Through The Spyglass: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the NFC South in their grasp the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host division rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

In this weekly article, BucsGameday will preview the upcoming opponent. We’ll break down their prior season, the moves they’ve made this year, and the top players to watch on the offense and defense to give you insight into what to expect on game day.

Matchup History

The history between these two teams is extensive and bitter. There is certainly no love lost between these two franchises and their fan base. Last season, the Bucs swept the Saints for the first time since 2007. However, New Orleans holds the edge by quite the margin with 39 wins to just 25 losses, including seven of the last 10 meetings. The Bucs took the first game this season In New Orleans with a 26-9 victory. 

Looking Back At 2022

Last season had its ups and downs for the Saints. Long-time head coach Sean Payton stepped down as head coach and was replaced by defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. The results were less than ideal with a third-place finish in the NFC South and a 7-9 record.

Starting quarterback Jameis Winston was benched after three starts due to injury and never got a chance to regain his starting spot. Veteran backup Andy Dalton took over in Week 4 and the offense struggled to put up points going 6-8 to close out the season. The Emergence of rookie first-round pick Chris Olave was one of the few bright spots for the Saints in 2022.

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What's New In 2023

The Saints went out and signed former Raiders quarterback David Carr to a four-year $150 million deal. They also added running back Jamaal Williams in free agency to complement Alvin Kamara, who was suspended for the first three games of the season. Juwan Johnson was retained on a two-year deal and the team brought back Jimmy Graham to round out the tight end room.

Co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen left for the Falcons DC job in the offseason. While New Orleans lost defensive lineman Marcus Davenport and David Onyemata in free agency. They replaced them with first-rounder Brian Breese and veteran Nathan Shepherd.

Top Players On Offense

Chris Olave

Olave broke out onto the scene as a rookie with his game-breaking speed and ability to generate yards after the catch. He finished the season with 72 receptions on 119 targets and 1,042 yards adding four touchdowns. He's picked up right where he left off last season with 81 receptions, 1,041 yards and four touchdowns. 

Alvin Kamara

Kamara is a dynamic weapon out of the backfield and can hurt teams in a variety of ways. He has 649 yards rushing and five touchdowns to go with 73 receptions for 462 yards and a score through the passing game. 

WR Rashid ShaheedShaheed has developed into a true weapon for the Saints. He can hurt you in the receiving game, and the return game and has made his fair share of plays as a rusher as well. He's got the ability to take the ball the distance at any time and has 41 receptions, 640 yards, and four touchdowns on the season. 

Top Players On Defense

Demario Davis

The 2022 second-team All-Pro is still one of the top inside linebackers in the league. Davis finished last season with 109 tackles and a career-best 6.5 sacks. He has tremendous play recognition and instincts and is effective against both the run and pass. His running mate Pete Werner is equally disruptive and

Cameron Jordan

Jordan is still one of the premier pass rushers in the league and is dominant setting the edge against the run. Last season he had 66 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Curtis Granderson is emerging in his own right and was rewarded with a new big-money deal, but Jordan is still the top dog for the Saints' pass rush.

Marshon Lattimore

Lattimore is a lockdown corner who isn't tested often because of his coverage skills. Last season he missed 10 games due to injury, but had 49 tackles and an interception in seven games. He has 84 pass deflections and 15 interceptions over his seven years in the league. 

Latimore has been ruled out for the Week 17 contest.

Final Thoughts

The Saints aren't where they expected to be this season due to streaky quarterback and offensive line play and injuries, but they can still be a thorn in the Buccaneers' side as they try and capture their third consecutive NFC South crown. At 7-8, they are still in the hunt for a wild card spot, and with a win against Tampa Bay and a Bucs loss against the Panthers they could overtake the NFC South. This will be a hard-fought game against two teams that don't like each other. 

You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage, news and analysis throughout the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 season.

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