Predicting the last 4 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2021

Week 15 – @ Buccaneers (Sunday, Dec. 19 — 7:20 CST)

The Buccaneers have yet to take down the Saints in the regular season during the Tom Brady Bucs era. They did win the matchup that mattered most, however, knocking off NOLA in the playoffs last year and then went on to win the Super Bowl. Blech.

The last time these two teams squared off, Jameis Winston went down with an injury but New Orleans persevered and won the game convincingly. After that win, the good guys moved to 5-2 on the year and it looked like they’d surely find their way into the postseason even without Winston at quarterback.

Well, since that game, New Orleans has gone 1-5 with the win coming this past week at MetLife Stadium. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has lost just one game since losing to the black and gold and they’re on a quest for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC. If they get that seed, home-field advantage in the playoffs will be theirs.

The last time these two games played on Sunday Night Football, New Orleans curb-stomped the Buccaneers on primetime TV. Somehow, I don’t see that happening again.

The Bucs are currently 10.5-point favorites, per WynnBET, and it’s not hard to see why. The Saints’ defense is good but the offense might not be able to get much going, as we’ve seen throughout most of the season. Taysom Hill has provided a spark with the offense but unless Sean Payton truly has Tampa’s number, I don’t see any way in which NOLA wins this game.