By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to square off in a big divisional matchup this weekend. Both teams are fighting to keep pace in the NFC South, making this an early-season must-win feel of a game. Things won’t be easy for either side and the Saints have a major curveball on the way that could work in their benefit.
Here are five things to know ahead of this Week 6 tilt:
This is without a doubt the most anticipated storyline of this Week 5 battle. The Saints surprised everyone by making an immediate announcement on starting Rattler after losing Derek Carr to injury. More on that injury soon. Rattler had not been the team’s backup quarterback to start the year, but was widely considered the best option to start in this scenario. Whether or not he gets more than one game’s opportunity remains to be seen. But with a short week next week headed into a Week 7 Thursday night game on the way, it sure seems likely Rattler will get a couple of games to show what he’s got.
2. Carr is expected to miss multiple weeks, with at least two likely.
Carr suffered an oblique injury in the fourth quarter of the team’s 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week. The injury is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks with this and next week’s games feeling definite due to the tight timeline between contests. Carr said after the game that he wasn’t able to return to action because the injury didn’t allow his body to do what he needed it to do in terms of the torque and core strength needed to throw the football.
In his relief, second-year passer Jake Haener went into the game. But Rattler was chosen to start with a short week of prep ahead.
3. The offensive line for New Orleans has not gotten healthier, while the Buccaneers’ defensive line has
The Saints have been without both starting guards throughout the week and lost starting center Erik McCoy during the Week 3 game for at least 4-8 weeks. Head coach Dennis Allen said on Friday that the Saints’ starting left guard Lucas Patrick is a candidate to play without practicing this week. But nonetheless, the team’s health in this area is of concern either from an immediate availability standpoint or from a sustainability perspective.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers are getting healthier on their defensive line, namely on the interior. Uber-athletic defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is trending toward getting back to the field this weekend after being limited with a calf injury. The combination of him and big Vita Vea on the interior, along with an ascending Logan Hall, are all worth keeping a close eye on against the Saints banged up offensive interior.
4. Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is playing lights out
Wirfs, Tampa’s starting left tackle, has been on his game this year. He has allowed the fewest pressures (4) among all offensive tackles in the NFL that have taken at least 150 pass blocking reps, per Pro Football Focus. Per Next Gen Stats, he has played three games already this season with more than 20 pass blocking snaps in which he did not surrender a single pressure. That’s the most for any offensive lineman in the league. Saints pass rushers Chase Young (29) and Carl Granderson (22) are both ranked within the top-15 in pressures generated by defensive linemen. They will have their work cut out for them when lining up across Wirfs on Sunday.
Or, Wirfs may be tested in a way that he hasn’t just yet this season.
5. Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore will matchup with his nemesis while playing some of his best football
Of all cornerbacks in the NFL that have taken at least 200 defensive snaps, Lattimore has been challenged the least with only nine targets, per Pro Football Focus. Lattimore will line up against Bucs wideout Mike Evans frequently on Sunday.
Per Next Gen Stats, Lattimore has surrendered 19 catches for 302 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions against Evans since 2017 when he’s the nearest defender. But he hasn’t been the only successful coverage player on the big wideout. Of the 44 passes that went to Evans with other defenders in coverage, Next Gen Stats has credited Tampa quarterbacks with 426 passing yards, a touchdown pass and six interceptions.
Lagniappe:
The Saints linebacker deployment will see another shakeup. The team will start its third configuration of linebackers in as many weeks. This week, star linebacker Demario Davis is likely to line up beside free agency acquisition Willie Gay Jr. upon his return to the field. Gay Jr. had to undergo a procedure to take care of a hand injury which sidelined him against his former team last week. With Pete Werner out, Gay Jr. is likely to slide over to his spot. That should open the door for D’Marco Jackson to take strongside snaps and Anfernee Orji to provide important depth across all three spots.
