The New Orleans Saints begin a tough three game stretch on Sunday afternoon in Tampa Bay. The Saints will play three divisional opponents in a span of 12 days, and they could wrap up the division by winning all three. Tampa is just about eliminated from playoff contention this season, and a loss in this game could just about do it.
The Buccaneers come into this game with a record of just 3-6, but they did win in week 10. Tampa Bay had lost four straight games before that win, and are in third place in the NFC South. New Orleans is still an impressive 7-2 despite their rough loss in week 10. The Saints are trying to get the top overall seed in the NFC, but they have some work to do. New Orleans is a -5.5 point favorite over Tampa Bay in week 11.
Saints Need Offense to Return
The New Orleans Saints looked like a shell of themselves in their week 10 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans scored just nine points in that loss, which was more than 13 points less than their season average. The Saints are still looking for some more balance on offense this season, as they are averaging just 107 rushing yards per game. New Orleans should have a terrific passing attack in this game, but they need to run the ball as well.
The Saints defense has actually been playing well this season, and they weren’t the reason for the week 10 loss. New Orleans is giving up just 20 points per game this season, and they have been dominant against the run. The Saints have forced just 10 turnovers so far this season, and they will be looking to improve upon that number in week 11. New Orleans will be tested by a solid Bucs offense.
Buccaneers Still Looking For Defense
Tampa Bay spent the entire offseason trying to improve their defense, but so far they haven’t gotten the returns. The Buccaneers are allowing 31.0 points per game this season, and their pass defense has been a mess at times. Linebacker Shaq Barrett has been playing well for this team and has racked up 11.5 sacks. Getting pressure on Drew Brees will make life easier for the secondary.
Quarterback Jameis Winston is having the best year of his young career, and the Buccaneers can score some points. Winston has thrown for close to 2,800 yards this season, and Tampa Bay is one of the highest-scoring teams in the league. The Bucs are averaging close to 29 points per game, and their offense usually keeps them in every game.
New Orleans Survives Tough Road Challenge
The Saints did not look like themselves a week ago, but this is still one of the best teams in the NFL. Quarterback Drew Brees is not going to struggle again, and the Saints should put up a ton of points against a bad Buccaneers defense. Tampa Bay can score some points at well, but they don’t have the offense to keep up in this game. Bet the New Orleans Saints -5.5 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this week 11 showdown.
