SNF PREVIEW: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve got a great Sunday Night Football game heading our way and they didn’t even have to flex it as the New Orleans Saints travel to one of the strip club capitals of the United States to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That’s true, by the way. Tampa has 30 strip clubs in its general area. Why else do you think Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski wanted back into the NFL so bad? Somebody had to step in and save these exotic dancing jobs in the face of a global pandemic.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-4.5, O/U: 50.5)

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

Kickoff: Nov. 8: 20 p.m. EST

Broadcast: NBC

THE HISTORY

The series between the two teams goes back to Tampa’s second year in the league in what turned out to be a 33-14 Bucs win. When the NFL re-aligned in 2002, the Buccaneers and Saints both ended up in the NFC South and have played two games a year since. New Orleans leads the overall match up 36-21.

Their last meeting was during Week One when the Saints dominated the Tom Brady led Bucs in his first time in uniform to the tune of 34-23. Drew Brees finished with just 160 passing yards and two touchdowns. Brady was 23 of 36 for 239 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD by New Orleans cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-2)

The Saints come in riding a four game win streak in which they’ve continued to survive each contest by the skin of their teeth. Last week it was a 26-23 overtime win over the Chicago Bears that was 1:36 away from ending in a tie. Brees remains at the bottom of the league in passing air yards and a handoff worthy 5.0 air yards per completion. Last week he was 31 of 41 for 280 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears with no picks. Running back Alvin Kamara carried the ball 12 times for 67 yards and caught nine passes for 96 yards.

New Orleans got some good news this week on the injury front as All-Universe wide receiver Michael Thomas is expected to play Sunday.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2)

The Bucs too are riding a win streak of their own, thanks to a 25-23 victory over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. It was a rough outing for Brady, who put a lot of the early season criticism behind over the last month. He finished 28 of 40 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa’s defense picked off Daniel Jones twice and sacked him three times,

THE PICK

The line seems overly friendly to a Tampa Bay team that got dominated two months ago. For all of Brees’ struggles getting the ball down the field, New Orleans has been winning. Getting Thomas back is huge as well and that should keep the Buccaneers from covering if nothing else does. Bucs 31, Saints 28

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