Bucks vs. Saints
when: Sunday, January 5, 2025 | where: Raymond James Stadium – (Tampa, Florida) | Expedia kick off: 1:00 PM ET | tv set: fox
Play by play: Kevin Burkhardt Analyst: Tom Brady | Side job: Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi
wireless: 98 Rock 97.9FM | Play by play: Gene Deckerhoff Analyst: Dave Moore | Side job: TJ Rives
As game day approaches, it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make their weekly game predictions and provide game previews. This week’s match. Let us know what you think in the comment section of the article. Please also add your predictions.
Scott Reynolds: Bucks dominate Saints to win NFC South again
Bucks HC Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay defeated an underdog Carolina team 48-14 last week to regain first place in the NFC South. The Bucs have a chance to do the same this week, defeating the 5-11 Saints and winning their district championship for the fourth straight season, including the past three seasons under head coach Todd Bowles. Remember, Tampa Bay lost 27-24 to New Orleans in Week 6, but came back 51-27 in the second half for a 24-0 shutout victory. We hope that the Bucks’ offense will continue to perform well and score 40 or more points for the fourth time this season.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans have plenty of contract incentives to hit in Week 18. I don’t expect offensive coordinator Liam Cohen to take his foot off the gas on Sunday. With 37 points, the Bucks will break the career scoring mark of 511 points set by Tom Brady and the 2021 team. I think that’s achievable and a quiet goal for Cohen and others on Sunday.
Todd Bowles’ defense has allowed just six points in the last four games and none last week against Carolina, especially in the second half of games where Tampa Bay allowed just 23 total points since the bye week. With Derek Carr, Taysom Hill, Rashid Shahid and Chris Olave out, the focus will be on stopping running back Alvin Kamara. I think that will happen and Tampa Bay will sweep the Saints en route to winning 10 games this year.
Reynolds game prediction: Bucks 41, Saints 14
Reynolds season record: 9 wins, 7 losses.
Matt Matera: Bucks Steamroll Saints
Bucks WR Mike Evans Photo courtesy of USA Today
As many of us have discussed this season, the only thing that can stand in the Bucks’ way is the Bucks. This team has scored at least 40 points in two of its last three games and is about to face a team the Bucks gave up 51 points in their most points earlier this season. game. Tampa Bay has a chance to win the division, Baker Mayfield is playing very well, and Mike Evans has a chance to reach 1,000 yards for the 11th straight year. Everyone will be motivated.
The only thing the Bucks have to be careful about is not turning the ball over. Since they hardly ever punt the ball anymore, the only way for the Saints to get good field position is through turnovers. With the older players on the defensive end, Mayfield will have to be careful not to make easily avoidable mistakes.
Hopefully Tampa Bay can continue the pass rush that looked strong last game. It will be interesting to see if Shaq Barrett makes his season debut or if Chris Braswell gets some more playing time after his strip sack. There may be some concerns about Josh Hayes playing corner for Jamel Dean, especially the speed of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the potential return of Chris Olabe, but quarterback Spencer Rattler has struggled during his play. Either way, there should be some celebration once the Bucs win their division again and advance to the postseason.
Matera Prediction: Bucks 35, Saints 14
Matera’s season record: 10 wins, 6 losses
Bailey Adams: Bucks take care of business and win NFC South again
Bucks RB Bucky Irving – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Can we really do it again? The Bucks can turn a 4-6 record on the final day of the regular season into an NFC South title, just as they turned a 4-7 record on the final day of the 2023 regular season into an NFC South title. Can you do it? I think so.
Tampa Bay has everything to play for, New Orleans has nothing to play for. That could be a risky proposition at times, but I think coach Todd Bowles will have this team ready to go to work like they did last week against the Panthers. I like the Bucks getting off to a hot start and never looking back.
Baker Mayfield and the offense are really clicking right now. Mayfield is on the brink of his 40th passing touchdown, while Mike Evans is on the brink of another 1,000-yard season, despite missing three games with a hamstring injury this season. He has scored 11 touchdowns. Jalen McMillan has scored a touchdown in each of the last four games, scoring six touchdowns in that span, while the offensive line has dominated in the run game, giving 1,000-yard rushers Bucky Irving and Rashard White creating lanes.
I think the offense will be at its best again on Sunday against the Saints, who rushed for 44 points and 277 yards in their Week 6 matchup. The Bucks are 9-1 this season, so the key to victory is getting the first run. The game in which they score first. A touchdown on the opening drive in this game would bode well for Liam Cohen’s group.
Defensively, I think the Bucks will have a similar game to last week’s game against the Panthers, especially against Spencer Rattler. Derek Carr (hand) and Alvin Kamara (groin) are still absent from Thursday’s practice, and their absence could give the Saints offense a chance to catch up to the Bucks’ offense, even against an uncertain opponent. Not that you can. Tampa Bay’s defense.
The Bucks have been in playoff mode since their bye week, and I think they’ll be up to the task Sunday afternoon. I gave them a big win, improved their game to 6-1 since the bye, and advanced to the playoffs with a record of 10-7. It’s a record that every pewter reporter expected them to hold. Back in September.
Adams’ game prediction: Bucks 34, Saints 13
Adams’ season record: 11 wins, 5 losses.
Josh Quapo: Bucks win in convincing fashion
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
After defeating the Panthers, the Bucks are in the driver’s seat of the NFC South. And for a Bucs team looking to take the next step to the playoffs after a four-year hiatus from the NFC Championship Game, playing against a struggling opponent at home with a quarterback who hasn’t shown much improvement this season is a big deal. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. .
Spencer Rattler showed why he was a fifth-round draft pick against all odds. That’s not a problem for him, he needs time to adjust to the NFL. But the rookie, who struggles with blitzing, will be facing one of the league’s most blitz-happy teams. And New Orleans’ offense, which has struggled with pass protection this season, will have to try to keep him clean. I do not support their ability to do so. The Saints will try to mitigate those factors by running the ball, but the Bucs’ run defense has improved and they should be able to attack right away with that strategy.
On the other side of the ball, the Saints have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Bucky Irving, Rathard White, Sean Tucker and Tampa Bay’s offense should have no problem setting the terms for this game early. And the best part? If the run game starts early, the play-action game should start and allow Mike Evans to gain the 85 yards he needs to reach his record-setting goal with relatively few touches. This should be a similar route to the last time these two teams met in Week 5. Let’s hope the Bucks’ second-quarter woes don’t get any more interesting than they need to be.
Quipo’s game prediction: Bucks 45, Saints 6
Quipo season record: 9 wins, 7 losses
Adam Thrivon: Bucks have no problem finishing the regular season on a strong note
Bucks WR Mike Evans, RB Bucky Irving, QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
If you blink, it’s over. Believe it or not, the 2024 NFL regular season has already reached its conclusion. After continuing to predict the game on Sunday, the Bucks and Saints will finally meet in Week 18.
Tampa Bay sits at 9-7 and needs a win to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year. Doing so would mean beating a New Orleans team that has seen better days. Pewter Report took the time to preview this matchup. About the Latest Pewter Report Podcastthere aren’t many positives to discuss when looking around a Saints team hit by injuries and decline in play.
Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller could all play on the offensive line, but Chris Olave hasn’t played since early November as he works his way back from a head injury. Even if Olaf comes back, His recent performance against the Bucks has not been very good..
Defensively, veterans Demario Davis, Tyrann Mathieu, and Cam Jordan are all a step away from their respective peaks. The defensive line is most likely to have an impact on the situation, led by Carl Granderson, Chase Young, and Brian Brissey, but they also have a strong team led by newly minted Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs, who should neutralize that impact. He also faces a strong offensive line.
The Bucks’ offense scored 51 points in Week 6 against the Saints, and led the Panthers to 48 points in their Week 17 performance. They may not reach those lofty totals on Sunday afternoon, but they should have no trouble beating their NFC South rivals.
Playing with a lot at stake at home, Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, and a motivated Mike Evans at Liam Cohen’s discretion, the offense has a lot of potential to take an early lead. High energy is expected. From there, Todd Bowles’ defense should be able to do whatever it wants against Spencer Rattler and others and put the finishing touches on a double-digit winning season.
Slivong’s game prediction: Bucks 30, Saints 13
Srivon’s season record: 10 wins, 6 losses
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