Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NFL regular season match.
Divisional rivals and direct competitors for the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints (2-3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) will face off Sunday evening. Initially, the Saints were considered favourites by bookmakers, but the injury to quarterback Derek Carr has upset all expectations.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are forced to rely on newcomer Spencer Rattler, who was selected in the fifth round of the draft. This significantly alters the situation, as the Saints have plenty of injuries among their linemen, affecting the protection of the pocket. Last week, they struggled against the Kansas City Royals' aggressive blitz (13:26), and it won't be any easier against the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It seems that the Buccaneers' new offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, has found the right approach with quarterback Baker Mayfield. He’s averaging 232.8 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Additionally, the Buccaneers have a scheduling advantage, having played their last game on Thursday night, while the Saints played four days later.
New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction
The New Orleans Saints have six players from their defence in recovery. In this state, they will have to play their second game in five days against a high-quality offensive team. The Buccaneers should capitalise on this advantage.
