New Orleans Saints: Studs and duds prediction vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Jason Reed
It is football Sunday and the New Orleans Saints are set to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what could be a thrilling offensive shootout.
The New Orleans Saints home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 has serious potential to be one of the most interesting games of the early slate. Of the staggering 10 early games, we may be seeing this game a lot on the Redzone Channel.
The Saints have a high-profile offense and a great offensive head coach and are coming up against a secondary that is underwhelming, to say the least.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers tout an elite group of pass-catchers to go alongside Jameis Winston, who can either look like an elite quarterback or a backup quarterback, depending on the day.
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This is going to be a fun one as nobody really knows what to expect. Here is how I see the game going down, courtesy of our New Orleans Saints’ studs and duds of the game.
Stud: Teddy Bridgewater
This has all the makings of being Teddy Bridgewater‘s best game under center for the Saints. Bridgewater is coming up against a secondary that he can throw against and might be in a situation where a lot of points are needed, which is going to open up the playbook immensely.
Bridgewater has done a great job of being a game manager for the Saints thus far but Sean Payton still hasn’t fully opened it up for the former Pro Bowl quarterback. This is a game where the Saints are going to need Bridgewater to be really good, so expect his best game yet as a Saint.
Dud: Alvin Kamara
The New Orleans Saints are coming up against the NFL’s best run defense, which has allowed just 59.2 rushing yards per game this season.
Tampa Bay boasts a really good linebacker unit that can get to the backfield often and disrupt plays before they can even happen. Any holes and big potential runs that Kamara has are going to be stuffed right away with the athleticism in the middle of the field.
Kamara may have a slightly bigger role in the passing game but even that is going to be tough as the middle of the field is going to be dangerous and the outside linebackers can quickly attack the flats.
Stud: Michael Thomas
Someone is going to have to have a great game alongside Bridgewater and the best option for that is the best wide receiver on the Saints, Michael Thomas. Thomas has been fairly quiet in the two games without Brees thus far and is due for a big game in some big situations.
Bridgewater is going to rely on that mismatch between Thomas and the Bucs’ secondary and is going to hit the open receiver for at least receptions and 150 yards in this game. Yes, it will be that big of a game.
Dud: Eli Apple
The Saints’ secondary is going to get tested in this game as they come up against the duo with the second-most receiving yards in the league. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are going to be a problem, especially with Eli Apple.
Apple is going to be tasked with defending Godwin as Evans will be lined up against Marshon Lattimore more times than not. Lattimore often elevates his play against big-name wide receivers while Eli Apple is far too susceptible to the deep ball.
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Godwin has been an incredible target for Winston and is going to prove to be too much for Eli Apple and is going to put together his second straight great week.