On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will kick off a game that may give the winner an early lead on the NFC South title. The Buccaneers trail the Saints by just a game, and are red-hot off of their 55-40 upset of the Los Angeles Rams. Fortunately for New Orleans, this is an opponent they’ve seen often. They’ll be ready.
The game will likely come down to several individual performances, with standout players making a difference in critical moments. Here’s the three matchups we’ll be following most closely.
Saints cornerbacks versus Buccaneers receivers
The Buccaneers have two very, very good wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. They both rank within the NFL leaders for receiving yards and chunk plays; Godwin has the third-most yards (386) and third-most catches of 20-plus yards (7), while Evans trails him with the seventh-most yards (368) and sixth-most 20-plus yard gains (6). Either of them is capable of taking over a game, making this the toughest challenge yet for Saints cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Eli Apple. Apple may have been the most-consistent defensive back for the Saints this year so far, but Lattimore turned a corner and looked like his old self against Amari Cooper and the Dallas Cowboys a week ago. Both of them need to be at the top of their game versus Tampa Bay.
Saints offensive line versus Buccaneers pass rushers
It’s bad enough that the Saints’ blockers up front — considered all offseason to be one of the strongest units in the league — have drawn a host of penalties (11 holding fouls in their first four games). Aside from standout right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, they’ve been guilty of allowing too much pressure since Teddy Bridgewater entered the lineup. Bridgewater has been sacked seven times in his last three-and-a-half games; that’s simply not good enough. Sure, some of that responsibility is on Bridgewater’s shoulders. He’s been too hesitant in the pocket, pump-faking too often and forcing his blockers to try to hold up longer than they’re able. But games are won and lost in the trenches, and right now, the Buccaneers are bringing a potential Defensive Player of the Year in breakout pass-rusher Shaquil Barrett, along with fearsome defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Alvin Kamara versus Buccaneers linebackers
An absence for Drew Brees has turned into a proliferation of touches for Alvin Kamara, who leads the team in rushing attempts (59) and ranks second in pass targets (24) through four weeks. Kamara encountered his first real challenge last week against Cowboys linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch; he’ll face a similar matchup versus Buccaneers defenders Lavonte David and Devin White, who have the athleticism to run with him in coverage and track him down at the line of scrimmage. Kamara hasn’t let the Saints down yet, but tough linebacker duos like these have slowed him down before. If his production trails off, it will put even more pressure on Bridgewater to keep the offense moving along.
