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The NFL saved the best for last over Division Round weekend. At least that’s what we’re all hoping for with a prime-time game between two future Hall of Fame first-round quarterbacks. It’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints and we can’t wait! These NFC South rivals have met twice already in the 2020 season, which helps. Add to that the fact that Brees may be playing his last game in the NFL (Brady reportedly said he wanted to come back for the 2021 season) and you have all the intrigue you need for an epic NFL classic. .
Can Brees duel Bruce Arians’ explosive attack in the Superdome to keep his own title hopes alive? Can Brady finally beat the Saints after falling badly in New Orleans earlier this year? We will find out soon enough. In the meantime, if you’re wondering how to tune in or what matchups might decide Sunday’s showdown, we’ve got you covered with the information below:
How to watch
Dated: Sunday January 17 | Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
TV: Fox | Current: fuboTV (Try for free)
To follow: CBS Sports app
When the saints have the ball
New Orleans have faced the Bucs before, but they can’t assume Todd Bowles’ unit will turn around in this situation. Tampa Bay boasted of the No. 1-ranked edge defense heading into the playoffs, and it allowed Washington just 86 yards in the wildcard round. This means that one of the Saints’ first priorities must be to compensate for potentially dormant ground play with dominant screen play otherwise known as keeping the ball in the hands of Alvin Kamara.
Drew Brees should be able to pick his spots against a Bucs secondary who has actually been quite vulnerable (No.21 against the pass), but in the event that the Tampa Bay pass rush emerges, he won’t offer the kind of off-script the theatrical creation that Taylor Heinicke surprisingly presented in Washington. Instead, he should be content to play the point guard, as he often does, opting for efficient, close-range targets for his weapons. This not only balances a game plan that might struggle to establish the race, but keeps Tom Brady and Co. on the sidelines. If this turns into a shootout, the Saints should be comfortable playing their patient attacking style.
When the Buccaneers have the ball
The Bucs have their work cut out for them. Not only do they have to overcome recent history, but they still face one of the bravest defenses in the NFL, Dennis Allen’s unit thriving against both the pass and the run. The only thing they can’t do, however, is let Tom Brady sit in the pocket to get beaten up early and often. If that means feeding Ronald Jones, who returned to training on Thursday to welcome his availability, then so be it. If that means involving the other full-backs in the screen game, so be it. If that means playing the passing game over a short zone to get the ball to guys like Antonio Brown from the start, so be it.
As long as Brady is held on his feet for most of the evening, he will be able to take a potential shot at some point in the contest. Because as tight-fisted as the Saints’ high school has been, he also fights injuries. More so, Brady is simply much more capable of unleashing a deep strike than, say, his opposing QB in this game. His arm has looked particularly keen in recent weeks, and that doesn’t even mention the chemistry he’s developed with his breakaways. We already know that a rollover won’t – or shouldn’t – shake Brady in this kind of game, so he shouldn’t be totally afraid of taking risks as the game progresses. It depends, however, on taking what was given to him from the start – playing the methodical game of the Saints, if you will, before depleting them with belated explosiveness.
Prediction
Last Chances:
New Orleans Saints -2.5
Everything says the Bucs should lose this game. They’ve lost five in a row to the Saints and looked downright bad when they last met New Orleans. Sean Payton and Drew Brees are ready to win it all after years of early exits. The saints are at home. But here’s the deal: Brady is arguably playing the best football of his entire 2020 season right now. The way he’s connected with his primary targets lately should scare New Orleans, at least a little. It’s hard to imagine this being a lopsided affair for both sides, and given Brady’s heroic playoff record, we’ll be rolling with the underdogs here.
To choose: Buccaneers 29, Saints 27
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