An NFC South divisional clash will headline Week 15 as the New Orleans Saints aim to get back to .500 at the expense of the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints-Buccaneers matchup will surely be an exciting contest to look forward on Sunday Night Football, so let's make some bold predictions for this Week 15 game.
New Orleans will be without Sean Payton, who was recently ruled out due to a positive COVID-19 test. With defensive coordinator Dennis Allen taking over, the depleted Saints will aim to pull off an upset victory and spoil the Bucs' bid for the divisional crown on Sunday night.
Here are four predictions for the Saints' Week 15 tilt against the Buccaneers.
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New Orleans Saints Week 15 Predictions
4. The Saints' passing game will be limited against the Bucs
As expected, stand-in QB Taysom Hill will continue to handle the playmaking duties for the Saints in Week 15 action. Unlike Jameis Winston, the BYU product tends to run the ball and make plays together with star running back Alvin Kamara. As a full-time playmaker, Hill hasn't really shown sufficient consistency in the pocket, which decreases the usability of the passing game with him under center.
Last week, he had an efficient outing with 175 yards on 15-of-21 passes en route to a blowout victory, but that was against a listless New York Jets squad that has already given up on the season. Needless to say, it will be harder for Hill to play with the same level of efficiency in Week 15 against the defending champion Buccaneers.
Aside from Hill's passing capabilities, the Saints are lacking a number of weapons that would allow them to have a more dynamic passing game. With that said, fans can expect the Saints to run the ball against the Bucs and just hope for the best result that they can get on Sunday night.
3. New Orleans' defense will keep them in the game
Though the Saints' offense has been underwhelming as of late, the team's defensive rotation still provides a glimmer of hope for Sean Payton's squad. Against the Jets, linebacker Kwon Alexander recorded two sacks and four total tackles, while defensive end Carl Granderson added a sack and two tackles of his own as well. It worked well for them, as they caused Gang Green to go scoreless in two quarters and tally a total of nine points in the game.
Trying to contain an experienced vet in Tom Brady will surely be a tougher challenge as compared to chasing a rookie QB around the field. Alexander, Granderson, and the other members of the defensive unit must step up in order to limit Brady and his many weapons on offense. If they get to do so, they might just give themselves a chance to hang around and keep up against the defending champions.
2. Alvin Kamara will be at the forefront of the team's offensive attack
When healthy, star RB Alvin Kamara continues to do damage on the field both as a rusher and receiver for the Saints. The same should be expected in their game against the Bucs, with the four-time Pro Bowler set to be the primary focal point of the team's offense.
In Week 14 against the Jets, Kamara compiled 120 rushing yards on 27 touches and a score to go along with 25 receiving yards on four catches. Despite going up against a stellar Bucs defense, there is no doubt that his level of talent will still allow him to record his usual numbers on the field. However, the question lies in whether or not Kamara's production will be sufficient enough for the Saints to grab a win against their division rival.
1. The Saints will lose to the Buccaneers and drop to a 6-8 record
The Saints have been something of a kryptonite for the Buccaneers in recent seasons, though Tampa Bay did get the better of them in last season's playoffs. Still, New Orleans won both regular-season matchups last season and also won the first game between these two teams in 2021. However, there's just too much going against the Saints for them to pull out another win in this one, which will put a dent in their postseason chances.
At this point of the season, Bruce Arians and his men are healthier and currently playing much better than their division rival. Being winners of four consecutive games, the Buccaneers should be able to take care of business against the Saints en route to bagging the NFC South divisional crown for the first time in the Tom Brady era.
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