The banged up Saints will have to rely on these key mathcups to spoil their division rival’s hopes.
The New Orleans Saints will travel to Tampa Bay to take on their division rival Buccaneers for the 2024 season finale. The outcome of Sunday’s game doesn’t matter much to the Saints, but a win for New Orleans can leave Tampa Bay out of the playoffs. If the Saints want to spoil their division rival’s playoff hopes they have to take advantage of these key matchups.
Saints OLine vs. Buccaneers’ pass rush
Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler got his first NFL action against the Buccaneers earlier this season in their week six matchup. After a slow start, Rattler exploded for the Saints in the second quarter helping the offense score on 4/5 drives including two touchdowns. Unfortunately for the rookie, the Buccaneers started to call up exotic blitzes to confuse the young quarterback and the banged-up Saints offensive line. The New Orleans offensive line would end the day allowing five sacks with the majority coming in the second half.
Rattler will again be behind an injured Saints offensive line that is missing star center Erik McCoy and guard Lucas Patrick. While Rattler is mobile and has escaped the pass rush many times throughout the season, teams are sending heavy blitzes and the offense has not been able to pick it up. The Buccaneers will likely be no different and send plenty of pass rush toward the rookie calling for the Saints’ offensive line to step up.
Spencer Rattler vs. Buccaneers secondary
The Saints will likely be without running backs Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller for Sunday calling for the offense to heavily rely on the arm of rookie Spencer Rattler. The room for error for Rattler will be small with the Saints missing their best wide receivers, offensive linemen, and running backs. With a lack of talent around him, the rookie will have to be on point facing a banged-up Buccaneers secondary.
This may be Rattler’s last chance to show his talent pending the Saints’ decision on Derek Carr in the future. A big game for Rattler can make the team more confident in his abilities to be their franchise guy.
Saints defense vs. Bucky Irving
Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving has taken over the league over the second half of the season. Irving has run for over 1,000 yards his rookie season including three 100+ yard games over his last five.
New Orleans tried to contain Irving in their week six matchup, but the rookie ultimately ended the day with 14 rush attempts for 81 yards and a touchdown averaging 5.8 yards a carry. The Saints rush defense is one of the worst in the league and that has been on showcase over the team’s losing span. If New Orleans wants a chance to spoil the Buccaneers playoff hopes, they will have to limit the run game and force mistakes from quarterback Baker Mayfield.
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