Tampa Bay at New Orleans | Week 1 | 2020 Season

We are inches away from week 1 of the NFL and the start the 2020 Saints season with Tampa Bay at New Orleans. This probably the most talked about week 1 game in a long time.

• Who do the Saints play week 1?:
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• What time do the Saints play?:
  • 3:25 PM Central time
• What channel is the Saints game on?:
  • FOX

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints will host the Tom Brady-lead Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Superdome. 2020 Brees vs. Brady 1 is officially underway. 

The wait is almost over!

Highlighted by AMERICA'S GAME OF THE WEEK featuring the @Buccaneers at @Saints, @NFLonFOX returns Sunday with a lineup full of rivalries, the reigning NFC Champions, a couple of GOATS and much more. 🐐

🔗: https://t.co/uImSWsHZDB pic.twitter.com/cWCJLYWeqX

— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) September 10, 2020

Saints Offense vs Buccaneers Defense

The Buccaneers defense should get some slack in the statistics category last year. Tampa Bay ranked first in 2019 rush defense. However, they ranked last in pass defense. Jamies Winston threw the ball to opposing players almost more than his guys so understand how tiring it must have been. Now, Winston is throwing passes in New Orleans trying to improve his game.

Lavonte David is criminally underrated. They also have Devin White, Jason Pierre-Paul, Vita Vea, and of course Shaquil Barrett on a talented front seven. The Tampa Bay back-end is still relativity young and could be in for trouble against a offense like the Saints. When you match them up against the Saints offensive weapons, the win looks like it should go to New Orleans.

Sean Payton should be aggressive early and not let up. One player in particular I expect to be involved early and often is Saints tight end Jared Cook. Once Drew Brees returned from injury last year connection between Cook and Brees was clear.

I predict Monday morning we will talking about how Cook out performed Gronk. Of course with all of the other weapons such as Michael Thomas, Taysom Hill, Alvin Kamara, and the newly acquired Emmanuel Sanders and Ty Montgomery, I expect this offense to pick up right where it left off at the end of the 2019 regular season. 

Buccaneers Offense vs Saints Defense 

Now this Tampa team is completely different from one year ago. The Bucs added Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette, and rookie OT Tristen Wirfs. Mike Evans is listed as questionable. But, Chris Godwin is still a threat while Scotty Miller is a favorite target of Brady’s from camp.

Brees vs. Brady 🍿

The NFL's all-time leaders in passing yards, passing touchdowns headline historic season opener 🥇@JohnDeShazier's full breakdown » https://t.co/B1oCzohdQa pic.twitter.com/eoMzsA9pwR

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 11, 2020

The New Orleans Saints defensive line is stacked. The Saints defense should be able to apply pressure from all over, even without Marcus Davenport who was ruled out on Friday. It all starts with Cam Jordan. If Cam can take advantage of his match-up against the rookie Wirfs and Donovan Smith, it could spell trouble for old Tom Brady.

One guy in particular I’m excited to see make his return in the Superdome is safety Malcom Jenkins who has played Brady 5 times as an Eagle and Saint. His return, veteran leadership, and communication skills will be great to have with this young(ish) secondary. 

Prediction

Saints 31 – Bucs 24.

I expect this to be a high scoring game favoring the Saints for one big reason, continuity. In an offseason where COVID really made it hard for teams that either brought in new coaches or new players, it’ll be tough to adjust and come out playing smoothly without errors and not look sloppy.