Tag: New Orleans Saints

Nick Easton gets the start at left guard for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints started veteran left guard Nick Easton in relief of injured starter Andrus Peat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The New Orleans Saints are without starting left guard Andrus Peat for about six weeks following surgery on his broken arm, so they turned to veteran Nick Easton to fill in for him. It’s a surprising decision only in the sense that Easton hasn’t taken a single snap on offense since the Saints signed him to a four-year, $22.5 million contract earlier this year. Before Sunday’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Easton was a healthy scratch in six of the Saints’ first nine games.

Instead, New Orleans has preferred to activate backups Will Clapp and Patrick Omameh. That’s probably due to Clapp’s upside in overloaded offensive line sets, putting him out on the edge next to left tackle Terron Armstead or right tackle Ryan Ramczyk. Omameh can play both guard and tackle, making him a go-to reserve. That lack of versatility (Easton has only played center and left guard in the NFL) may help explain the decision to keep an expensive free agent on the bench after younger players like Peat and rookie center Erik McCoy won starting jobs ahead of him.

So now Easton is in the lineup, and he’s done a good job of avoiding mistakes early in the game against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have a decent pass rush that’s improved with the addition of Jason Pierre-Paul, so he’ll have his work cut out for him as the afternoon continues.

It’s a big opportunity for Easton outside of the immediate playing-time he’s getting in relief of Peat. Peat is a free agent in the spring and likely going to earn a contract near the top of the market; if Easton plays well, he has to be the favorite to take Peat’s spot at left guard in the long-term. His contract features just $4 million in guarantees, making it a much more affordable deal for New Orleans than the totals may suggest. How he performs over the next six weeks could end up being even more important than it appears at first glance. He’s playing for his future.

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Saints-Bucs: Buccaneers list seven inactives for Week 11

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have listed seven players as inactive for today’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the New Orleans Saints today in Week 11, looking to build off the momentum of last week’s big win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite being just 3-6, the Bucs aren’t completely out of the playoff race just yet. If they can pull off the surprising upset today against the Saints, they could make a serious run down the stretch.

As you can see from the above tweet, the Bucs will be without two pass rushers today in Carl Nassib and Anthony Nelson. Saints quarterback Drew Brees will likely look to take advantage of a Bucs secondary that ranks dead last in the league.

Meanwhile, Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans could make history today against New Orleans. Evans is just 76 yards away from another 1,000-yard season. It would be the sixth-straight to begin his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most in NFL history.

Evans was held without a reception in Week 5’s loss to the Saints, but New Orleans will be without cornerback Marshon Lattimore today, so the Pro Bowl receiver could have a monster game at home.

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New Orleans Saints inactive report for Week 11 at Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers reported their inactive players for Week 11, including Deonte Harris and Marshon Lattimore.

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The New Orleans Saints are going to be without multiple key players during their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with starters like Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Andrus Peat (broken arm) preemptively ruled out for Sunday on the final injury report. Rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris (also managing a hamstring issue) joined them. This could be the first look fans have at free agent guard Nick Easton, who signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract in the offseason but has only played a handful of special teams snaps this year behind Peat and backup Will Clapp.

However, the Buccaneers are also banged up. They cut their leader in snaps played at cornerback (Vernon Hargreaves III) earlier this week, and they’ll also have to sit their third corner, M.J. Stewart, who is battling a knee injury. The cornerback ranked second on the depth chart behind Hargreaves, Carlton Davis, was listed as questionable to play but Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said will suit up. Tampa Bay is also without two outside linebackers in Anthony Nelson and Carl Nassib.

Here’s the full list of players who are inactive for this game:

From the Saints

  • CB Marshon Lattimore
  • OL Andrus Peat
  • WR Deonte Harris
  • DE Carl Granderson
  • OL Ethan Greenidge
  • TE Dan Arnold
  • WR Austin Carr

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From the Buccaneers

  • CB M.J. Stewart
  • LB Anthony Nelson
  • LB Carl Nassib
  • CB Mazzi Wilkins
  • OL Aaron Stinnie
  • OL Jerald Hawkins
  • TE Jordan Leggett

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NFL Week 11: How to watch, stream, and wager Saints vs. Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for their Week 11 kickoff. Here’s how to watch, listen, and stream the game.

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Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have flown out to sunny Raymond James Stadium for a game with the NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s their tenth meeting with Tampa Bay since the Buccaneers drafted quarterback Jameis Winston back in 2015, a series in which the Saints lead with a 5-4 record. But they’re 2-2 when visiting the Buccaneers on their home turf, making this game far from a guaranteed win. Here’s everything you need to know so that you can watch, listen, or stream Sunday’s kickoff.

Game Information

New Orleans Saints (7-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 17

Raymond-James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

Streaming

fuboTV (try it for free)

NFL Game Pass

Television

FOX

Radio

WWL 870 AM and local affiliate stations

Betting

BetMGM (Saints by +5.5, over/under at 50.5)

Extras

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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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Two Saints players fined $21,054 for fouls against the Falcons

The NFL issued $10,527 fines to New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas and DB J.T. Gray for unnecessary roughness against the Atlanta Falcons.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas committed a rare mistake against the Atlanta Falcons last week, and it ended up costing him $10,527 in a fine from the league office. Amie Just of Nola.com reported Saturday that Thomas received a fine for unnecessary roughness after being fouled for grabbing the face mask of an opponent during the second quarter.

It was an uncharacteristic penalty from one of the Saints’ most-dependable players, and one he’s unlikely to repeat. The good news is that Thomas can afford it easily enough — he inked a five-year, $96.25 million contract extension this offseason that pays out roughly $96,943 per game this season.

But Thomas wasn’t the only one to get a letter from the NFL. Just also reported that backup safety and special teams ace J.T. Gray was also fined $10,527 due to a roughing the kicker penalty in the same game, in which he fell into Falcons punter Ryan Allen’s planted leg during the fourth quarter. And unlike Thomas, Gray is still playing on his rookie contract — meaning almost a third of his $33,529 weekly game check will go towards paying for this mistake.

Unfortunately, these sorts of mental errors and sloppy mistakes were common a week ago. Self-inflicted penalties like these (and a series of fouls for hands to the face from four different defenders) hurt the Saints, wiping out big gains and nullifying defensive stops on third down. The Saints know they can’t repeat that kind of messy performance, and while they don’t need added motivation, these hits to their wallets certainly won’t keep them from remembering that.

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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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P.J. Williams’ stats in covering the slot versus lining up outside

The New Orleans Saints have to start P.J. Williams in place of injured cornerback Marshon Lattimore, but his NFL experience should help out.

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Marshon Lattimore may be the most important player on the New Orleans Saints defense, but they’ll be without him on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lattimore injured his hamstring last week versus the Atlanta Falcons and missed practice throughout the week, with New Orleans ruling him out for their road game in Tampa. When Lattimore is playing at his best, there isn’t a receiver in football who can beat him — including Falcons superstar Julio Jones and Buccaneers big-play threat Mike Evans.

So the Saints have to adapt to life without him, at least temporarily. That means a change of responsibilities for starting slot corner P.J. Williams, who slides into Lattimore’s spot. While he’s definitely best suited to defending routes from the inside, Pro Football Focus charting over the last few years suggests Williams is hardly helpless when lined up outside.

When defending the slot in his last 24 games (including the playoffs), Williams has allowed 68 of 102 passes (66.7%) thrown into his coverage to be completed, gaining 810 yards (11.9 yards per catch). He’s forced 11 incomplete throws (11.8% of his total targets) in that time. That’s a passer rating allowed of 103.0.

The presence of Lattimore and the Saints’ other starting cornerback, Eli Apple, has limited Williams’ exposure outside of the slot. But during that same time frame he’s allowed 11 of 19 targets (57.9%) to be completed when playing out on the boundary, totaling 182 yards (16.5 yards per catch) with two forced incompletions (10.5%); all summed up in a 129.8 passer rating allowed.

So the numbers prove that, yes, Williams is better playing from the slot. That backs up what can be seen firsthand in his game tape. But they also that he’s unlikely to be a total liability, which we also saw last week when he stepped in against Atlanta. Williams was one of several defensive backs responsible for Jones’ big 54-yard grab-and-go, but he chipped in as part of a team effort to limit Jones to just three catches on nine targets in that game. He can play in this league.

What does this mean as far as Saints fans’ expectations for him against Tampa Bay, which boasts a strong one-two punch between Evans and Chris Godwin? The potential for big plays is there but Williams should give as good as he gets. He has the ability, and now the opportunity, to go out and help make a difference in an important NFC South game.

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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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Saints-Bucs Injury Report: Saints rule CB Marshon Lattimore, two others out for Week 11

See which players have been ruled out for Sunday’s Week 11 game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here is the final injury report for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints ahead of Sunday’s Week 11 showdown at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs are coming off a busy week. After beating the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday to halt their four-game skid, Tampa Bay made the surprising move of releasing cornerback and former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves. The move came after the corner was benched in the team’s win over the Cardinals for lack of hustle.

Now, the young secondary of Tampa Bay will be tasked with trying to stop Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who missed Week 5’s matchup with an injured thumb.

At 7-2, New Orleans will look to make up ground in the NFC playoff race after a stunning loss last week to the Atlanta Falcons. The Bucs are 3-6 and still have life them, but will need to play near-perfect football to take down New Orleans..

Fortunately, they won’t have to worry about Saints Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who has been ruled out for Sunday’s game, meaning Mike Evans could have a monster game.

Evans, who was held without a reception in Week 5’s loss, has averaged 139.0 yards per game since then. He needs just 76 yards on Sunday to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth-straight season, something accomplished only by one other player, Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss.

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