New Orleans Saints: Complete roster breakdown vs. Buccaneers

The offense:

Quarterback: Advantage, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I feel wrong for saying that Jameis Winston is a better quarterback than anyone but in this case, he does get the advantage.

Maybe I am being a bit too harsh as Winston is not terrible, he is just as mediocre as it comes and is far too prone to throwing interceptions. I said it in another article and I will say it again: he is a 75-cent version of Dak Prescott.

While Teddy Bridgewater has managed the game enough to be 2-0, Winston has big game potential (as we saw last week) that Bridgewater does not seem to have. Bridgewater has a higher floor but Winston has a much higher ceiling.

Running backs: Advantage, New Orleans Saints

I will give the Buccaneers credit, they have actually gotten better at running the football as last year they were atrocious at running the ball.

However, they still do not stand up to Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, and hey, we’ll throw Taysum Hill in that mix.

Wide receivers: Advantage, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints have the best receiver on the field in Michael Thomas but the Buccaneers have the better all-around receiving corps. Chris Godwin is much better than any second receiver that the Saints have and Mike Evans is good enough to make the Thomas advantage not that huge.

It does hurt having Bridgewater, who does not throw downfield that much. But that is the reality of the situation.

Tight ends: Advantage, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers find themselves with another offensive advantage. Jared Cook has been very disappointed in the passing game for the Saints, only recording 90 receiving yards through four games.

Meanwhile, the Bucs have two solid tight ends in Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, who offer more of a dynamic outlook than the Saints’ tight ends.

Offensive line: Advantage, New Orleans Saints

The advantages that the Buccaneers have are noticeable, but not huge. Whereas the two offensive advantages that the Saints have are massive.

The Saints have arguably one of the five-best offensive lines in the league with Andrus Peat being the only questionable player to play on Sunday while the Bucs have one of the five-worst offensive lines with center Ryan Jensen and right tackle Demar Dotson both being questionable.

Overall advantage: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I do think that without Drew Brees the Buccaneers have a marginally better offense. However, it all revolves around Winston. If he has a good day then this offense is scary. If he has a bad day, which he has a lot of, then suddenly all of those weapons don’t even matter.