First Look: Buccaneers vs. Saints

The Saints welcome a familiar foe into town in the Bucs and look to find themselves to get back on the right track Sunday.

Week 4 sees the Saints (2-1) hosting their first NFC South rival in the Bucs (2-1) inside the Superdome, as they look to forget about last week's debacle against the Packers. These games seemingly count for double in the grand scheme of things, and New Orleans looks to avenge getting swept by Tampa last season. Here's some of the many things we're paying attention to leading up to this game.

Saints Storylines to Watch vs. Bucs

Jameis Winston looks to make his first start in quite a while / Sep 24, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

JAMEIS WINSTON UP

Unless some type of miracle happens, Jameis Winston will be at the helm on Sunday. We fully expect the Saints to be cautious with Derek Carr, and some of their recent moves have reflected that. It'll be Winston's first start since Week 3 of last year against the Panthers. There's a lot of weapons around Winston that he didn't exactly have in the arsenal previously, and how he performs will also hinge on how the offensive line plays. This is a great opportunity for Winston, and hopefully he makes his old team pay.

ALVIN KAMARA BACK AT IT

Alvin Kamara is back, and he had a funny post joking about it on Monday. He should provide a major shot in the arm for the Saints offense and the team's morale, but it's also worth pointing out how well the Bucs have done against him in the lineup. He didn't play against Tampa in Week 2 last season, and was held in check in their Week 13 matchup as a non-factor. This would be a great time for him to 'have a day'.

THE RESPONSE

Rightfully so, the Saints were frustrated after last week's collapse. The locker room mood was somber, but yet also sobering. They know they let a winnable game slip through their hands, and that can't happen again this season. If you're a glass half full person, better for it to be now than late in the year when something is really on the line. New Orleans needs to come out swinging in this game in all phases, and it's time for this offense to finally put up more than 20 points in a game.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE

It has been quite shocking to see how rough the Saints offensive line has looked. It's not just one player or one area. Overall, it's not good enough and we expected better. Going into the season, I was more concerned about the depth behind the starters, but the group itself just hasn't had it. Hopefully it's just early season struggles, but this has to be the game where they figure things out and start making strides in the right direction. Coaches can only do so much, and the execution doesn't have to be flawless, just better.

LATTIMORE VS. EVANS

Naturally, this game won't be able to go on without highlighting Marshon Lattimore vs. Mike Evans. Those two battle in each of their matchups, and it's become a focal point each time these two teams play each other. This graphic speaks for itself, but it'll obviously be must-see TV.

A history of Mike Evans vs. the Saints since Marshon Lattimore was drafted in 2017. pic.twitter.com/y4NYiHHmVE

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 26, 2023