It’s GAME DAY at Glory Days Grill – Come watch football all season long!
Bucs 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.
BUCCANEERS at SAINTS
WHEN: Sunday, October 24, 2021 | WHERE: Caesars Superdome | KICKOFF: 4:25 p.m. ET | TV: FOX
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 | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
SPANISH RADIO: 96.1 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Carlos Bohorquez | ANALYST: Martin Gramatica
Join Pewter Report’s Matt Matera on PewterReport.com’s Red Board to talk Bucs football for a
live game day chat, starting at 3:00 p.m. 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!
– Game Days At Glory Days Grill –
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Glory Days Grill
Brandon | Brooksville | Carrollwood | Fort Myers | Lakeland | New Tampa | Odessa/Lutz
Palm Harbor | Riverview | Sarasota | St. Petersburg | Tallahassee | Tyrone | Wesley Chapel
Scott Reynolds: It’s Happy Halloween For Bucs In Big Easy
Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
That was how Tampa Bay finally cracked the code and snapped New Orleans’ five-game losing streak in last year’s 30-20 playoff win in the Superdome. The Bucs finally topped 100 yards rushing (122) and put up 30 points. But that might be easier said than done. Tampa Bay also benefited from good field position in that game due to three takeaways in New Orleans territory. Winning the turnover battle this Sunday will also be critical.
Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 26, Saints 24
Reynolds’ Season Record: 6-1
Jon Ledyard: Bucs Are More Talented, But Will That Be Enough?
There is little question the Bucs have the better team in this matchup, and I have no doubts Tampa Bay will win the NFC South in the end. But the Bucs have shot themselves in the foot often this young season. They’ve overcome it against some lesser opponents, but the Saints will provide a new challenge. Following the tradition of most Sean Payton teams, the Saints don’t beat themselves with penalties, turnovers, sacks, drops, blown coverages or missed tackles. If you want a victory against the Saints, you typically have to take it.
Saints PR Deonte Harris – Photo by: USA Today
Can the Bucs do that on the road, where they’ve struggled this season? Tampa Bay’s only loss came on the road, and their offense has looked mediocre away from Raymond James. That won’t cut it against the best defense they’ll face this season in New Orleans. The Saints have a difference maker at every level of their defense, and they are getting healthier on the defensive line too. Expect an improved pass rush against Tampa Bay’s offensive line this Sunday.
The Bucs offensive stars have to come out this week if Tampa Bay is going to prevail. Last year, Brady, Evans and co. were far too quiet against the Saints. Defensively, the Bucs should be licking their chops for this match-up. But the Saints have schemed well around their weaknesses, and their special teams are a threat to alter the game. The Bucs are better, but game results don’t always reflect that, especially in the regular season. Tampa Bay needs its cleanest game of the season to win in New Orleans, and I don’t think the team is ready for that – yet.
Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Saints 24, Buccaneers 21
Ledyard’s Season Record: 7-0
Matt Matera: It May Get Spooky, But Bucs Win By A Close Margin
These are the types of games you get up for. Tom Brady and the Bucs are looking to separate themselves from everyone in the NFC South and keep them in the running for first in the conference. I don’t feel great about this game as Tampa Bay’s offense has struggled to string together consistent scoring drives when having to go the entire field. You know the Saints plan is to stop Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, which they’ve done recently, so who else steps up? I’m looking at Tyler Johnson or Jaelon Darden to get some targets from Brady based on better match-ups.
Saints QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: USA Today
It’s also an emotional game as it’s the first start for former Bucs QB Jameis Winston against his old team. Winston has been a bit of a different player with the Saints. The turnovers are down, but the big plays aren’t as present, which is why they’ve struggled. I’d blame the receivers more for that, but either way it helps the Bucs. An even bigger help is if they get Lavonte David back to shut down Alvin Kamara. I’m not saying the Bucs will create five turnovers, but the defense is starting to turn the page. l expect them to make at least one splash play, whether it’s a sack from Shaq Barrett or an interception by someone in the secondary. Even if Tampa Bay is down to just Jamel Dean and Pierre Desir, the Bucs can hold it together.
What an atmosphere it’s going to be in New Orleans with so much on the line – and on Halloween. The Bucs haven’t played their best on the road. But even when they’re not playing at a full potential, they’re still better than most teams. It’ll come down to the wire, but the Bucs win late in the game.
Matera’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 23, Saints 21
Matera’s Season Record: 6-1
JC Allen: Bucs Bury Saints’ Voodoo Doll In Close Win
After being swept in the regular season, the Bucs expelled the demons and beat the Saints in their playoff match-up in New Orleans. That voodoo doll is gone now as the Bucs face the Saints for the first time in 2021. This team knows it can beat the Saints and knows they can do it in NOLA. It will be a bit different with a packed Caesars Superdome, but Tampa Bay has been practicing with crowd noise all season. There will be some extra juice in this match up as well with former Buc Jameis Winston lining up under center.
Saints DE Marcus Davenport and Bucs RB Ronald Jones – Photo by: Getty Images
The Saints present a myriad of challenges for the Bucs. They have one of the top run defense units in the league giving up just over 80 yards a game. They’ve been one of the top teams in points allowed, allowing just 16.8 yards a game. The Saints are also getting healthy at the right time as well. Pass rusher Marcus Davenport returned last week and was quite possibly the best player on the field. The Bucs will have to limit a challenging pass rush from New Orleans while also containing the explosive Alvin Kamara.
The Bucs have averaged 23.6 points on the road compared to 40.5 at home they’ll need to turn those numbers around to seal a victory. Tom Brady and Mike Evans will need to have a better performance than they have the past three contests to be part of that. A returning Rob Gronkowski will give the offense an extra jolt. While the return of Lavonte David and Richard Sherman will help the defense against a struggling Winston and Saints passing offense.Sean Payton will probably have some trick plays up his sleeves, while the Bucs are surely hoping for some treats in the form of Winston interceptions. In a close game the Bucs will have the last laugh with a victory in NOLA on Halloween.
Allen’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Saints 23
Allen’s Season Record: 6-1
Paul Atwal: Bucs Pull Through In A Thriller
The Buccaneers defense suffocated the Saints in last year’s playoffs with tight single-high coverage that dared Drew Brees to throw deep. The game plan has to be flipped this season. Jameis Winston has had a respectable, not remarkable, season, and his success is predicated on explosive plays. According to SIS, against single-high defenses, the Saints have the fifth best passing attack in the league. However, against two-high defenses, when Winston is forced to play methodically, the Saints plummet to the fourth worst offense through the air.
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today
Playing two-high coverages against New Orleans can be tricky. For one, they’re happy to run the ball – though the Bucs can use this to their advantage. Despite having Alvin Kamara, the Saints are actually below average in rushing efficiency. And more importantly, the Bucs’ run defense is outstanding. Even last week, when the Bears were surprisingly successful on the ground, Tampa Bay held Chicago to -0.06 EPA/play on hand offs. The other challenge with playing two-high is that it leaves Kamara one-on-one over the middle on pass plays. Lavonte David, now would be a great time to come back.
Defensively, the Saints will do what many Bucs’ opponents have tried to do – take the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands. While they’re usually a single-high team, New Orleans will likely play how they did in last year’s playoff match-up – showing light boxes with light personnel, and hoping the Bucs keep handing it off. It worked last time, as, excluding the final two minutes of each half, Tampa Bay called 19 runs to only four passes on first down. The runs were inefficient, too. The Bucs have had more rushing success lately, but they can’t fall into this trap again. Use the run game as a compliment to the pass game on first down, not as a replacement.
Atwal’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Saints 20
Atwal’s Season Record: 7-0
Kasey Hudson: Paint It Black
Between a 6-1 high and some key starters returning, the Buccaneers have the momentum to perform well against the Saints. Tom Brady will be looking to light it up with his receivers Sunday to make up for plays left on the field against the Bears. With Rob Gronkowski returning, that gives Tom Brady back his go-to guy in crucial downs. Gronkowski will add to an improving run game with his blocking skills and help with efficiency in the red zone. The Saints are not to be underestimated. New Orleans’ defense has forced at least one turnover in each of its first five games, but the team’s strong suit is eliminating opponents’ run game.
Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One of the biggest weapons the Saints had was Drew Brees, his skill set, and veteran presence making it hard to surprise him. With Jameis Winston it’s different, and his 3.07 release time when passing should help Tampa Bay’s pass rush, especially as the Saints are without guard Andrus Peat. The Saints do well converting in the red zone and rank second in the league inside the 20. New Orleans averages 23.3 points per game, but Tampa Bay has only allowed more than 20 points once since Week 3.
Bruce Arians mentioned in press conferences Monday that Devin White is performing well regardless of what the numbers show. But fans are ready to see his production in the numbers and in a “splashier” fashion. White had an outstanding game versus the Saints in their last match-up applying pressure and coming up with in interception in the playoffs, in addition to a huge fumble recovery. If the Buccaneers can fluster Winston defensively and fire off in the passing game offensively, they’ll win a close game.
Hudson’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30, Saints 24
Hudson’s Season Record: 6-1
