Behind Enemy Lines with the New Orleans Saints
It’s that time of the year again.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing NFC South football as they’re set to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 of the NFL season. Both teams are 2-1 and coming off of their first loss of the season, so both will try and usurp the other to get a foothold on the NFC South as the first quarter of the season is coming to an end. Week 4 will be Tampa Bay’s first divisional game.
We sat down with Saints Wire’s John Sigler to go behind enemy lines and talk about quarterbacks, Alvin Kamara and more heading into Sunday’s matchup:
Should the starter be Jameis Winston, Bucs fans all remember his infamous stint in Tampa Bay. After his performance against the Packers in Week 3, how much confidence do you have in him against this Bucs defense?
Sigler: I don’t have a ton of confidence in this offense regardless of the quarterback, but Carr is the Saints’ preferred option so it’s worth wondering whether Winston can get them where they want to go. The Bucs defense has gotten the better of him in recent meetings. Alvin Kamara is back from suspension but Winston’s struggles to get him the ball were a defining criticism during his previous run as the starter. I’m anxious about that matchup.
If the starter is Derek Carr he'd look to play only a week after injuring his shoulder against the Green Bay Packers. How effective do you think he will be playing through an injury of that nature?
Sigler: There isn’t any structural issue here, it’s all about pain management. So if Carr can block that out and throw cleanly I expect we’ll see more of the same from him. Unfortunately, his run with the offense thus far has seen too many hiccups, especially in scoring position. An offense (and a Pro Bowl quarterback) with this many weapons shouldn’t struggle to score just two or three times a game. A tough Tampa Bay defense is a bad matchup for him.
This game has become a heated rivalry in recent years as both teams have vied for power in the division once the Bucs got better. With Tom Brady gone, do you expect the bad blood to continue in the coming years?
Sigler: Yeah, I do. This team wasn’t on anyone’s radar until Brady put a spotlight on them, but big characters remain like Mike Evans and Devin White. There’s real dislike between the star talents on either sideline and so long as they keep that energy going, the Saints are going to respond in kind. I don’t believe this series will ever have the emotion in it the Saints bring against real rivals like the Atlanta Falcons, who have generations of bad blood on their side, but the Bucs winning three in a row would sting.
RB Alvin Kamara is set to return to the team after serving a three-game suspension. How much is he needed in New Orleans right now after these first three weeks?
Sigler: The Saints need Kamara in the worst way. Their running game has been inconsistent at best through three weeks without him and his replacements have left a lot to be desired as pass-catchers. Hopefully, the Saints can get him the ball in space early and often no matter who is playing quarterback. Kamara brings an electricity that no one else on the roster can match.
Who is a player in New Orleans that has flown under the radar that Bucs fans should look out for on Sunday?
Sigler: I was going to say Carl Granderson, but I have a lot of respect for Tristan Wirfs’ abilities at left tackle to take him out of the game. He’s played well at right end but Wirfs is a top-five lineman in this league regardless of position. So I’ll go with Alontae Taylor. He’s moved to the slot this year after starting out wide last season and he’s been a big playmaker for the Saints. There was a sequence last week where he broke up a pass to the end zone on one play, then got a sack on the next down to force a punt from midfield. His tackling still needs work but he’s improving each week in this new role.
What is your prediction for the game? Final score?
Sigler: I’m predicting the Saints win. I have more confidence in the Saints offense than the Bucs’ unit to move the ball and at least get in position to kick some field goals from manageable distance. Both teams have top-shelf defenses, but Baker Mayfield doesn’t worry me. I like the Saints to win ugly.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Saints, 18-13
