TipResumen

PREVIEW

The NFC South looks like being one of the toughest Divisions to call in the NFL with three good looking teams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers making up the four in the Division. That might be a little harsh on the Buccaneers, but they are missing Jameis Winston for the next three games at Quarter Back and they are some way behind the other three teams in the Division with an opening game in the raucous SuperDome a tough test for any in the NFL. Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the keys to the Offense for the Buccaneers in the absence of Winston and there have been times when he has looked like a serviceable Quarter Back. He is still hard to trust though and the Tampa Bay Offensive Line will be in for a challenge when they take on an improved New Orleans Defensive unit whose younger players have a year of experience under their belt now. Last season the Saints really managed to get into a position to rush the Quarter Back and I think that is a big problem for Ryan Fitzpatrick to deal with. He does have the big body of Mike Evans to find, but New Orleans will feel they have the Secondary to at least limit his production and shut down some of the other weapons Tampa Bay will be looking to rely upon. Tampa Bay will try and establish the run to at least protect Fitzpatrick and perhaps even keep the vaunted New Orleans Offense on the sidelines, but they will need to get more out of their new look Offensive Line. It will still be a challenge against the Saints to establish Ronald Jones as the rookie is likely to make the start for the Buccaneers against a Defensive Line which was pretty decent against the run in 2017 and could be even better this year. Scoring points doesn't look like being a major problem for New Orleans who have Drew Brees at Quarter Back for another couple of years after signing an extension in the off-season. Brees is still a very good Quarter Back, but it was the balance the Offense had last season which made the big difference for how well the Saints played in 2017. Alvin Kamara was a revelation for New Orleans and I don't think they will miss Mark Ingram who is suspended for four games to open the season. He was a big reason the New Orleans Saints were able to run the ball as effectively as they did a year ago, but it is Kamara's ability in the open field which makes him so dangerous and the best safety blanket Brees has had since Darren Sproles moved on. The balance makes Brees that much more dangerous when he does drop back to pass as he can open things up with play-action. The Wide Receivers in New Orleans continue to make big plays for the Quarter Back and the Offensive Line looks like it could be as good as they were in 2017. With that Offensive Line I think the new additions Tampa Bay have brought in like Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry might not have the kind of impact we will see from them later in the season. Keeping those players just half a step behind the plays with the balance the Saints can put together Offensively means Tampa Bay could have a tough time slowing down New Orleans in this one. The Buccaneers were blown out here a year ago, but this is a big number and Fitzpatrick is the ultimate back door covering Quarter Back in these situations. For some real he can make the big plays when virtually nothing is on the line which is a worry for me, especially as the Saints run a 'bend, don't break' kind of system but it still looks a tough ask for the Buccaneers. Last season the Saints did cover in all three home Divisional games and I think they are a little too good on both sides of the ball for this Tampa Bay team and can produce a big win in Week 1.



PREDICTION

This is a big spread for a Week 1 Divisional game, but the New Orleans Saints may have too much for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their home.