turn in wildly different performances in games.
Take heart. The experts can’t even muster an conviction on it.
You watched the Pats defense win games while Brady struggled for over 30 years? Weird. He was only on the Pats for 20. And outside the first 4 years as the starting QB, 4 out of every 5 playoff wins for the Pats was from Brady bailing out the defense, and not the other way around. Especially in SB’s
Aside from correcting my obvious mistake on Brady’s career none of the rest is true at all.
Brady and the offense will put up more than 17 points, and there’s a 0.0 percent chance that the Saints only score 13 points.
And saying you can’t put the ball in Brady’s hands is beyond comical. He’s been bailing out this crapbag defense for most of the season. Lol. Give me a break.
Dude – TB-12 put up nearly 400 yards, two TDs, and no INTs on the road against what is one of the best defenses in the league, with many calling the WFT the best defensive front four in football .. when lots of people were peeing in their pants worrying over Brady’s “pedestrian performance against good teams”.