Saints vs. Bucs: Five brave predictions
Drew Brees tears up the Buccaneers defense.
This is, without a doubt, the bravest of my predictions. It’s unfounded, to be honest. After an absolute dud performance against the Lions, I predict Brees comes out firing on all cylinders to torch this talented Buccs defense.
By all accounts, the Buccaneers defense is more dangerous than the Lions. But the Lions won the game, very simply, by winning at the line. They were absurdly disruptive against the pass and the run. The Saints couldn’t fully get into their sets, and it crippled them.
I’m reluctant to admit that some of that is on the playcaller’s shoulders. I say I’m reluctant because I’m not a member of the Payton-hate club. I think he’s still the great offensive mind that he’s always been. He just had a bad game, he was caught with a bad gameplan. The Saints needed some short and intermediate throws to open up the offense, and they just weren’t prepared for it.
Anyway, I’d be surprised to see Payton caught off-guard two weeks in a row. And assuming Gerald McCoy misses the game with his foot injury, this Buccs defensive line is not so scary. They play good coverage, so the Saints WRs will have to find space. But they’re more than capable of that.
Next: Playoffs or not, this Saints team is fun to watch