Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucks game with six quick-hit topics. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponents, what could lead to a win or loss for Tampa Bay, and some key matchups to watch each week.
The Bucks suffered a 36-30 loss in overtime against Atlanta, dropping their season record to 3-2. Tampa Bay is coming off a two-game district trip in New Orleans against a Saints team that is on a three-game losing streak, including a 26-13 loss to Kansas City on Monday Night Football.
What’s at stake for the Bucks?
Tampa Bay should be angry that the game in Atlanta slipped through their hands. The Bucks had a chance to win this game on both offense and defense and improve to 4-1. The Bucks pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory the last time they lost, and will aim to do the same this week. The team escaped the path of Hurricane Milton on Tuesday and headed to New Orleans to begin preparations out of danger and unencumbered by the storm.
The Bucks were exhausted Thursday night after playing a very hot and humid game against the Eagles the previous Sunday. The defense couldn’t get off the field all night, and the offense ran out of gas in the second half, making just two field goals after putting 24 points on the scoreboard in the second half. The Bucks now have 10 days to rest, recover, rehab and prepare for the all-important game in New Orleans.
Several Bucs players could return to action this Sunday, including right tackle Luke Goedeke, wide receiver Trey Palmer, defensive tackle Kaliyah Kancey and All-Pro safety Antwon Winfield Jr. be. Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan could also play. If my hamstring heals over time, I’ll play. Those additions will be welcome against New Orleans on Sunday.
What is at stake for the Saints?
New Orleans started 2-0, averaging 45.5 points per game, but has lost three straight and is reeling. In each of the past three games, the Saints’ scoring average has dropped to just 16.3 points per game. To make matters worse, the Saints will have to return home from Arrowhead early Tuesday morning and play a divisional game in a short week.
and they will have to play the Bucks without Starting quarterback Derek Carr injures oblique muscle He was unable to return in the final stages of the loss to the Chiefs. Carr threw for 989 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions, completing 70.3 percent of his passes. With Carr out, the Saints will either have rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, or a second-year quarterback who has only played spot games this season and completed 2 of 8 passes. He will have to face Jake Hayner. He gained 17 yards, but most of his few points came at the end of the game in Kansas City.
The Saints are a very excited team. Besides cars. Starting center Eric McCoy and backup center Shane Lemieux are on injured reserve, while guard Cesar Ruiz, right tackle Ryan Ramsik, defensive end Peyton Turner and linebackers Pete Warner and Willie Gay are on injured reserve. All missed the game against the Chiefs due to injury. Safety Will Harris pulled his hamstring against Kansas City and did not return. New Orleans already has a division win against Carolina and a division loss against Atlanta, but the Saints can’t afford to lose four straight and drop to 1-2 in the NFC South due to low morale. It’s still early in the season, but this feels like a must-win game for the Saints, so they’ll be desperate to give it their all against the Bucks.
If the Bucks win…
Tampa Bay will need to slow down running back Alvin Kamara, who is on a career resurgence this season, as well as inexperienced quarterback Jake Hayner and rookie quarterback Spencer, who will play in place of the injured Derek Carr. – Rattler shouldn’t let his team beat him in his first NFL start. Todd Bowles typically prepares his defense against rookie quarterbacks, but the team was unprepared for first-round pick Bo Nix and lost at home in Week 3. They lost to Denver 26-7. Bowles’ reputation will take a huge hit. If he lets Hoerner rise to the occasion and break the defense.
Tampa Bay’s pass rush has taken huge strides over the past two weeks, totaling 10 sacks and over 50 pressures. The defense will need to keep pressure on either Hoehner or Rattler. Both have some maneuverability and will scramble if given the opportunity. Tampa Bay will need to remain disciplined, pass the rushing lanes, and certainly cover better than the Atlanta defense that saw Kirk Cousins beat the Bucs for 509 yards, including over 300 yards down the middle of the field. Perhaps more importantly, the Bucks need to play more players and improve their coverage.
Offensively, the Bucs learned valuable lessons about the dangers of playing too conservatively and letting off the gas, especially from rookie offensive coordinator Liam Cohen. Baker Mayfield needs to keep scoring touchdowns and avoid turnovers. The good news is that Tampa Bay is scoring 25 points per game and has three games with 30 or more points in the first five games of the season. The team’s once-dead game has come alive, averaging 111 yards per week, which ranks 18th. Cohen needs to keep confusing the play calls, keep opponents guessing, and end games with touchdowns instead of field goals.
If the Saints win…
The Saints need Spencer Rattler or Jake Hayner to get the best out of Bo Nix and play incredibly well against Todd Bowles’ defense. If Bowles gets his defense to play in soft zone coverage with great regularity, both the rookie Rattler and the inexperienced Hoehner might be able to find their groove early and become comfortable playing. The Saints passing game likes to take deep shots to Rashid Shahid and Chris Olave. That means a solid Saints offensive line will need to defend pass protection and allow for development downfield.
But this could be a game where new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak utilizes the blueprint laid down by Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins for how to break through the Bucs’ defense and attack the middle of the field. Tight end Juwan Johnson had a big day last time against the Bucs with eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Fellow tight end Foster Morrow also scored a touchdown in Kansas City, and Taysom Hill could return. Alvin Kamara ran and caught the ball like he was turning back time, scoring six total touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving) through five games.
Defensively, New Orleans will need to create some turnovers, chase Baker Mayfield hard and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The Saints’ secondary will also have to face the challenge of slowing down both Mike Evans on the outside and Chris Godwin in the frame. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore and nickelback Alonte Taylor will each take on that responsibility. Dennis Allen has done a great job of containing the Bucks’ offense in years past and will have to come up with a great plan again to end the Saints’ losing streak at three.
Key matchups for the Bucks’ offense
Bucks WR Chris Godwin vs. Saints NCB Alonte Taylor
With apologies to Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the best matchup between pass catchers and defensive backs in this game is actually slot receiver Chris Godwin vs. Saints nickelback. Maybe Alonte Taylor. While this matchup won’t be as emotional as the ongoing creepy feud between Evans and Lattimore, it will still be a grueling, physical affair in the middle of the field.
Godwin is a physical receiver, both as a blocker and a pass catcher. He’s off to a great start in his contract year, leading the team with 32 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns last year, although he only had two receiving TDs. Godwin is the engine that propels this Bucks offense forward. He’s playing the Cooper Kupp role in Liam Cohen’s Rams-based offense, and he’s playing it well.
Taylor is really coming into his own in his third season. Like Godwin, Taylor is a very physical player who thrives when hitting in coverage or run support. The former second-round pick brings a sure-fire attitude and added toughness to the Saints’ secondary. He leads the team with 3.5 sacks from the slot and already has four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The winner of this matchup could decide the outcome of Sunday’s game.
Key matchups for the Bucks’ defense
Bucs Pass Rush vs. Saints Offensive Line
New Orleans wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shahid are a formidable one-two punch with their deep speed. Tight end Juwan Johnson has hurt the Bucs by going over the middle before. Running back Alvin Kamara is a constant threat running the ball out of the backfield and on screens. But this game will be won in the trenches and likely won on third down.
The Saints’ offensive line is in tatters, without starting right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, starting center Eric McCoy and likely starting guard Cesar Ruiz. But New Orleans’ offense only sacked Derek Carr once on Monday night and did an effective job of destroying games with double teams from Chris Jones. However, the pressure mounted on Carr and Jake Hayner, with Carr sustaining an oblique injury when he was struck by electricity. Tampa Bay’s pass rush is starting to get serious, and New Orleans will need to be ready for the challenge.
Backup defensive tackle Logan Hall leads the team with three sacks in the past two games, followed by defensive tackle Vita Vea, who has had a sack in each of the past two weeks. The Bucks need more pressure from Joe Tryon-Soyinka and some of that pressure from Yahya Diaby to turn into sacks. Diaby has a team-high 24 pressures, which ranks in the top 10 league-wide. Tampa Bay can’t afford to reassure either Kerr or Hoehner from the get-go. That happened in the losses to Kirk Cousins and Bo Nix.