3 bold predictions for Week 11’s game between the Saints and Buccaneers

Find out what you should be on the lookout for during Sunday’s Week 11 showdown between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The New Orleans Saints visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday looking for redemption after dropping a game at home to the lowly Atlanta Falcons in Week 10.

At 7-2, New Orleans is right near the top of the NFC playoff seeding, meaning a loss to the 3-6 Buccaneers would further dampen their pursuit of the top spot.

The Bucs are looking for redemption of their own, however. Their loss in Week 5 to the Saints started the Bucs on a four-game losing streak, which only ended with last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Ever the enigma, the Buccaneers find themselves as underdogs at home for the first time all season. But remember, this offense can put up points and fast. Tampa Bay has the league’s third-best scoring offense, averaging 28.9 points per game.

And, as the Falcons showed in last week’s upset of New Orleans, you shouldn’t give much credence to overall records when it comes to a game between divisional opponents. The sense of familiarity and the ingrained rivalry usually makes it an even matchup (unless you’re an AFC East team playing the New England Patriots).

I think the Bucs will upset the Saints in a high-scoring game that will mark the signature win of the season for Tampa Bay.

Here are three other bold predictions for Sunday’s matchup.

Bucs secondary gets to Brees

Let’s face it — the best way to beat the Buccaneers defense is to attack their secondary. Tampa Bay’s pass defense is last in the NFL and they lost their seasoned veteran this week when they cut cornerback and former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves. New Orleans knows the Bucs rush defense is a near-impenetrable wall, so expect Brees to go to the air early and often. I think he’ll throw the ball at least 50 times, forcing it in some cases. The Bucs will intercept the future Hall of Fame quarterback three times.

Winston has zero turnovers

This is like predicting Jay Cutler having an interception-free game. It’s risky. Winston has 14 interceptions on the season and seems to turn the ball over at the worst times. I think offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will look to establish the run early with Ronald Jones and ease Winston into things. You have to play mistake-free football against a team like New Orleans in order to win. I think Winston gets 300 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns with zero turnovers.

Jonesing for a 100-yard game

Running back Ronald Jones has had a huge bounce-back season after a disappointing rookie campaign last year. The new starter for the Bucs has looked great the past two weeks, scoring touchdowns in both games. Everyone is waiting — especially fantasy owners — for Jones to have that breakout game, though. He’s flirted with 100-yard rushing games before, but has yet to eclipse the mark over his two-year career. What better time than Sunday to do it?

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NFL Week 11: 4 bold predictions for Buccaneers vs. Saints

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are preparing for their Week 11 road game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading to bold predictions.

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for their Week 11 kickoff, and it’s a game that carries plenty of potential for game-changing plays and standout performances. Here are our bold predictions for Sunday’s game.

Jameis Winston throws two picks, and gives up two fumbles

Winston is a turnover machine, and that was never more evident than his last game against the Saints in which he had an interception overturned by committing a delay-of-game penalty. He will throw passes against the Saints secondary that they should have a shot at taking away, and he will hold the ball loosely and far enough away from his body at times to where the Saints defensive line can try to grab it. New Orleans just has to do their part and take those possessions away when they’re available.

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NFL Network analyst James Jones makes a shocking prediction for the Saints-Bucs game

See what NFL Network analyst James Jones foresees happening in Sunday’s Week 11 matchup between the Saints and Buccaneers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers halted their four-game losing streak last Sunday by taking down the Arizona Cardinals, but didn’t have time to celebrate long.

With their season still on life support at 3-6, the Buccaneers will now face the challenge of trying to take down the New Orleans Saints, who sit atop the NFC South at 7-2.

The Saints are coming off a stunning home loss in Week 10 to the Atlanta Falcons, which dropped them to 7-2, meaning they still sit behind the San Francisco 49ers (8-1) in the race for the top spot in the NFC. A Drew Brees-led offense playing in desperation mode can only spell bad news for the Buccaneers, who have the league’s worst pass defense.

While New Orleans is rightfully favored heading into Sunday’s matchup at Raymond James Stadium, NFL Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver James Jones thinks the Bucs will actually shock the Saints and pull off the upset.

Here’s what Jones had to say:

“After scoring a measly nine points in a loss to the Falcons last week, will Drew Brees and the Saints turn things around against the Bucs’ 32nd-ranked scoring defense? No! The Saints don’t find their rhythm, but Jameis Winston does. The Bucs quarterback continues to prove why he should get paid by throwing four TD passes in the win.”

That’s a bold prediction for sure and one that could come to fruition. There’s no doubt that this Bucs offense can hang with anybody. In their Week 9 loss to the Seahawks, they matched Seattle score-for-score down the stretch, forcing overtime.

But Winston is the unknown in this equation. He can throw you four touchdowns any day of the week. The question, though, is how many interceptions does he throw? And, how many points off turnovers come out of it?

Turnovers have plagued Winston throughout his career. If he can string together a solid, turnover-free performance on Sunday, the Buccaneers could very well play spoiler to the Saints.

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Chris Wesseling of NFL.com thinks Nick Foles could be the next Bucs quarterback

Find out why Chris Wesseling of NFL.com thinks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles could be in a Bucs uniform next season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a big decision to make this offseason when it comes to quarterback Jameis Winston. Do they give a new contract to the former number one overall pick, whether short term or long term? Or, do they let him walk as a free agent and start over at the position?

At 3-6, Tampa Bay may well find themselves in an envious draft position when the season ends. With a quarterback-rich 2020 NFL Draft that will likely include guys like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow, there could be plenty of options for the Bucs.

But, it seems Chris Wesseling of NFL.com thinks there could be a veteran signal-caller under center for the Buccaneers next season: Nick Foles. In his article on the top 10 potentially available passers in 2020, Wesseling listed both Foles and Winston, and offered up the idea that Foles could find his way to Tampa Bay.

Take a look.

“As Minshew Mania entered full bloom, Foles was the quarterback name most bandied about at last month’s trade deadline. Armed with the assurance that they now have an intoxicating young fallback option under center, the Jaguars opted to keep their $88 million investment for a seven-game trial run that will offer ostensible clarity in the 2020 QB room. Should Foles succeed in transmitting his Super Bowl LII magic to a less talented supporting cast than the one he enjoyed in Philadelphia, the best course of action may be to hold Minshew in reserve as a premium insurance policy. Should Foles flounder or suffer yet another injury, however, it will behoove the Jaguars to solicit potential suitors such as the Bears, Broncos or Buccaneers. Yes, the Bucs.”

Foles had a storybook-run to the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, but I think he was in the right system, under the right circumstances. I don’t think he’s worth the big-money investment, though.

If the Buccaneers want to start over at the position, the 2020 NFL Draft is probably the best place to find a quarterback, depending on where they pick. Let a young quarterback learn and grow under Bruce Arians.

Remember, Arians served as the offensive coordinator/interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, Andrew Luck’s rookie year. Indy went 11-5 and made the playoffs, one year after going 2-14.

Translation: Arians knows how to work with young quarterbacks, not just veterans.

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Could Teddy Bridgewater be the Buccaneers quarterback in 2020?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be wise to pursue New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter Sunday looking to avenge their Week 5 loss, when New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater torched the Bucs secondary for 314 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-24 New Orleans win.

This week, however, Bridgewater will be watching from the sideline now that incumbent starter Drew Brees is back from a thumb injury.

While the Buccaneers won’t be facing Bridgewater in Week 11, they should keep an eye on him this offseason as a potential replacement for Jameis Winston, according to NFL.com analyst David Carr.

Carr, the 2002 number one overall pick by the Houston Texans and older brother of Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, listed five teams he feels don’t yet have their 2020 starting quarterback on the roster.

Not surprisingly, the Buccaneers were one of the five. Carr didn’t hold back in his criticism of quarterback Jameis Winston, and, when offering up a solution for the Bucs, turned his focus to Bridgewater.

Here’s part of Carr’s explanation:

“Winston is a turnover machine. He has thrown 17 TD passes yet he’s committed 18 turnovers (14 picks, four fumbles lost). This is not a recipe for success. It’s time that the Bucs realize Winston isn’t the future, and go hard after Teddy Bridgewater or Andy Dalton this offseason. There’s a chance the Saints won’t let Teddy, who went 5-0 as a starter this season, hit the market but if they let him walk and he doesn’t end up in Carolina (as I suggested earlier in this piece), he is an ideal fit for Bruce Arians and the Bucs’ offensive weapons.”

I think Bridgewater is the better choice than Dalton. Bridgewater is younger and more athletic, so more upside. Plus, Dalton has shown he’s not the answer in Cincinnati, so why would things be different in Tampa Bay?

Just because Bruce Arians worked his magic with one former Bengal in Carson Palmer, doesn’t mean lightning will strike twice.

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NFL announces kickoff time for Texans-Buccaneers Week 16

The NFL released the kickoff times for the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Saturday, Dec. 21, in Week 16.

The NFL released the kickoff time for the Week 16 Houston Texans at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday.

The kickoff time for the Dec. 21, 2019, encounter at Raymond James Stadium will be at 12:00 p.m. CT on NFL Network.

The game is part of tripleheader action on the league network. After the Texans-Buccaneers tilt will be the Buffalo Bills at the New England Patriots with a 3:30 p.m. CT kickoff.

The action finishes up on Saturday with an NFC West showdown as the Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Houston and Tampa Bay will feature two young quarterbacks in Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston and two big-time receivers in DeAndre Hopkins and Mike Evans that could prove to be a shootout, no matter the records.

Fans in the Houston market who don’t have NFL Network will be able to watch the game locally on KRIV, Fox 26.